Duet Caregiver Symposium to Offer Critical Skills for Family Caregivers

Clara Graham, Caregiver

Are you taking care of a loved one? You are not alone! About twenty million unpaid caregivers take care of almost ten million adults ages 65 and older in the United States, according to a 2014 study from the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Alzheimer's Association has determined that in Arizona, 130,000 adults ages 65 and older have Alzheimer's disease and that about 800,000 residents provide unpaid care for their loved ones with disabling conditions.

support for family caregivers is critical for them to stay healthy so they can keep helping their loved ones and have an improved quality of life, yet most of our community's caregivers do not know that help is available.

Duet, a non-profit interfaith organization, is offering a Caregiver Symposium: “How to Find Hope while Coping with Stress and Grief” on October 6 at church of the Beatitudes, 555 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix. Renowned researcher, educator and therapist, Dr. Pauline, Boss will share proven techniques to help caregivers deal with losses and how to reclaim hope amidst grief. Duet very much appreciates the support of Beatitudes Campus, Beatitudes at Home and Church of the Beatitudes in making this event possible.  Beatitudes at Home is actually providing respite caregivers for those who wish to attend the conference.

Dr. Boss is best known for her groundbreaking research on a form of prolonged grief known as “ambiguous loss.” For over four decades, much of her work has focused on helping family caregivers successfully navigate this unique type of grief in which their loved ones are physically alive but not the person the caregivers once knew.

Her session for family caregivers will take place from 9AM to 1:30PM (includes lunch) and her session for professionals and students will be from 1:30 to 3:30PM.

Clara Graham, an 80-year-old caregiver whose husband has Alzheimer's disease, appreciates the support she receives at Duet's family caregivers support group.  “It has been like going from day to night,” Clara said. “He was diagnosed with early onset dementia, and within a year he couldn't remember what day it was. “Duet is my salvation,” she adds. “It gives me hope.”

After the Symposium, Duet will use a three-year, $460,000 grant from the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust to pay for the creation of a series of videos based on Dr. Boss's book, as well as expand other caregiver services. The videos will offer tools to help caregivers navigate losses as well as support a caregiver-to-caregiver volunteer program to better serve isolated and overwhelmed caregivers and expand services for caregivers from diverse, underserved communities.

“We're extremely grateful to the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust for helping us further support family caregivers, who need to preserve their own well-being in their challenging roles,” said Ann Wheat, Duet's Director of Caregiver Services.

The Reverend Dr. Dosia Carlson and Church of the Beatitudes founded Duet in 1981 as part of Dosia's vision to provide innovative solutions to community needs. Besides assisting family caregivers, Duet also helps homebound adults, faith communities and grandparents raising grandchildren. To register for the symposium or ask for help visit www.duetaz.org or call 602-274-5022. *

Author Info: Beatitudes Campus

At the foundation of Beatitudes Campus is the vision of Church of the Beatitudes pastors and congregation members to create a better alternative for older adults than the nursing homes of the early 1960s. The type of community they imagined was the first of its kind in Arizona. Beatitudes Campus is proud to continue the legacy of our founders, by being a leader in the field of aging services for over 50 years.