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In recognition of November as Family Caregiver Awareness month, we devote this issue of SMAA’s eNews to talk about the needs of family care partners and the ways we at SMAA help them.
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Family Caregiver Support Services Allow for Care Partners to Thrive
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To think and talk about care partners in 2021 is to talk about the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns, social distancing, and disruption of every aspect of our lives. For caregivers, that meant an extra layer of the already common sense of physical and social isolation.
Since the pandemic began, the Southern Maine Agency on Aging has been working to provide as much help as possible to care partners in the safest way.
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SMAA is committed to finding more ways to expand our Family Caregiver support services, including engaging care partners across generations: grandchildren who are primary care partners of their grandparents, spouses and siblings who are primary care partners, sons and daughters, and perhaps non-family members.
This issue of eNews includes a few original articles about family care partners written by the Agency’s staff, and shines a light on the day-to-day experience of a family care partner through Bob's story.
We want to express our deepest gratitude to all care partners! Ensuring no older adult or care partner travels this road alone is close to our hearts and embedded in our mission.
Finally, on this #GivingTuesday, I strongly urge you to consider a donation to Southern Maine Agency on Aging! Your support this holiday season will go directly towards helping vulnerable older and disabled adults stay safe and healthy at home, and remain connected to essential services, resources, and support.
Warmest wishes for safe holidays!
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Are you a “Family Caregiver”?
by Lori Campbell, LSW, Family Caregiver Support Program Supervisor with SMAA
Many people out there are caregivers or care partners*, but you may not think of yourself in those terms- you are just
“helping out” an older or disabled person. Any unpaid family member, friend or neighbor who is offering assistance is considered a care partner. Read more
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The Four Most Asked Questions by Family Caregivers
by Robyn Berry, LSMW, Resource Specialist, Family Caregiver Support Program with SMAA
From finding home care to why it is important to have a Plan B, Robyn Berry discusses the resources we provide to family care partners when they reach out to us for help. Read more
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Caregivers in Mid-Life:
Feeling Isolated and Lonely and Options for Staying Well
by Katlyn Blackstone, MS, LSW | Chief Program Officer at SMAA
Caregiving in mid-life presents its unique challenges. Here we discuss the impact of caregiving on the caregiver, the importance of the caregiver's self-care, and different ways a caregiver can maintain a sense of normalcy while still taking care of their loved one. Read more |
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The Reality of Being a Caregiver
Marilyn Durgin, Adult Day Center's Program Coordinator, interviewed Bob whose wife Judi is a member at the Adult Day program.
In his interview, Bob shared what it feels like being the 24/7 sole caregiver of a person with memory loss and the impact our programs have had on his family's quality of life. His hope is that this interview will help other caregivers to seek help as early as possible. Read more |
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If you are a caregiver or know somebody who is,
contact us at 207- 396-6541 or
with a Family Caregiver Support Specialist |
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Meet Marilyn Durgin, Sam L. Cohen's Adult Day Program Coordinator. Marilyn found her calling when she joined SMAA 21 years ago. Her care, dedication and support are the main ingredients that make for a warm and welcoming experience for everyone at the Center.
In Marilyn's words about her twenty plus years with the Adult Day Center:
"I love getting to know our members, listen to their stories, laugh with them, and help them maximize their independence to the best of their abilities. Our Adult Day program is a homey atmosphere filled with kindness and compassion by the staff and volunteers. We are one huge family-staff, volunteers, members and caregivers!
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We are inviting new members to be part of the social group at the Adult Day program in Biddeford!
Contact Marilyn online or call 207-396-6508 to schedule a tour and one complimentary free visit
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- First Community Cafe in Hollis. This Community Cafe is in partnership with York County Elder Abuse Task Force. Anyone 60+ is invited (advanced registration is required). Beginning December 1st, the Hollis Community Cafe will be on the first Wednesday of the month. To find a Community Cafe near you, visit our Community Cafes page.
- We are excited to announce the addition of a new As You Like It (A.Y.L.I.) location!
Maiz is located at 621 Forest Ave. They are open Monday through Saturday from
11am to 9pm. With a mission of sharing food and culture, "Maiz, like the team behind
it, is the perfect blend of everything we love from the coast of Maine to the coast of
Colombia."
With the addition of Maiz, we now have 14 participating A.Y.L.I. restaurants
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Holiday Gift Idea:
Are you looking for thoughtful and feel good gifts for your loved ones?
Gift As You Like It vouchers and or order Simply Delivered for ME meals and part of the proceeds will also support our other nutrition programs such as Meals on Wheels.
Visit our Wellness and Nutrition page to learn how to get them.
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Volunteer Services team:
* UNIQUE LEADERSHIP VOLUNTEER POSITION:
Volunteer A Matter of Balance Coordinator
The Agewell program at SMAA is seeking a positive, organized, and outgoing volunteer to join our team in the A Matter of Balance (AMOB) Coordinator role. The Coordinator is part of the Volunteer Leadership team that helps lead wellness programming at the Agency. The AMOB Coordinator role is an 8-10 hour weekly commitment and works closely with a small group of A Matter of Balance certified coaches and community host sites to plan workshops. If you like working as part of a team, feel passionate about wellness programming for older adults, and have strong people, communication, and computer skills this could be a great opportunity! For more information please contact Jim Clark, Volunteer Agewell Coordinator ( agewellcoordinator@smaaa.org).
Other open volunteer positions:
- Meals on Wheels Volunteers
- Money Minders Program Bill Payer
- SMAA Congregate Lunches
- SMAA Phone Pal Volunteer
- SMAA Resource Data Specialist
- Agewell - A Matter of Balance Coach
- Agewell -Tech Support AMOB
To see the complete list of volunteer opportunities based on your time and availability, visit our Volunteer Services page.
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SMAA Technology Update
We want to make you aware that SMAA recently experienced a cyber incident that affected our computer systems, but it didn’t disrupt our services to our clients and their families.
Third-party IT specialists helped us look into it, and they determined there is no evidence to suggest that data was taken from SMAA's systems. Thanks to SMAA's staff and volunteers, our clients did not experience any disruption to their services.
There is no action required from you. We wanted to confirm that we worked as quickly and thoroughly as possible to resolve the matter. Please be assured we always take the protection of the information we maintain very seriously. If you have any questions, you can contact Katlyn Blackstone, Chief Program Officer, at kblackstone@smaaa.org.
Thank you for your commitment to SMAA and the older adults of Maine we are privileged to serve.
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- Upcoming virtual Family Caregiver Support Program Class - "Aging: Myths and Realities" is scheduled for Tuesday, December 14th from 3-4pm. Register online.
- Upcoming virtual Savvy Caregiver series. Tuesdays, January 11th - February 15th, 2022, 1-3pm. Interested care partners of people living with dementia should call the Family Caregiver Support Program line at 207-396-6541 for more information.
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- Age-Friendly Freeport & Pownal and Freeport Community Services are hosting December Seniors Social:
- 12/7 at 2pm - Christmas Cookie Decoration. What better opportunity for some fun with the grandkids than cookie decorating and getting into the holiday spirit! Freeport Community Services building at 53 Depot St., Freeport
- CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS!
- Award-winning documentarians are working on a new children's documentary featuring an intergenerational conversation on what it means to be multiracial in America. As a way to highlight the diversity in experiences, their crew will interview older adults across 50 states and some of the U.S. territories. The production is seeking to hear the stories of adults who are 70+ years old and identify with two or more races.
"We want children watching this film to feel seen, heard, and represented in a way we did not have when we were growing up," said one filmmaker who is Black and Jewish. No acting experience necessary. Timeline open. If you — or know someone who — is multiracial and 70+ years old and would be interested in learning more, please contact natasha.lewin@hboprod.com
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GOT ANNOUNCEMENTS, EVENTS, & NEWS you want to promote?
Send us an email at marketing@smaaa.org and we will publish it on our Facebook page and in our monthly newsletter*
*if it is still upcoming at the time of the newsletter publication |
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If you or your organization is interested in partnering with us, please, contact us at info@smaaa.org |
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