If you are caring for an aging adult loved one and confused about where to turn for help, get guidance at a workshop on Thursday, Nov. 12, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Tull Auditorium at the School of Law’s Gambrell Hall.
Sponsored by the Emory Caregiver Support Program, the workshop will feature a panel consisting of a geriatrician, geriatric pharmacist and professional care manager who specialize in working with older adults. Each of these experts will provide an explanation of his or her role in caring for the aging population.
Attendees will learn the types of questions to ask and whom to look to for help when caring for an older adult.
“Many people become overwhelmed when meeting with physicians and are unsure how to ask questions and request clarity in the visit,” according to Mary Ellen Nessmith, a work-life specialist with Emory WorkLife Resources Center.
“Helping family members manage their medications can be a full time job and there are many risks associated with mixing or adding medications unknowingly,” she says.
“Some drugs have extreme side effects. Hearing from a pharmacist, learning how to work and partner with your local pharmacist is imperative,” she notes.
How to create a care team will also be discussed.
“This workshop will focus on how to create your caregiving team by utilizing the professionals you currently work with and how to communicate and interact with these professionals," says Nessmith, who provides care consultations through the Emory Caregiver Support Program.
“Caregiving is an overwhelming job and asking for help is not easy... Many times working caregivers attempt to manage everything on their own until they are burned out. This not only creates both physical and emotional issues for the caregiver but puts the person you are caring for at risk. It is essential for caregivers to reach out to the community, both professionally and personally, to find support,” Nessmith says.
Registration is requested but not required.
For questions about this workshop, contact Mary Ellen Nessmith at 404-727-4177 or the Emory Caregiver Support Program.