Caregiving

CHARLOTTE -- AARP in Charlotte is presenting a series of free workshops this month to help people prepare the challenges of caregiving and long-term care as well as an overview of Medicare, from how to choose a plan and the benefits Medicare offers, to what changes to the program may come in the future. The events are free and open to the public, but registration is requested.

Let me introduce you to a family caregiver, Lisa from Hawaii. With the help of her sister, Lisa cared for her mother with Alzheimer’s disease — managing medications, cleaning the house, and handling any medical issues. They also managed her mother’s finances. Lisa shared: “It felt like our whole world was slowly falling apart. At the time we did not know much about the disease or how quickly it was going to debilitate her. My sister and I took responsibility of making sure that she was provided for.”

RALEIGH, NC – North Carolina ranks 38 th overall when it comes to services available for our aging population, and AARP warns more must be done, at an accelerated pace, to meet changing demographic demands. Even worse, NC’s support for family caregivers, especially those in families with long-term diseases such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson's, ranks just eight slots from the bottom. This, according to a new, comprehensive state-by-state Scorecard from AARP with support of the nation’s leading organizations behind quality long-term care, The Commonwealth Fund and SCAN Foundation.

AARP is fighting to improve North Carolinians access to affordable health care, in their communities, by cutting through the bureaucratic red tape that prevents nurse practitioners—and all advanced practice registered nurses—from doing their jobs.

Lorri’s Story

Having a loved one in the hospital can be a stressful and emotional experience — especially if you don’t have the support you need. Each day, 40 million family caregivers help older parents, spouses, children with disabilities and other loved ones live independently at home. They help with bathing and dressing, manage finances, stand by their loved one’s side when they go into the hospital, care for them when they return home, and so much more.

Over one million North Carolinians are caring for an older parent or loved one, helping them to live independently at home – where they want to be. These caregivers have a big job but we can help with some basic support—and commonsense solutions—to make their big responsibilities a little bit easier. That’s why AARP urges state lawmakers to enact the Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act and help family caregivers as their loved ones go into the hospital and as they transition home.

Don't miss some great chances to learn, meet others and have fun at these AARP events in March. Register for these free events today.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of North Carolina (UNC) Center for Health Innovation and AARP are collaborating to launch a second Digital Health Innovation Sprint TM in the Triangle of North Carolina to develop digital solutions to the problem of medication adherence in patients age 50 and over. The “Sprint” is a novel experience-based series of high-energy events designed to guide entrepreneurial-focused teams quickly through the process of maturing an idea and creating a prototype. Leveraging design thinking methodologies, the Sprint provides structure and support for teams to better define a healthcare problem and generate, develop and refine digital solutions over a two-month period.

According to Hospice and Palliative Care of the Charlotte Region (HPCCR), “Facing a serious illness is difficult. But even through the challenges, you have the right to live your life with dignity and respect. You deserve exceptional care and a team who can offer you the best quality of life possible.”