Signs and Symptoms of Family Care Partner Stress

1. TRANSFORMING CAREGIVER BURDEN TOCAREGIVERMASTERYCarol Taylor, LCSWNovember 6, 2012 St. John’s Institute for Cognitive Health Jackson, WY ctaylor@tetonhospital.org

2. Signs and Symptoms of Family Care Partner Stress • Verbalized and observed • Resistance v. denial • Meaning behind the behavior

3. Recognizing our own responses and reactions* Defense mechanismsprojection, repression, displacement, intellectualization, rationalization, compensation * Professional boundariesempathy and sympathy, protecting our capacity to help, respect for patients and self, spoken and demonstrated

4. (continued) * compassion fatigue “the cost of caring”, emotional residue, exposure to suffering, secondary trauma, not the same as burnout , giving blood and anemia *healthy adaptation replenishment, intentional, consistency over time, prioritized, holistic health, nurturing, discernment, “peace, love and joy” !

5. I can be most present by being close enough to the fire to empathically feel the heat, and yet separate enough to not be singed or need to flee. - M. Lattanzi (1984)

6. Treatment Planning for Family Care Partner Mastery Assessment of FCP capacity, limitations, history, dynamics, communication style, self-care skills, aspects of relationship pre/post diagnosis Self-assessment from FCP Knowledge of resources, crossing the threshold with FCP Set up for success in care mastery

7. Circle of Care Assist /encourage FCP and others in creating a “Circle of Care” for identified patient Note all resources, services and supports engaged and those available, yet to be accessed Include patient with dementia in this activity

8. Comments, questions, shared experiences ? Thank you for participating in this WyGEC webinar.