Boomer Primer – You know the drill by now.
Last week I went on about Medicare – Well, OK, health insurance – Well, OK, health! Or some eclectic combination thereof. Stick with the “health” part, for a minute.
In addition to the multitude of unkind characterizations that have been heaped upon Boomers virtually from inception (or conception, or whatever), do you know what else an awful lot of Boomers are? Caregivers.
Which means what? Right: I define a caregiver as “…somebody who is taking care of somebody who needs to be taken care of, whether they like it or not.” Sound familiar? I thought so.
AARP estimates that there are 40 million caregivers in the good ‘ole U S of A. I think they’re wrong. I think there are a whole lot more than that, but who am I to quibble with an organization that has a pronounceable, if somewhat gastric, acronym? 40 million it is.
It all has to do with the fact that a lot of folks are living a whole lot longer and surviving things that would have put them in the ground not all that long ago, so there are a lot more folks who need care. Good.
But us caregiver-types pay a price, in terms of lost wages, for sure, and lost time with our own families/lives/interests, but don’t forget the other prices we pay in terms of increased depression, social isolation and our own medical issues; in other words, in the name of taking care of somebody we care about (more-or-less, most of the time), we often become “patients” ourselves. That’s the “health” part I threatened you with.
And what was last week’s basic premise? (You – In the back…) Right! The less we use health insurance, the better off we’ll all be, and the best way to do that is to be as healthy as possible as much as possible, so if you are a “caregiver,” the best way to do that is to take care of you.
Here’s a chance to do that. Saturday, October 1st, from 8:45 am to 3:30 pm, at the Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (2333 San Juan Avenue) in Port Townsend, “A Day for You” (“You” being a caregiver). The whole day will be about taking care of you.
It will not teach you how to lift or transfer or change catheters. It won’t teach you about skin care or tube feeding, and it won’t get into physical therapy or range-of-motion. It will be about you, Caregiver – All day long.
Free. Free morning beverages, snacks and lunch. Free. Liz Taylor, journalist, columnist, speaker and founder of “Aging Well Consortium” will provide the keynote. And there will be a lot of other stuff – Info, vendors, sessions – And a whole room full of people who do what you do – Think about that.
Free.
I know: If you’re a “caregiver,” that means that you’re taking care of somebody who needs to be taken care of, so how do you get away to become smarter about being a caregiver? I get it. And I’m not going to pretend to have an easy, pat answer – I don’t. But I hope you’ll find a way.
We’d love to have you for the whole day, but if that’s not possible, then just come for as long as you can and leave when you need to – We understand.
What do you do? Well, since seating isn’t infinite, you can register by calling 360-385-2552 (1-800-801-0050) or e-mailing Heaven Gregg at gregghm@dshs.wa.gov then just show up and be who you are.
Free.
Also, in last week’s column, I referenced the “Affordable Care Act” (aka “Health Care Reform,” “ObamaCare,” whatever you choose to call it) as something that is changing the face of health insurance/health care, and will continue to change it, depending upon what does or doesn’t happen, so would you like a chance to learn a bit more about what is actually in the Affordable Care Act, without being screamed at? I, for one, have a hard time learning in the midst of artificially-induced hysteria.
OK: September 20th, 7:00 to 8:30 pm in Linkletter Hall at Olympic Medical Center (that’s in the basement) in Port Angeles, a forum on the Affordable Care Act, sponsored by the League of Women Voters. Straight facts, no politics. Reference info will be provided, presentations and a specific interlude for questions-and-answers. It is, of course, free.
Despite what zealots on both ends of the political spectrum want us to believe, it is highly unlikely that anybody will take care of us, except us. And if we’re taking care of somebody else, then we especially need to take care of us. In my opinion, ignorance is not, nor has it ever been, bliss.
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