Are you, or someone you know, suffering from Caregiver Breakdown? You are NOT alone!
Tri-County Caregivers Support Group can help!
This group meets on the first Thursday of each month at the Fairfield Senior Center, beginning at 5:30 p.m. to discuss various matters concerning caregiving for a loved one; whether you care for them in their home, your home, or have them in a care facility.
While the primary focus is on those with cognitive diseases, such as Dementia and Alzheimer’s, they also help with many different aspects of caregiving.
Ross Vincent, LVN, has been a practicing nurse for the past 14 years, has lived in Fairfield for the past 6 years, and currently serves as Admissions Coordinator for Fairfield Nursing and Rehab.
“As an admissions coordinator, I have frequently witnessed caregivers suffering from Caregiver Breakdown,” says Vincent.
He goes on to explain that many caregivers don’t realize that what they are experiencing is normal, and that there is help, education, and resources available to them. “I began discussing this matter with our Administrator, Betty Lewis, and Director of Nursing, Caycie Collins, and together we decided that we needed to start a support group to help with various issues caregivers deal with on a regular basis.”
Previously, the closest caregiver support group was in Palestine, but as of August 2023, Freestone County now has its very own and is looking to grow its community and get the word out.
“Many caregivers are either afraid to ask for help, don’t know that there is help available, or don’t know where to find help,” says Vincent. “Also, many make promises to never put their loved one in a facility, and then fear shame or guilt when they get to the point where it is necessary. They wait too long. Caregiving for a loved one is tough. It is extremely draining; emotionally, mentally, and physically. It can get real dangerous, real fast without assistance. We want to help drop the stigma of needing and asking for help.”
With the help of Fairfield Nursing and Rehab, Dr. Darryl White, Carolyn Jenkins, David Lott, and Allison Rader, Vincent has been able to organize a support group that offers education and resources, as well as monthly meetings with speakers and discussions on various topics.
Allison Rader offers a Virtual Dementia Tour as well, at meetings every three months or so. This experience utilizes Virtual Reality so that a caregiver can experience what it is like for someone suffering from symptoms of Dementia so that they may be able to learn ways of handling the confusion and stress. It is such an emotional experience that it is only approved to be administered in four-minute increments.
Upcoming talks include estate planning, resource options, levels of care, and behavioral health centers.
“I wish I would have had access to a support group when I first started caregiving for my husband, who has Alzheimer’s Disease,” says Carolyn Jenkens of Fairfield. “I cared for him in our home for three years before I began having seizures due to Caregiver Burnout. It was at that time I decided I needed help, and we placed him in assisted living.”
She goes on to explain, “Now that I have the help I need, our relationship has gotten better and stronger; and I am no longer suffering from doing it all alone. I truly believe that caregivers need this type of support and to be around others who can understand and empathize with what they are experiencing. This is why I chose to help organize and support Tri-County Caregivers Support Group.”
The group is also looking for volunteers to sit for caregivers so that they might be able to attend the monthly meeting, as well as to get out of the house occasionally for grocery store trips, appointments, etc. without the stress of taking along their loved one. “In fact,” says Vincent, “the outing can actually be more stressful for the loved one being cared for than for the caregiver, but this also gives the caregiver a break for their mental health.”
Tri-County Caregivers Support Group would like to thank Brookshire Brothers of Fairfield for supplying snacks and Fairfield Senior Center for volunteering their space and providing drinks for the meetings.
Fairfield Senior Center is located at 201 North Bateman Road in Fairfield.
If you have any questions, need help or resources, or would like to volunteer, please call 903-389-1236 and ask for Ross Vincent. Be sure to check out the support group’s page on Facebook as well.
