Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Family Caregivers SENIOR CORNER by MARTHA OWEN AND SUSAN GUY Caring for seniors — a family affair for thousands of households across the United States — requires a special action plan when kids go back to school after the holidays. Nearly one-quarter of American adults (23 percent) currently provide companionship or assistance with daily living to an elderly parent or relative, according to a study for Home Instead Senior Care by Harris Interactive®. While each family caregiving situation is different, stress is a com- mon denominator. Stress and time demands often increase during times of change, like after the winter break, when children prepare to go back to school and get involved with winter sports and other activities. "During the school vacation, children sometimes play an active role in the caregiving pro- cess, running errands and cleaning house for Grandpa and Grandma, or simply serving as a companion," according to the report. "Many times, those grandchildren provide heartfelt support when seniors are ill or re- covering from sickness or surgery." "Not only do many families lose that extra pair of hands, but their seniors and children. "My basic response is you've got to really decide what is very important so that you can learn to say 'no' to what is not that important, even though it has the feeling of urgency," Covey said. "If you can say 'no' guilt-free, that means you have a burning 'yes' about something that is more important." The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Caregivers Stephen Covey partnered with Home Instead Senior Care to apply his 7 Habits to the unique role of a family caregiver. • Be Proactive. Don't react to the stress of juggling a child's sched- ule and caring for your elderly loved one. Think and plan ahead to be prepared for this stressful time. • Begin with the End in Mind. If family is what is most important to you, contribute your time, energy and talents to that end. • Put First Things First. Plan weekly and daily as a family and indi- children need more help as well," said Suzanne Mintz, co-founder and president of the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA). "Life is always easier on an even keel. When your norm is disrupted, as dur- ing times of transition, the stress levels go up until a new norm is estab- lished." Home Instead Senior Care sees an increase in the number of families caught in Author Stephen Covey part- nered with Home Instead Senior Care to apply his 7 Habits to the unique role of a family caregiver. vidually so you're focused and prepared to meet goals, appointments and obligations. • Think Win/Win. Approach the idea of caring for youngsters and elderly parents, and balancing school and work with a win/win at- titude. Meet together to establish parameters (everyone's roles and responsibilities) upfront so everyone feels good about the care situa- tion. this gap each January, when return to normal activities throw their lives into turmoil again. People search outside the family when the pressures of homework, basketball and other activities become too much to handle. Outside caregivers can help seniors with meal preparation, housekeeping, errands and shopping, personal-care services, and other non-medical home care and companionship duties. Deciding what's im- portant by creating a plan of action and prioritizing are the keys to helping families maintain their sanity, said leadership expert Stephen Covey, whose books, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families, have helped revolutionize how Americans manage their work and home lives. Covey said he sees particular stress among working women who are trying to juggle the care of • Seek First to Understand …Then to be Understood. Listen empathetically with your heart and your ears to your children and parents when concerns arise and relationships may be strained. Try to understand exactly why Grandma is crabby. • Synergize. Brainstorm to solve problems so that everyone feels a part of the so- lution. There are many ways to utilize our differences for the good of everyone. • Sharpen the Saw. Strive to live, to love, to learn and to leave a legacy. To do that, a family caregiver must take care of himself or herself. They love being appreciated and valued. And when they feel how their grandkids look to them and listen to their wisdom, their whole world will change." MARTHA OWEN & SUSAN GUY Owners of Home Instead Senior Care, COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 222 or editor@upandcomingweekly.com Deadline Approaching to Apply for a Health Program at FTCC by LOUANNA CASTLEMAN It is that time of year again. No, it is not time to start that diet or quit smoking — although both are really great ideas. It is time for stu- dents who wish to pursue a degree in healthcare to apply for a seat for the fall 2012 semester at Fayetteville Technical Community College. Anyone seeking a degree in the healthcare field knows how important it is to have the proper credentials. At Fayetteville Technical Community College, we are here to help our students achieve their health career goals, but in order to be competitive, students need to apply to the program of their choice before Jan. 30. Sound easy? Well, it is, and it isn't. At FTCC, we have a competi- tive process for entry into our cur- riculum health programs. Due to the limited number of applicants we can take every fall, the competitive pro- cess, though confusing, is very ef- fective. The competitive process not only gives us the best and brightest, it allows students who enter the program the luxury of having most of their general college classes completed so they can concentrate on their core and 16 UCW JANUARY 4-10, 2012 It is time for students who wish to pursue a degree in health care to apply for a seat for the fall 2012 semester at Fayetteville Technical Community College. clinical classes. Since the deadline is approaching, it is essential that students act fast. These admissions requirements include an application, submission of all high school and college transcripts and testing if necessary. An applica- tion for admissions can be completed on our website www.faytechcc.edu. Transcripts must be official, meaning that they were sent from the original institution directly to us, or they can be hand carried in official sealed en- velopes. Even students with advanced degrees are required to bring in high school transcripts. Many prerequisites are high-school level, and the great thing is that they do not expire! Testing may not be required for students who have certain college-level classes. After all admissions criteria are met, students should see a counselor or attend a group counseling session and, most important, apply for the de- sired program on the computer terminals located in the Tony Rand Student Center lobby, the Spring Lake Campus lobby, or the FTCC Fort Bragg of- fice. It is quick and easy and takes about five minutes; once completed, stu- dents are given a receipt. It is essential that the student keep that receipt. It has dates, deadlines and expiration dates listed on it. Also, it is proof of the date of application. While it is true that time is of the essence, all hope is not lost. Students who do not apply on time, or have missing documentation, can still be con- sidered for a health program on a space-available basis. Please feel free to call Counseling Services at 678-8419, or go online to www.faytechcc.edu/areas_of_study/HealthPrograms.asp. Fayetteville Technical Community College offers you affordable, high- quality education for life's changing circum- stances. Let us help you get started today on your new educational journey! LOUANNA CASTLEMAN FTCC I-PASS Center Counselor, Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? editor@upand- comingweekly.com WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM