Topics include the following themes:

 Empowering Caregivers

For most caregivers, the role encourages many of us to reach into the depths within ourselves to find more meaning. Our thoughts and actions show us who we currently are as a result of all the beliefs we have held that emerged from our life experiences. How we feel about our self developed from our family roots. Society, culture and teachers have also imposed their pictures or expectations on us. Discovering our own "authenticity" and learning to take back our power; setting boundaries and making our voice heard are all part of this self-discovery experience. Personal power is self-confidence, self worth and thoughtful use of your abilities. Personal power comes from within. In answering questions like "Who Am I?” "What is my purpose in life?” "What can I do?" "What are my spiritual gifts?" we find that they will catapult us into a new world of self-discovery. Basic tools and information on caregiving are also provided.

 
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Caregiving: A Soulful Journey Of Love and Transformation

 We are more than our physical body. We are spirit and spirit is eternal. Our loved one may have a deteriorating long-term illness, a disability or may be in "end-of-life stages" but their spirit still resides within their body. It is up to us to care for them and make sure others care for them with compassion, dignity and love.

 
The Role Of Being The Caregiver Is No Accident

 
The boomer generation is being faced with the major role of caring their parents, spouses and children today more than any other period in history. Some are caring for more than one person at a time. There are currently 54 million family caregivers today in the United States. We are not placed into our roles as caregivers by accident. There are many lessons to learn. We learn to care better for ourselves...learn to respect and work through incomplete issues with those we care for, but truly the most important lesson to learn is moving into forgiveness and opening ourselves to love. Sometimes we don't always see the bigger picture when we first take on the role. Basic tools and information are provided to help people of all ages and walks of life move into the caregiving role with more ease.

 
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Caregiver Stress Management

 Caregiving is about giving. Burnout and isolation are major causes of stress in the caregiver. It may result from the combination of effects from one's mixed emotional feelings of guilt, lack of recognition, helplessness, family discord, isolation and much more. Mixed with the demands upon our own strength, our resources, time and energy it is easy to understand why so many of us experience this sense of utter depletion. Burnout affects your health, motivation, attitude and mood. It can flow over into our personal life as well, especially if we are not conscious when it is happening to us. For many, by the time we become aware, it has already caused damage to our loved ones and possibly us. Learn how to recognize, cope and make the necessary changes to eliminate stress.

 
Caring For A Parent

 Caregiving presents us with many opportunities for learning in all areas of our lives. If we can get out of the "why me" type role or our "victim" we may begin to understand that our parents may not have been in the position to nurture our own personal power as we were growing up. They weren't able to master their own lives, so how could they be there for us?

With caregiving, old patterns and belief systems or dynamics that existed as a child or young adult may come into play once again if they haven't been fully resolved. Some caregivers are faced with old issues of abandonment, verbal and physical abuse as well as sexual abuse. These past memories can cause us to care from a space of guilt, feeling responsible, needing approval and acceptance and a myriad of other reasons. It is important to work through these issues and not carry them with us in our role. This is accomplished through understanding, forgiveness and letting go. Adjusting to the new role reversal of caring for a parent requires that we understand much more than we may be aware of. We are not their parent even if it feels as if we are. We must do this healing for ourselves to obtain our own inner peace so that we may be fully present in our role.

 
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Finding Available Resources In Local Communities: For Hands On And Long Distance Caregivers

 Preparing yourself with the knowledge of resources readily available to you and your care recipient is essential to making clear choices and decisions. Learn how to research online on the Internet and offline for information locally in your community or as a long distance caregiver and find out more about the types of programs, organizations and services that exist to assist you in your specific situation.


Mindfulness: An Important and Effective Approach To Caregiving

 Mindfulness, an essential ingredient in creating a spirit of balanced cooperation between caregiver and care recipient, will be explored as it relates to a range of critical caregiving situations for men and women. It is an essential tool to transform a difficult caregiving relationship into a more manageable one.

 
Dealing With Family Dynamics In Caregiving

 You may wonder why you are the only one doing the caregiving. Where is the rest of the family? How do you involve family members? Why are there so many directors? How do you let go of siblings and family members who are into denial or just won't help out? How do I begin a family dialogue regarding death and dying issues? How can I attempt to bring the family together? These issues and more will be covered.

 
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Dealing With Caregiver Anger & Guilt & The Roller Coaster Of Emotions

 From day to day a caregiver can experience an emotional roller coaster of feelings that result from the role of caregiver. Explore the feelings ranging from anger, guilt, resentment, depression, isolation, and helplessness to wishing they were gone already and how to embrace them so that you can move forward.

 
Self Care For Caregivers

 Make a conscious decision to take care of your own personal needs and your health first while you are caring for another person. The most important phrase to remember at this time is: "After me, you come first." If you are not strong from within, healthy and balanced physically emotionally, mentally and spiritually then how can you be there fully present to care for another? Who will care for your care recipient if you are no longer able to? Why can't I say "No," or set boundaries? Explore techniques and ways of keeping more balanced so that you don't lose your own identity.

 
Reaching Out For Support

 Caregiving can lead to isolation and depression. Many caregivers need to understand they’re not alone and discover various degrees of fulfillment through the various types of support available to them It is vitally important to reach out for support. As experiences are shared, bonds are formed with those who have had similar experiences


Grandparents Caregiving Grandchildren

Today, more than any other time in history, Grandparents are caring for grandchildren in a variety of new roles. Death of a parent, abandonment, parents who are in prison, substance abuse, unemployment, mental illness, divorce, teen pregnancy, violence in the family home and those whose parents work full time - are just some of the reasons for this new trend.

Whateverthe scenario is, grandparents are overwhelmed and feeling isolated in theirnewly defined roles as grandparent(s) caring for their grandchildren. They may be totally unsure of where to start and how to proceed. NOFEC provides grandparents with ideas, referrals and ways to cope and heal through the challenges they are facing.

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