The Center for Volunteer Caregiving

Fall Appeal 2011

Submitted by athorne on Thu, 10/27/2011 - 12:21

donate Being blind from birth has never stopped Dr. Longmire from living a full life and giving back to his community through his gifts of music. After graduating from Governor Morehead School for the Blind, he pursued higher education all the way to completion of aDoctor of Musical Arts at the University of South Carolina.

We marvel at his talent and his achievements. He lives with dignity and independence. He receives help from the volunteers of The Center for Volunteer Caregiving. Since 2004, The Center has, in Dr. Longmire’s words, “been very beneficial and has helped me to live much more independently at home. By reading my mail and getting me to the grocery store, I can be self-sufficient.”

As much as Dr. Longmire shares his musical talent, warm wit and legacy of education with the community, our Center volunteers share their gifts of time and talent. It is mutually beneficial.

Give Care. Receive Care.

The Center for Volunteer Caregiving makes it possible for both. Getting people to the doctor and grocery store, providing respite to help families keep their loved ones home as long as possible are just some of the services being done every day through The Center.

Your gift this year can help us continue to offer no fee services to Dr. Longmire and others who need help. Your gift can help us to reach further into the community and to recruit, prepare and support needed volunteers.

Your gift can make a HUGE difference.

Please consider a gift of $100 or whatever you are able to give this year to support The Center for Volunteer Caregiving. If you can give more, please do so.

With deep appreciation and all best wishes on behalf of those who Give and Receive special Care,

Lynn Templeton
Executive Director

Donate online through PayPal (You do not need a paypal account)

Donate with a check or money order:

Make the check or money order payable to The Center for Volunteer Caregiving
Please reference Fall Appeal 2011
Mail your donation to:

The Center for Volunteer Caregiving
975 Walnut St., Ste. 311, Cary, NC 27511

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Suggested Holiday Activities

Below are some suggested activities to enhance the Christmas season with Care Receivers who may be limited by dementia or other frailties. May it make the season brighter for you and your companion! Please feel free to recommend other activities for me to add to the list.

For highly functioning Care Receivers or people with early stage Alzheimer’s

Write Christmas cards, perhaps design cards by hand or on computer, with your help

Decorate— put greenery around the room

Go for walks to find magnolia leaves or cedar to cut

Knit simple stockings or caps

Bake Christmas treats

Make bird feeders on pinecones

Crack and Shell pecans (who cares if pieces are crushed or full of shell)

Go Christmas caroling to brighten up someoneelse who is lonely, take your own children along

Poke whole cloves in oranges to make Christmas Pomanders

Do crossword puzzles or jigsaw puzzles with Christmas themes together

Reminisce about Christmas traditions

For Mid stage Alzheimer’s or care receivers with limited initiation or functioning

Cut old Christmas cards in half to be used as To/from gift tags

Read last year’s or this year’s Christmas cards again and again

Asktheir help with your Christmas cards: ie, stuff your envelopes, put on your return labels, read your Christmas letter to them

Prepare simple treats, shape Rice Krispie treats into wreaths, stir up no-cook fudge, brew cider and enjoy the fragrance

Start paperwhites ($1/bulb) in sand, stones, water in a vase. They take about 3 weeks to bloom.

Sing Christmas carols along with radio or CDs….or better yet, bring your own guitar

Read the history behind each Christmas carol to your Care Receiver

Ask their help as you wrap gifts or make bows and decorations

Tell them about your Christmas traditions and ask about theirs

Drive around to see the lights

For Late Stage Alzheimer’s or bedridden care receivers

Sing Christmas carols to them or listen to radio together (they may still sing or hum along because the brain treasures music almost to the end)

Listen to music whileyou work a Christmas jigsaw puzzle or knit stockings

Read Luke’s account of Christmas, short stories or poems; they may even enjoy The Night Before Christmas

Let them smell Christmas fragrances (potpourris, unlit candles, lotions, cider and teas)

Watch Charlie Brown’s Christmas

Watch the birds at the feeder

Talk about what you are thankful for

Center Profile

Center volunteer, Mary Williams Stover has answered many calls but this time it was from Tara Croft at Cary Magazine. Tara was calling to request an interview for an article on volunteers which is featured in the just released November/December Issue.

Tara writes, “She has a self proclaimed heart for public service, and she keeps it all in the family.”

We are so proud and grateful to have Mary represent The Center in this regional magazine. See the full article from Cary Magazine below!

http://www.carymagazine.com/features/mary-williams-stover-center-volunteer-caregiving

Center Profile

Drew Duncan, PHR
Director, Human Resources &
Chair, RTP Charitable Donations Committee Eisai Inc.

When asked why he felt was so passionately about The Center, Drew Duncan , one of our newest board members, remembered his grandfather. He said, “My grandfather helped to raise me as a child and he passed away in 2002.

He had Diabetes and other complications so my family worked together to ensure he was well cared for but the primary responsibility belonged to my Aunt. She served as his main caregiver. I saw first-hand the demands of being a full time caregiver and the importance of providing relief. Caregivers do important work with love and care but it can be exhausting which is why the work of volunteers at CVC is so needed and highly appreciated.”

Drew is the Director of Human Resources and Chair of the RTP Charitable Donations Committee for Eisai Inc. and also one of The Center’s greatest supporters. Following are Drew’s responses to what he th9inks about The Center and why he feels it is so important to give back.

Tell me how you first got involved with The Center?
- I first got involved with the center through my work with the RTP Charitable Donations Committee. I currently serve as the Chairman. I know that Eisai has a long term relationship with the Center and several former employees used to volunteer on a regular basis.
What was your first impression of The Center?
- I was very impressed with the Center’s staff and most particularly its director Lynn Templeton. Lynn is very professional and radiates positive energy. Her staff is very knowledgeable about the Center and genuinely seems to care about their work and the Wake County seniors they support.
Tell me why you want to give back to your community?
- I think every citizen should try to give back to their community in some meaningful way. I did not get to where I am in life today on my own. There has always been family, friends, colleagues, or fellow church members along the way to provide encouragement or help in some form or another. I believe everyone should try to leave this world a little better than they found it and community service is an excellent way to do just that.
Tell me about someone who has influenced your life in that way?
- My mother was a social worker when I was child so I always saw her supporting children and the elderly in my home town in New Jersey. She organized meals on wheels, doctor visits, friendly visits, etc. and encouraged my siblings and I to always try to give back. As a result, her lessons have stayed with me until this day so I feel inspired to want to help others.
Can you describe your passion for our cause?
- Yes, my grandfather helped to raise me as a child and he passed away in 2002. He had Diabetes and other complications so my family worked together to ensure he was well cared for but the primary responsibility belonged to my Aunt. She served as his main caregiver. I saw first-hand the demands of being a full time caregiver and the importance of providing relief. Caregivers do important work with love and care but it can be exhausting which is why the work of volunteers at CVC is so needed and highly appreciated.
Eisai has already demonstrated strong support for The Center. How would you like to see the relationship between The Center and Eisai employees evolve?
- I hope that we can start to have employees volunteer on a regular basis in addition to providing financial support. Eisai has a new program that allows employees to spend up to two days a year volunteering with patients and/or caregivers so I hope the CVC can help us expand support for this initiative.

Falls Prevention Awareness Week

Submitted by athorne on Thu, 09/22/2011 - 19:17

Governor Bev Perdue has proclaimed the first week of fall, Sept. 19-24, as Falls Prevention Awareness Week. Having a fall in later life is a concern for many of us. As we get older the risk of having a fall increases and the consequences can be more serious, both physically and emotionally. It is not just falls themselves that have an impact on our quality of life. The fear of falling can have a devastating effect on confidence –limiting daily living activities and reducing independence. But falls are not an inevitable part of aging and much can be done to reduce the risks. Falls Awareness Week is an opportunity for us to encourage people in later life to find out more about falls prevention and take part in local activities to reduce their risk of falling. Review the 5 Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Falls from the NC Falls Prevention Coalition.