For two hours this Saturday, area caregivers are being asked to do the one thing they rarely are able to do — put themselves first.
With November being National Family Caregivers Month, the UAMS South Arkansas Center on Aging Education Center is sponsoring a Caregiver Recognition & Celebration event from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at the El Dorado Conference Center. The free event will include all sorts of pampering options, from glamour shots and massages to manicures and “poof & spray,” as well as blood pressure checks, eye exams and other resources and support options.
“Heroes come in many forms,” said Lori DeWese, education coordinator with the South Arkansas Center on Aging. “Caregivers are special. They give everything they’ve got, plus some.”
DeWese said a caregiver is really anyone who takes on that role, noting that everyone has been a caregiver at some point in their lives.
“If you mow the grass for someone, you’re a caregiver. If you take someone a hot meal, you’re a caregiver,” DeWese said. “A caregiver is someone who has done that selfless act.”
But some people take on the role full time, whether as a paid position or unpaid role, constantly putting their own needs on the back burner in order to take care of someone else, she said, in what she called a labor of love. And Saturday’s event is aimed at giving those people a small taste of the pampering and care they deserve, she said.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 16 million Americans act as caregivers specifically for those affected by Alzheimer’s or other dementias, providing more than 18 billion hours of care valued at more than $232 billion. DeWese said statistics have shown that caregivers often die before the person they are caring for because they’ve consistently pushed their needs to the background.
“That’s why we do this day,” DeWese said. “This one day is nothing but full pampering … it’s wonderful. … It’s just a day for them.”
Bethany Moore, program manager with the South Arkansas Center on Aging, said along with the celebration, all UAMS centers on aging in the state are giving out a Caregiver of the Year Award for someone in their area. Locally, Moore and DeWese said, Kay Ruddell will receive the Caregiver of the Year Award during Saturday’s event.
“Everybody’s very special, but we have to pick just one,” DeWese said. “We will tell her how much we appreciate her … and that her efforts don’t go unnoticed.”
DeWese said Ruddell was chosen based on her resilience, compassion and joy. Ruddell overcomes the daily struggles that come her way, journaling each day and always looking for a biblical solution or path to get her through each day, DeWese said.
“(The) compassion she has for her loved one she is taking care of, when she talks of this person, she has tears of love,” DeWese said, adding that Ruddell always has words of encouragement for others, often adding some humor to go with it. “She always sees the rainbow!”
Moore said the free event Saturday is all about pampering. And though the event is only for two hours, Moore said they hope it will provide some time for some much-needed self-care.
“It’s hopefully a time that caregivers can step away from their daily duties and focus on themselves,” Moore said. “That doesn’t happen very often.”
Vendors for the event include Cole’s Jewelers, PCEC, Spa on Main, Kinslow, North College Salon, Medical Center of South Arkansas, Kindred at Home, SAMA Healthcare and Pinnacle Hearing. Cole’s Jewelers
DeWese emphasized the resources that are available to local caregivers, many of which are free to use. The UAMS South Arkansas Center on Aging offers a Caregiver SUCCESS program that includes one-on-one counseling, workshops, support groups and a 24-hour phone line available for support at 870-881-8969.
Being a caregiver can be a stressful endeavour, DeWese said, and if the caregivers do not take care of themselves, there won’t be anyone to care for those who need it. She advised caregivers to be aware of signs of stress and depression, and to take advantage of available resources and support groups to emphasize that they are not alone.
For more information on the South Arkansas Center on Aging or the resources available, contact the center at 870-881-8969 or email DeWese at [email protected]. The center is located at 106 W. Main, suite 310, in El Dorado.