EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS

EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS

WellMed Caregiver Summit San Antonio, TX
Sheila with Caregiver SOS hosts: Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial, Executive Director of WellMed Charitable Foundation

Bellevue Hospital, New York, NY
Left to right: Cynthia Burney, Phyllis Waisman, Sheila Warnock, Kim Mendez,
(Cynthia Burney is the assistant to Deputy Executive Director/Chief Nurse Executive Kim Mendez)

Who Cares for the Caregiver?

“Who cares for the Caregiver” is an overview of the Share The Care model and a rousing call to action for health professional conferences, seminars, or workshops.

As a highly regarded grassroots caregiving model, STC has been used throughout the U.S., Canada and other countries to help people who are in need of support.  It was born out of the real-life needs and the experiences of 12 women (who didn’t know each other) who cared for a terminally ill mutual friend. By working closely together for nearly four years they developed a model that could support their friend as well as themselves, so no one person had too much to do and each managed to keep her own life in good working order.

Professionals will learn the first steps needed to organize the critical first meeting of a STC group and why working in close-knit teams helps maintain the group’s long-term ability to sustain their support.

During this overview of the STC model, participants learn about the key STC systems and see examples of STC in action in various communities around the world as well as their inspiring accomplishments.

(60-90 minutes) Q & A, handout brochures

How to Turn “What Can I do to Help?” Into Action

“How to Turn ‘What Can I do to Help?’ Into Action” is perfect for caregivers, concerned friends, caregiver events, conferences, support groups and the general public.

A friend tells you of a loved one’s illness. Another says she or he is caring for an aging parent. A couple faces long-term health issues with no outside support. We’ve all said it – because it’s the most universal, most instinctive reaction: “What can I do to help?” Everyone will be touched by caregiving at some point in life. What can each of us do now so that we are better prepared for our turn at bat? And how can we avoid burning out?

During this introduction to the Share The Care™ (STC) model, you’ll hear the story of how the first STC group was born and what happened to inspire the authors to write the STC guidebook so that others could follow in their footsteps.

The presentation includes examples of STC groups who have gone above and beyond the usual caregiving “call of duty” and their very inspiring accomplishments.

This presentation is about “community” at its best.

(60-90 minute) Q & A, handout brochures

Single, Separated, Widowed or Divorced –
“Who Cares for the Person Who Lives Alone?”

“Single, Separated, Widowed or Divorced – “Who Cares for the Person Who Lives Alone?” is an important topic for communities, villages and aging organizations. Today more than 31 million people live alone far from family; or they have no family.  What happens when they need help?  Who will care for them?

This presentation is filled with stories of groups that came to the rescue of individuals without family, or spouse, or relatives who could take on a caregiver role including within the LGBTQ community.

The audience learns through storytelling of how “created Share The Care (STC) families” have overcome some very difficult challenges.  And though these families cannot cure, they can heal.

This presentations includes what it takes to start a STC group as well as important suggestions on how we can each “be better prepared” should we ever need support–no matter if we have family or not.

(60-90 minutes) Q & A, handout brochures and article by Warnock on this subject

“Let’s Get Started” A Workshop for Caregivers and Concerned Friends

“Let’s Get Started” A Workshop for Caregivers and Concerned Friends” targets caregivers, care recipients without a caregiver or friends of someone who is struggling.

If your organization or institution works with caregivers who are ready to accept a STC group but need guidance to get started we offer a special workshop. Because the initial STC group meeting is designed to be organized and led by two committed friends, each caregiver will need to enlist them to attend and participate.

Working together in little groups within a larger group, people feel more encouraged and less alone in their need for outside support. Lots of Q & A and sharing.

Following background stories and examples of what groups are capable of doing we walk everyone through each of the steps needed to organize and maintain their first STC meeting.

If a care recipient has no family caregiver – this is a wonderful way for two friends to start a “caregiving family” to support them.

Following this workshop each should leave with a plan of action and a sense of confidence and enthusiasm about accepting help.

This workshop is between 2 – 3 hours (depending on number of people.)

Materials: Each participant receives a copy of the STC guidebook and a special “Let’s Get Started” workbook to use while learning as well as 23 STC forms, handouts and suggestions. This workshop would be ideal for disease specific organizations or for programs focused on helping the caregivers of our military and veterans.

CONSULTATIONS

The STC model can be an excellent addition to any current training or workshops you provide for your local caregivers or professionals.

Let us help you make STC part of your program to make life better for your caregivers and their care recipients. Contact us to discuss licensing for a specific program.

The following are examples of successful
large-scale STC programs:

STC Initiative in SW Ontario:

From 2009-2011 a STC Communications Campaign took place in South West Ontario, funded by the South West Local Integrated Health Network. The goal wasn’t just to spread the word about STC for two years, it was to create a well of knowledge and experience that people could draw on in subsequent years. It kicked off with Sheila leading four trainings (for over 200 professionals) and the hiring of a Canadian STC Coordinator with extensive background in caregiving.

The campaign resulted in over 100 information sessions and numerous training workshops. Even more importantly, it created a network of 40 local champions and 5 STC stations across the region. A summative evaluation at the end of the campaign revealed that 4,100 people attended information sessions and almost 7,000 information packages were distributed at various presentations, health fairs, and conferences. It’s estimated that 63 caregiving groups were formed, although the number could be higher. Most were created to support people at the end of their lives. (A copy of the Evaluation of the Program is available on request)

Island of Kauai, Hawaii Program:

Island residents generally have small networks as grown children may have moved to the mainland. In 2012, Sheila was invited to Kauai to inspire and train 55 volunteers through Kauai Hospice. Using a customized way to apply STC for volunteers, Kauai was divided into six regions, each with a volunteer regional coordinator. When needed, regional coordinators met with families to assess needs and help organize resources – family, friends, coworkers, and faith community members – into caring teams. For caregivers without sufficient family and friends, available STC volunteers from their area form hanai – extended – families. Besides helping individual families, the STC program focused on community development and increasing resident’s sense of belonging – being cared for and cared about.

According to the program’s Lead Coordinator, Deborah Duda,(left in white) the STC program helped over 300 individuals and families on the Island of Kauai over a four-year period. Seen here with Lori Miller, Executive Director (right)

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