Caregiver Connections began nearly 10 years ago, as caregivers came together, realizing that there was not an organization in Eagle County that provided respite for caregivers of senior adults. They formed Eagle Valley Senior Life, which rebranded their name to Caregiver Connections last year.
Caregiver Connections offers respite to caregivers of senior adults through a senior day program and activity buddies. Since Covid-19, we have moved our programs virtual, teaching seniors how to use tablets, so the social engagement will continue.
Starting on Thanksgiving and ending on New Year’s Day, Caregiver Connections is having a Home For The Holidays Hunt. This is a virtual scavenger hunt, with the goal of connecting families across the miles during these holidays. We know how difficult this holiday season will be. Isolation is huge in our senior population, as well as the caregivers, but we want to help families connect through this pandemic. Any family member may participate, regardless where they live in the world.
We work closely with Vintage (formerly Alpine Area Agency on Aging) and Eagle County office on Aging. Our focus is to provide respite for our caregivers, as well as find resources for their needs. We also receive referrals from Vail Health, Mountain Family Health Centers and other medical and care facilities throughout the county. How do you help support local charities/businesses/community/environment?As a nonprofit, we all seem to stick together, helping each other as we can. We often work with United Way, Alzheimer’s Association and others throughout the valley. When we are in need of items or gifts for our clients, we always try to shop local. During this pandemic, our local businesses are hurting and we want to help our own community in every way we can.
Senior adults and their caregivers are the most at risk in our community. They have been isolated since early March, not going anywhere with the caregivers. Instead of shutting down and no longer running our programs, we shifted and became virtual. We provided our seniors with electronic tablets, taught them how to use their tablets and we continue to meet virtually through zoom three times a week. This not only keeps the senior adult socially engaged and provides caregivers with a little break, it keeps them positive, stimulated and feeling not quite so isolated.
Caregivers reach out to us, expressing their concerns with their loved one. They are given the opportunity to sign up for an Activity Buddy, which is a companion that visits with eh senior 2-3 hours per week. These times may be playing games, taking walks, eating out or just visiting. The caregiver may also sign up their loved one for Senior Spot, our senior day program. This program meets three times a week for 2 hours. This provides games, trivia, guest speakers and other events to help stimulate, socially engage and interact with others their own age. Through all these programs, the impact is seen by the caregivers and seniors not feeling so isolated, allowing everyone to be productive in their own area of the community.
Many caregivers are nervous about offering their senior a program that is virtual. They are convinced that seniors cannot learn how to use an electronic tablet. We have proven that it can work and that the senior can be engaged and very happy with their involvement.
Caregiver Connections is here to help the caregiver to be the best caregiver they can be. They need respite, so that they can continue to provide for their loved one. We provide the needed respite through our programs. Our goal is that caregivers don’t feel they need to do it alone. Caregivers need to take the chance and see how their senior will respond to the activities planned to help the senior get involved. We want to provide a place where caregivers will use our resources, that will not only better themselves, but their senior loved one also.
We are the only organization certified with the Colorado respite Coalition in the county. We provide a social day program for seniors, that is not available anywhere else in the valley. We do all this, all while offering the respite caregivers so desperately need.
We only have a few employees, but we use lots of volunteers. Volunteers provide the one on one companionship with each senior, as well as assist in the games and activities at Senior Spot. Our volunteers do this because they want to make a difference and it truly shows.
They can go to our web site, which is www.getcaregiverconnections.org or e-mail at support@getcaregiverconnections.org. We are always there to help.