New Mexico Direct Caregivers Coalition by Adrienne R. Smith, President and CEO March 2018 The New Mexico Direct Caregivers Coalition (NMDCC) is a home-grown organization working to enhance and promote family and professional caregivers, supporting their development and advancing direct care issues so they may better serve those who are elderly and those with disabilities. We started in 2009 with a series of Listening Sessions that were held in all regions of New Mexico. These Listening Sessions were paid for…

New Mexico Direct Caregivers Coalition has joined #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. On November 28, supporters can make an online donation to New Mexico Direct Caregivers Coalition and encourage their social media networks to give. #GivingTuesday is a global movement reaching millions annually. It is held on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and the widely-recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday….

Low Job Satisfaction in Caregiving: Implications and Recommendations By Brittany Karnezis Direct care is the fastest-growing profession in the state of New Mexico. Because of the significant growth in the aging population in the recent past, it’s also the second fastest-growing in the nation, with nearly 2,000,000 direct care workers expected by 2022. Despite the mounting need for an increase in the workforce, turnover rates for direct care workers remains high, often falling between 50% – 75%. Turnover rates this…

Stress-Busting Program (SBP) for Family Caregivers Do you provide care for a loved one with a chronic illness or disorder? You are not alone. Being a family caregiver is stressful and can lead to total exhaustion and burnout. If caregivers do not take care of themselves, their own health is put in danger. The Stress-Busting Program for Family Caregivers provides education and support for family caregivers of people with chronic illness. The program teaches caregivers stress management strategies and ways…

Don’t we already know that care recipient health and safety is directly linked to that of the caregiver? Here is more evidence in case you need to know the facts… “Frontline Hospital Workers and the Worker Safety/Patient Safety Nexus” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4526156/

Please contact the senator and the representative from your state: • Ask for their full support and passage of S. 591 and H.R. 1472, the Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act • Express how this legislation affects you or the military caregivers you work so hard to support • Share your personal or organizational story and connection to our shared cause Find your senator here: http://ow.ly/ca32309RIlG Find your representative here: http://ow.ly/Q9K2309RInY Read the press release: http://ow.ly/PB8o309RGp4

Join us for a FREE “Health and Safety for Caregivers” on March 20 from 12:30pm-4:30pm at Placitas Senior Center, 41 Camino de las Huertas, Placitas, NM. Topics: Workers’ Rights and Employer Responsibilities, Infection Prevention and Musculoskeletal Safety Appropriate for caregivers of persons who are elderly and those with disabilities. Certificate of completion awarded. Care recipients welcome. Register here: http://ow.ly/HRkE309peYk

You should always have safe patient transfers! Yes! – “both nurse and patient risk injury if a patient has to be moved without the proper help or equipment.” “OSHA fines hospital over failure to help nurses lift heavy patients” http://www.nj.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2016/12/osha_fines_hospital_over_failure_to_help_nurses_wi.html

Rural Cooperatives Magazine November/December 2016 – This issue features photos from the Inaugural Home Care Cooperative Conference in September 2016 in Dulles, VA. http://seniors.coop/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/RD-RuralCoopMagNov-Dec2016-homecare.pdf?platform=hootsuite

It’s time to talk about brain health. You may have noticed changes in an older adult in your life. Maybe they are having a hard time remembering things, acting differently, or struggling with everyday activities. Join the #TalkBrainHealth conversation on Twitter and get the toolkit at http://bit.ly/TalkBrainHealth to start the conversation with your family.