Over time, you’ve noticed changes as your parents — or partner — have aged: in their health, their habits, and their housing needs.
You may have observed moments of cognitive confusion, erratic driving, or difficulties walking up and down steps. It’s understandable that you may be feeling overwhelmed — especially if your loved one is reluctant to talk about these life changes or if you are facing a family crisis, such as a fall or hospitalization.
The best thing you can do for your relative (and yourself!) is to reach out to Iona’s expert staff. For more than 40 years, we have helped family members who are concerned about or caring for a loved one.
We offer:
- Consultations with Iona Care Management. Consultations cover your most stressful decisions. Making a move or staying at home. Managing finances. Coping with memory loss. Navigating a hospitalization or other crisis. You’ll be able to ask your questions and get concrete next steps and customized referrals. Our expert care managers are also able to put plans into action. You can ask them to conduct a home visit, arrange and coordinate services, or monitor needs. In other words, you’ll get a personalized plan AND peace of mind.
- Adult Day Health Services. If your loved one is facing a chronic challenge like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, we can arrange for you to visit our award-winning Wellness & Arts Center, an adult day health program. With individualized therapeutic, social, and health services, our adult day health program ensures your loved one is engaged in a supportive environment, instead of bored at home. Plus, it’s a service for you too — as a caregiver, you’re able to return to work, run errands, or simply take time for yourself knowing that your family member is safe and cared for by a team of compassionate nurses, social worker, art therapist, and program specialists.
- Support groups and individual counseling. Be the best caregiver you can be. Iona support groups offer a much-needed anchor by providing you a space to connect with others experiencing similar situations. Come build community with other caregivers, share resources, and learn new coping strategies. You can also meet privately with a counselor.
- Memory Café. Sometimes a side-effect of a dementia diagnosis is a shrinking social calendar. Iona’s Memory Café helps solve that challenge. It’s a fun, social way to enjoy quality time with your loved one several evenings a year at Iona. Refreshments, interactive activity, and lots of laughs always included. Contact Sharon O’Connor at (202) 895-9469 for more information.
When you’re concerned about an aging family member, it’s hard to know where to turn. Iona has advice and options for you. To learn more about our services, please explore our website or contact Iona at (202) 895-9448 or info@iona.org.
