By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
Deborah Lineberger made a promise to her mother to not place her in a nursing home.
It’s a promise the Gold Hill resident intends to keep.
Betty Walker, who is in her 70s, is not unlike many older adults who rely on their children or other family to look after them.
Lineberger said her mother is still able to live alone, but she looks in on her regularly.
She is enrolling in the Family Care Program offered in January by the Hanford Dole Chapter of the American Red Cross. Lineberger is also the director of emergency services at the Hanford Dole Chapter of the American Red Cross.
The program, which begins Jan 19, is a nine-session training program for people who have parents or others at home.
“For me to keep my promise, I need to be educated,” Lineberger said.
The program is not new, it’s been in other counties since 2004, but is new to Rowan.
“More and more people are living longer and with the uncertainty of health-care costs, many families are choosing to take care of their elderly in the home. Other families may be faced with caring for family members and veterans with long-term injuries or illnesses,” said Rebecca Cleveland, coordinator for the Family Care Giving Program.
The Family Care Giving Program is a division of Health and Safety at the American Red Cross.
“Sometimes caregivers are afraid to ask for help and sometimes people don’t know how to help. This would be a good class to help give a neighbor who is a caregiver, a break,” Cleveland said.
The class meets from 6-8:30 p.m. every Tuesday at the American Red Cross building, 1930 W. Jake Alexander Blvd., Salisbury.
Class space is limited, so register early. There is a $100 cost for materials.
Lineberger said her mother’s health is just now declining and she wants to be prepared.
“When you are doing something like this, taking care of your parents there’s just not a lot of information out there,” she said.
Lineberger said she doesn’t claim to have all the answers, but hopes through this series of classes she does find some answers.
The classes are as follows:
– Jan. 19, Karen Grochowsky, RN with Bayada, will teach pulse, respiration, temperature, blood pressure and medication precautions.
– Jan. 26, Kim Cornelison, an administrative manager with Genesis HealthCare, Salisbury Center, will teach the seven stages of deterioration of the brain for Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Jamie Carr, food service director at Liberty Commons, will discuss healthy eating, food handling, denture and dental care.
– Feb. 2, Thomas Schnupp, a physical therapist, and Janna Syester, an occupational therapist, both from Advanced Home Health, will speak about positioning and moving, range of motion exercises and use of adaptive equipment such as a walker or wheelchair.
– Feb. 9, Salisbury Attorney John Basinger, will explain wills, power of attorney, do not resuscitate (DNR), managing assets and other legal issues related to caregivers.
– Feb. 16, Karen Grochowsky, with Bayada, will return to teach bed pan care, grooming and bathing. Also CPR and First Aid certification.
– March 9, Thomasina Paige, an outreach coordinator at Rufty-Holmes Senior Center, will discuss services and activities at the center. Also, Kathy Summer, a manager with Rowan Regional Home Health and Hospice, will discuss hospice services and support for caregivers.
Cleveland said they also hope to have a class about diabetes as well as eye and foot care.
It seems more economical to Lineberger to care for her mother instead of placing her in an adult living facility, she said.
“It’s better if you can give your own care to your own family,” Lineberger said.
She encourages others to take the class as well.
“I think if people have never done it before, they should come and see what the class has to offer,” she said.
She believes it is best if family can take of their elderly.
“Family is the best caregiver. They have something that none of the nursing home employees can give and that’s love,” Lineberger said.
She doesn’t feel nursing home employees don’t do a good job, but there’s nothing like family taking care of family she said.
If there is a concern of leaving an elderly person at home while you attend classes, Cleveland said not to worry. There will be an elder care room available while instruction is going on.
For more information or to register for the Family Care Giving Education Program, call the Red Cross at 704-633-3854 or visit www.ehdoleredcross.org.