Caregiver

Doretta Kidd lost her husband, Johnny, to Alzheimer’s last November. She and her stepdaughter, Ashley Avery — who assisted with his care — spoke about what they learned from their years of caregiving and what they’re doing now to try and continue to make a difference.

Terri Lipe lives in Bolivar and has been caregiving for her mother for 11 years. To make ends meet, she began a take-and-bake casserole business out of her home.

Billie Baldwin lives outside of Bolivar and is a caregiver for her husband. She and friend Terri Lipe are co-facilitators of the Polk County/Bolivar area Caregivers Helping Caregivers support group, which meets once a month.

Maureen Templeman teaches gerontology — or aging — at Missouri State University in Springfield. She recently launched a new project called the Southwest Missouri CARE Collective that’s designed to create a new opportunity for mutual aid between caregivers.

What better way to combat the feeling of isolation - something that hits all too close to home for those caring for persons with dementia - than by tapping into your five senses (touch, taste, sight, smell and hearing). Advocate/volunteer LOIS LONG tells us how to do just that, and also shares an original, related poem she calls 'Blown Glass'. September 1, 2023

"There comes a time when a decision has to be made whether a person needs long-term care, to be in a nursing home - and the doctor is involved, and the caregiver is involved - but the significant thing about caregivers is that many times these are people 70 and 80 years old who have promised a spouse, you know, "you can stay at home, I'll take care of you"; and when that becomes impossible, I think it's important that caregivers know that they are able to have the support of an organization like Aging Best." -- LOIS LONG, advocate/volunteer March 3, 2023

It goes without saying that to be a caregiver for someone with dementia is a privilege, but that doesn't make the job any easier. Sometimes a caregiver…

Sometimes even the caretakers need caretakers. Alzheimer's Association of Greater Missouri volunteer advocate LOIS LONG tells us about a program that aims…

How do you know when it's time to take the keys away from someone whose symptoms of Alzheimer's/dementia are progressing? Among other reasons, LOIS LONG…

The essence of being a caregiver involves three things: caring and giving and listening. That's according to LOIS LONG, a volunteer with the Greater…