How Do I Register?

A free event

To register by mail, phone or fax:

Interfaith CarePartners
701 N. Post Oak Rd Ste. 330
Houston, TX 77024
PHONE: 713-682-5995
FAX: 713-682-0639

Event Information

8:30 a.m.

Participant Check-In/Exhibits Open

9:00 a.m.

Opening Plenary

“Having Hope in Hard Times”
Earl Shelp, Ph.D. Interfaith CarePartners

9:45 – 10:50 a.m.

Session 1 Workshops

1. Taboo Topics in Caregiving: Driving, Money ...
Barbara Cavanaugh, ACSW, LCSW
Learn how to have meaningful conversation about those issues noone wants to bring up but that need to be resolved for the safety and security of both carereceiver and caregiver.

2. Hearing Loss Can Get In The Way
Teri Wathen, Hearing Loss Resource Specialist; Ray Wathen, STAP Specialist
Teri and Ray Wathen will share resources, technology, and communication tips to help in the everyday living or caring for someone with a hearing loss.

3. Male Family Caregivers: Panel Discussion of Changing Roles and Perspective
Chuck Fleming, MSW; panel of male caregivers
Husbands and sons are finding themselves transitioning from family roles of providers to caregivers. The panel of male caregivers will discuss the challenges and triumphs they have encountered.

4. Solving the Caregiving Puzzle
Stephennie Anderson, Senior Guidance Directory
Learn how to locate vital caregiving resources with a step-by-step tour through the complete and comprehensive listing of Houston and Harris County resources for seniors, families, and caregivers.

5. In Home Care: Home Health Medical Care vs Non-Medical Home Care
Donna Wrabel, LMSW; Monique Cullen
You know you need help, but what kind, and how do you go about finding it? This workshop will discuss the different types of in-home care, the services each provides, how to locate, costs, etc.

6. How Oral Health Affects General Health
Donna Warren Morris, RDH, Med.; June Sadowsky, DDS, MPH; UT Dental Branch Houston
This workshop will cover basic oral care techniques and products for prevention of oral disease in a care receiver. Poor oral health has been linked to pneumonia, heart disease, stroke and even certain cancers. Also covered will be oral manifestations of aging, common drug side-effects and interactions seen in the mouth.

7. Elder Law Overview and Why It Pays To Plan in Advance
Wesley E. Wright, Certified Elder Law Attorney
In this workshop Wesley E. Wright will explain how to plan for and pay for long term care while protecting benefits and assets.

8. Fruit of the Spirit: Recognizing the Spiritual Attributes of a Caregiver
Robyn Horn, BA, MA, H.I.S. Cornerstone
This workshop will guide a caregiver through scriptural references specifically related to caring for the elderly while emphasizing the spiritual attributes of a caregiver.

11:00 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.

Session 2 Workshops

9. Understanding Medicare
Jane Lehto, Medical Reimbursement Resources
This workshop offers an overview of Medicare A, B, C (Advantage) and D, Medicare Supplemental Insurance and how our new national health plan, The Affordable Care Act, will impact Medicare.

10. Essential Legal Documents
Colleen Campbell Root, Attorney
This workshop will provide information about advance directives, power of attorney, and other essential documents that enable an individual to exercise control in the event of incapacity and to avoid guardianship, as well as provide an introduction to long-term care and estate planning, covering topics such as wills, trusts, and probate.

11. Options When Home Care Is Not Practical
Doug Reuschel, LNFA, LBSW, GCM
This workshop will discuss how to decide and what to do when caring for a loved one at home is no longer possible or prudent, whether because of the complexity of care needed, impaired health of the caregiver, or other considerations.

12. Preserving Quality of Life
Nancy Walter, Director, Palliative Care, Memorial Hermann; Marti Nelson, Director of Bereavement, Houston Hospice; Hazel Thomas, TIRR, Memorial Hermann
This workshop will focus on the components and changes that contribute to the concept of quality of life, and on decision making based on physical, emotional and spiritual factors affecting quality of life. The panel will “demystify” palliative and hospice care by presenting a comprehensive explanation of the broad scope of each, the range of services for care receiver and the family, and more.

13. Sibling Wars and Parent Care: Achieving Peace and Cooperation
Ballard Burgher, Ph.D, LMSW
This workshop will explore perspectives and methods to communicate differences in viewpoints, reach amicable resolutions, and preserve relationships when conflict arises around care of aging parents.

14. Medicines: Always Read the Labels
Sally Davis, RN, MSN, UT Heath School of Nursing Center on Aging, Geriatric
Pharmacology
Keeping up with medications is a major task of a caregiver. Good information about drug protocol and drug interactions is essential in maintaining proper medical treatment. Those issues are complicated enough even before dealing with the differences for geriatric patients. This workshop will discuss all of these issues.

15. The Detrimental Effects of Caregiver Stress: Who is Taking Care of You?
Robyn Horn, BA, MA, H.I.S. Cornerstone
This workshop utilizes stress assessment tools for the caregiver as well as providing tangible solutions to prevent and/or alleviate caregiver burnout.

16. The Value of Creating Personal Histories
Stefani Twyford, Legacy MultiMedia LLC; Teri Miller, MS, OTR
What value does creating a personal history have to the subject as well as to family members and community. Learn some compelling reasons to consider doing a personal history for your family and look at various ways of accomplishing this. It will also examine working with those with memory impairment and discuss some specific tips for getting the best experience possible.

12:05 – 1:05 p.m.

Lunch and Exhibits

1:15 – 2:20 p.m.

Sessions 3 Workshops

17. Powerful Tools For Caregivers Discovery Class
Dick Humphries, Gillian Hill, Faith Brock Trained Facilitators
This workshop is an introduction to a structured six-week course that will teach you to be the best caregiver you can be. The course is offered at St. Luke’s and other locations.

18. Medicaid – Benefits and Planning
Andrea Wilson, Attorney
This workshop will focus on how the complex system of Medicaid works, benefits, offered, eligibility for benefits, making claims, and Medicaid planning.

19. Activities To Share between Caregiver and Care Receiver
Deborah Mahrt, RMT, Director of Lifestyles, The Buckingham
Finding meaningful and pleasurable activities for homebound, physically impaired, or those with dementia can be challenging for caregivers. Learn take-away examples in addition to ideas and resources that will benefit both care receiver and caregiver.

20. Roller Coaster Emotions
Earl Shelp, Ph.D. Interfaith CarePartners
This workshop will discuss how to understand and cope with the spectrum of emotions caregivers are likely to experience.

21. Veterans Administration Benefits
Abel Guevara, Texas Veterans Commission
Learn about benefits available through the Veterans Administration, eligibility, how to apply and other necessary information.

22. Changing Roles and Relationships in Caregiving
Donna Wrabel, LMSW, At Your Side Home Care
This workshop will explore how your relationships change as you step into the role of caregiver for a loved one. We will discuss issues such as expectations, boundaries, role identity, causes of stress, and provide a framework in which to view the changing roles of caregiver and care receiver.

23. Laughter is the Best Medicine
Jeanette Lazarofsky, MS, CMC, CLL
This workshop will provide educational information on the health benefits of laughter and an opportunity to experience good hearty laughter. Laughter plays a role in healing, staying healthy, controlling stress reactions, and maintaining emotional balance. Participants will enjoy the physical, mental, emotional and social benefits of laughter.

24. Observation Status: Is it Inpatient or Outpatient – That is the Question!
Cindy Hartman, RN, BSN, GCM
Did you know that even if you stay in the hospital overnight, you might still be considered “outpatient”? Your hospital status – inpatient/outpatient – affects how much you pay for hospital services, and may also affect whether Medicare will cover care you get in a skilled nursing facility.