National Religious Retirement Office

NRRO Webinar Series

Tuesday, February 12, 2013 @ 1PM EST

Presentation Handouts

Care for the Caregiver Presented by: Karin “Teddi” Tomsic, BCC

Caring for others requires caring for oneself — an understandable statement that is not always easy to implement for those who dedicate their lives to the service of others. This one-hour webinar will examine the issues that cause caregiver burnout, and offer some solutions to keep caregivers refreshed, rejuvenated and able to balance care for themselves, as well as those in their care. This program is recommended for those in elected leadership and those who are in ministry to their retired members.

presentation Handouts contents Presentation Slides........................................... 2 Meet the Speaker........................................... 12 Disclaimer This webinar is intended for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for formal medical training in one of the health care professions, nor is it a substitute for professional medical advice. For more specific information you may have to consult a health care professional. Disclosure of Vested Interest The presenters have no personal, professional or financial disclosures to make in relation to this presentation. Discussion of Unlabeled Use There will be no discussion of off-label use of medication during the presentation.

2/1/2013 February 12, 2013 Webinar @ 1:00 PM EST

Care for the Caregiver

Care for the Caregiver

Level One Training for “MAMC” Minister of Care

February 12, 2013 1:00 – 2:00 PM

Presented by: Karin “Teddi” Tomsic, BCC SPONSORED BY Education Arm of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm

CURING 1.

To effect a cure or recovery: a medicine that cures.

2.

To be prepared, preserved, or finished by a chemical or physical process: hams curing in the smokehouse.

IN OUR CONTEXT 

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To set right an undesirable or unhealthy condition To heal a wounded spirit

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Care for the Caregiver

WHO NEEDS CURING? 

Not only patient/client

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But also the caregiver(s)

WHY? 

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Exposed to pain, sorrow Constant continuing need/grief Never-ending demands Time constraints Collective pain On-going postponement of personal needs/emotions

PERSONAL ASSESSMENT 1. Do you find yourself distracted while at other duties.

Y/N

2. Do colleagues seem to lack understanding.

Y/N

3. Do you find even small changes draining.

Y/N

4. Do you recover quickly after dealing with another’s suffering.

Y/N

5. Do you find suffering affects your sleep/appetite.

Y/N

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Care for the Caregiver

PERSONAL ASSESSMENT 6.

I find my friend’s stress/suffering affects me deeply.

Y/N

7.

I find it harder to sense of hopefulness/helpfulness.

Y/N

8.

I feel vulnerable more of the time.

Y/N

9.

I feel overwhelmed by unfinished personal business.

Y/N

10. I find it more difficult to feel the presence of God.

Y/N

COMPASSION FATIGUE What you are expressing are the first signs of Compassion Fatigue A first indication that you may be on your way to burn out

COMPASSION FATIGUE

Is NOT a character flaw!

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2/1/2013 February 12, 2013 Webinar @ 1:00 PM EST

Care for the Caregiver

COMPASSION FATIGUE Compassion Fatigue: 1. A state of tension and preoccupation with individual or cumulative trauma of clients as manifested in one or more ways including re-experiencing the traumatic event, avoidance/ numbing of reminders of the event, and persistent arousal. 2) The natural consequence of stress resulting from caring for and helping traumatized or suffering people or animals.

CF IMPACTS All of one’s life is tainted when someone is suffering from CF 

Impatient with others

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Demanding

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Critical

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Expecting everyone to meet one’s own standard (perfection) Depleted sense of satisfaction

Menu of Misconceptions 1. “Fix” the problem…make everything O.K… save the world… 2. Responsible for outcomes. 3. If they care enough, everything will be O.K.

4. The sufferer/victim will appreciate everything they do for them.

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2/1/2013 February 12, 2013 Webinar @ 1:00 PM EST

Care for the Caregiver

Menu of Misconceptions 5. They have enough resources (time, money, material, skills and training) to fix things. 6. Significant people in my life will support and approve my: – absence from our relationship while I am invested in this – compassionate mission. 7. That they know what they’re getting into.

Menu of Misconceptions 8. That they can do it alone (as it seems I have to). 9. That if they are spiritual enough, they will be able to deal with the stress – of working with suffering people. 10.How about you? What do you expect you can do??

FIRST PHASE 

Committed, involved, available

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Solving problems/making a difference

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Willingly go the “extra mile”

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High enthusiasm

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Volunteer without being asked

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Care for the Caregiver

SECOND PHASE 

Begin to cut corners

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Begin to avoid clients/patients/elder friends

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Begin to mock others – i.e. co-workers

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Begin to denigrate the people we serve

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Use of humor is inappropriate

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Oversights, mistakes and lapses of concentration Start distancing from friends and coworkers

THIRD PHASE 

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Enthusiasm turns sour Clients become irritants, instead of persons We make complaints about our work life and our personal life Tired all the time, don’t want to talk about what we do. We start to neglect our family/community, clients, coworkers and ourselves We try to avoid our pain and sadness

FOURTH PHASE 

Our hopelessness turns to rage

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We begin to hate people…any/all people

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Others appear incompetent or ignorant to us

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We develop a real distain for our clients

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We have…no patience…no sense of humor…no time for fun

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Care for the Caregiver

MAKING A CHOICE • Overwhelmed and leaving profession

• Hardiness

• Somatic Illness

• Resiliency

• Perpetuity of Symptoms

• Transformation

RECIPE FOR SELF-CARE 1 part

Self-Knowledge

1 part

Self-Examination

1 part

Good Resources

1 part

Realistic Expectations

1 part

Self-Care Strategy

1 part

Plan for Re-entering a Normal Life

SELF-KNOWLEDGE 

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Recognize your symptoms/feelings Intend to keep yourself healthy Determine what refreshes you Intend to do what refreshes you

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Care for the Caregiver

SELF-EXAMINATION How do I feel today? Do I… 

Feel abandoned? Isolate?

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Angry? Tired? Do I eat right?

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Feel guilty about feeling good about myself?

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Worry about friend/clients?

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Take pills/drink to relax?

RESOURCES 

Good sleeping habits

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Good nutrition

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Medical TX. As needed

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Supportive connections

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Mini-vacations

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Professional help

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A circle of support

EXPECTATIONS 

Your role



Role of professionals

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Role of common friends

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Outcomes

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God

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2/1/2013 February 12, 2013 Webinar @ 1:00 PM EST

Care for the Caregiver

SELF-CARE STRATEGY 

Quiet time

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Exercise

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Caring for one’s physical needs

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Have a trusted mentor

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Give permissions

RE-ENTERING 

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Once you have a plan, put it in motion. Stay with it, true changes need up to 6 months to become habit

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Engage in relationships (old or new)

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Have some fun

FINALLY Unrecognized and untreated compassion fatigue causes people to leave their profession, fall into the throws of addictions or in extreme cases become self-destructive or suicide. It is important that we all understand this phenomenon for our own well-being, but also for our colleagues. If you notice a colleague in distress- reach out to them.

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Care for the Caregiver

QUESTIONS

KARIN “TEDDI” TOMSIC, BCC [email protected]

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February 12, 2013 Webinar @ 1:00 PM EST

Care for the Caregiver

Meet the Speaker Karin “Teddi” Tomsic, BCC Karin “Teddi” is a Board Certified Chaplain with over 30 years of experience. She has worked in long-term care since 1987 when she came to New England. Teddi worked for a year at Roncalli Healthcare in Bridgeport, CT and then started the Pastoral Care program at St. Joseph’s Manor in Trumbull, CT where she worked for the next 20 years. She then worked part-time at Mary Manning Walsh Home in Manhattan for 2 years. Prior to 1987, she served as a Staff Chaplain at St. Paul’s Hospital in Dallas, Texas and as a volunteer at Canoga Park Hospice in California. Teddi now enjoys teaching seminars and speaking on topics based on her experience in Pastoral Care. Teddi attended St. Joseph College on the Rio Grande, as well as Santa Barbara City College. She has Certificates in Spiritual Direction from the Diocese of Bridgeport and from the CHAP program at St. John’s University, New York. She has also completed six additional units of Clinical Pastoral Education. She has been certified by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains since 1982.

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