E n r i c h i n g O u r C o m m u n i t y T h r o u g h S t r o n g e r Fa m i l i e s

Volume 14, Issue 2

Resources for Families, Individuals and Professionals

Coping with Loss, Grief and Suicide

Warning Signs and Recovery

Suicide is difficult to predict, even by trained mental health professionals, according to Mary Petersen, LMSW, a psychotherapist in private practice and member of The Family Center’s Association of Professionals. Yet many people report feeling guilty because they did not notice any warning signs prior to the incident. “Loved ones erroneously feel they could have done something to prevent the tragedy, and they feel powerless,” Petersen says. “I believe human beings often find it easier to accept that they could have done something and failed, rather than admit helplessness.” Many people are depressed or isolated, but those conditions of themselves will not necessarily lead to suicide, she says. In addition to depression and isolation, suicidal people also have feelings of pervasive and persistent hopelessness. Additionally, suicidal people often lack emotional INSIDE Grief, Healing and Resilience Presentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Mental Health First Aid Training . . . . . .

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Suicide Awareness Resources . . . . . . . .

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HOLLYFEST 2014 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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From the Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Kids and the Flu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Aging at Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Give the United Way Way . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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intimacy with others and feel disconnected, self-loathing, failure, lack of purpose, and that others will somehow be better off without them. Combine these risk factors with thoughts of suicide as a real option, a plan, intent, means, and opportunity, and it can be a recipe for disaster. According to Petersen, suicidal people often conceal their feelings because they fear (or actually experience) any combination of ridicule, shame, judgment, denial, pity, platitudes, or a minimizing of their concerns. “In the saddest, most dire circumstances,” she says, “people who feel suicidal don’t tell because they are intent on following through with the suicide, and others may interrupt their plans.” Unfortunately, Petersen concludes, those who would be most objective and able to spot the true signs of suicidal risk are often not close enough to see it. Those who are closer don’t want to believe such a horrific thing is a possibility, and often will not see the signs except through hindsight. “Keeping a candid, open dialogue between yourself and those you love sets the best stage for them to reach out if they need support,” she says. Recovering from a loved one’s suicide is difficult, yet grieving is a natural part of human experience, and necessary after loss for a person to heal, Petersen says. Among the most common stages of grief are shock/ denial, anger, sorrow, and acceptance. “There are infinitely many ways to grieve,” she advises. “However, for someone to survive loss and be healthy, they must move through their own grieving process, in their

own time, until it’s finished. No short cuts, no exceptions! The only way out is through grieving, preferably with support.” If someone close to you has suffered a loss, Petersen says, listen to them with patience and compassion. Let them tell you what they need. Offer support without imposing it. Let them talk and cry, and forfeit the notion that you must fix things. Avoid platitudes, especially “I know how you feel.” You don’t, so don’t assume. A simple, “I’m so sorry for your loss” or “You are in my thoughts” is plenty. Your role is to be a witness in mourning death and celebrating life. Just be present, and be yourself. “If you have sustained grief reactions that interfere with your life or you are having thoughts of suicide yourself,” Petersen says, “seek out professional help immediately.”

Talking to Teens About Suicide The suicide of a classmate is especially difficult, according to Mary Beth Garvey, a therapist in private practice in Grosse Pointe who works with children, adolescents and families. Garvey is a member of The Family Center’s Association of Professionals, Advisory Council and Program Planning Committee. (continued on page 3)

The Family Center - Serving our community through programs and resources vital to today’s families. familycenterweb.org

E n r i c h i n g O u r C o m m u n i t y T h r o u g h S t r o n g e r Fa m i l i e s

Understanding Loss, Grief and the Healing Process for Families Thurs. October 9, 7 p.m.

Presented by the Family Center in partnership with the Tree of Hope Foundation and The Grosse Pointe Academy

The Grosse Pointe Academy (Lake Shore Building), 171 Lake Shore Rd. Grosse Pointe Farms

Wednesdays, September 17 and 24 5:30-9:30 p.m.

An evening of three 30-minute talks plus a Q&A session, featuring: Mary Beth Garvey, LMSW – Family Therapist, Private Practice Mary Petersen, LMSW, ACSW – Psychotherapist, Private Practice

Mental Health First Aid Trainings

Peter J.M. Henry, Pastor

Peter J.M. Henry, Pastor - Grosse Pointe Memorial Church Program description: All families are touched by grief - whether it’s a family illness or death, the loss of a beloved pet, coping with a new reality, or a tragedy within our community. We will explore the process of grief and how to help ourselves and our loved ones grieve in a healthy way, find hope and begin to heal. Understanding the dynamics of grief and loss helps foster resilience within our families and community. These talks will address different types of loss, the grieving process and stages of grief, and the emotional, spiritual, and psychological components of recovery. All programs are FREE Register today @ familycenterweb.org or call 313.432.3832

Loss and Grief Resources Here at The Family Center, we can be a resource to help cope with hurt and grief. Please use the search function in the left-hand column of our website, familycenterweb.org, to find the following resources on dealing with suicide, grief, and loss. • Ask the Experts Articles on Suicide, Loss, Grief and Trauma Search “grief” online www.familycenterweb.org • Talking to Teens About Suicide – Mary Beth Garvey, LMSW • What Parents Can Do to Help Children Process Loss – Mary Beth Garvey, LMSW • Behavior Indicators for Childhood Trauma - Caelan Kuban, PsyD, LMSW

The Grosse Pointe Academy (Lake Shore Building) 171 Lake Shore Rd. Grosse Pointe Farms NOTE: Trainings limited to 35 attendees per session. Pre-registration required online www.familycenterweb.org or 313.432.3832 Program Description: Mental Health First Aid is a national program to teach the skills to respond to the signs of mental illness and substance abuse. This course is dedicated to providing the public with the basic tools required to assist others in case of a developing mental illness, or mental health crisis situation. This valuable program is for anyone who would like to know more about how to help someone in crisis. The Youth course is specifically tailored for adults working with young people. www.MentalHealthFirstAid.org

• Suicide’s Warning Signs and the Struggle to Notice Them – Mary Petersen, LMSW, ACSW

Mental Health First Aid Trainings

• Recovering From a Loved One’s Suicide – Mary Petersen, LMSW, ACSW

8 hour training (Two - 4 hour sessions) Upon completion of training, participants will receive a certificate for three year certification for MHFA.

• Coping with Loss During the Holidays – Rebecca Palen, LMSW • Understanding and Acknowledging Grief – Marla Ruhana, LMSW • The Heavy Heartedness of Grief – Marla Ruhana, LMSW Please use the search function in the left-hand column for articles on dealing with suicide, grief, and loss. • Access our Association of Professionals to find professionals who can help in this difficult time. • External resources: (links will open in a new window) • Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide http://www.sptsusa.org/parents/ • Article: “About Teen Suicide” http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/suicide.html • Video: “Kevin Briggs: The bridge between suicide and life | Talk Video | TED.com”

Wed. Sept 17, 2014 – PART 1 • Focus: ADULT Training for Adults Board Room – 5:30-9:30 p.m. • Focus: YOUTH Training for Adults Parlor – 5:30-9:30 p.m. Wed. Sept 24, 2014 – PART 2 • Focus: ADULT Training for Adults Board Room – 5:30-9:30 p.m. • Focus: YOUTH Training for Adults Parlor – 5:30-9:30 p.m.

2 The Family Center - Serving our community through programs and resources vital to today’s families. familycenterweb.org



E n r i c h i n g O u r C o m m u n i t y T h r o u g h S t r o n g e r Fa m i l i e s

Coping with Loss, Grief and Suicide “The suicide of a young person impacts the whole community,” Garvey says. “In general, the severity of the response correlates to how connected they were to the deceased.” Many people feel incredibly vulnerable when confronted with the suicide of a young person, Garvey says, and there is often a wide range of emotional responses, which may include helplessness, anger, fear, guilt, shock, anxiety or confusion. “Talk candidly with your kids about the suicide, despite wanting to protect them,” she advises. “An honest discussion about what happened, based on the facts, helps adolescents feel taken care of and reinforces safety, security and trust. Knowing that the loss can be discussed constructively will help them to feel more in control.” Although you will need to initiate the discussion, take cues from your children about what they can handle, Garvey says. Adolescents process grief differently and may need to move in and out of grief in ways that are manageable to them. Respect their feelings with nonjudgmental responses and offer reassurance when needed.

Indicators for Childhood Trauma Parents, caregivers and professionals should know that trauma can be any experience that leaves a person feeling hopeless, helpless, fearing for life or safety, or feeling out of control, says Dr. Caelan Kuban, director of The National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children (TLC), a member program of the Starr Global Learning Network. Starr Commonwealth is a member of The Family Center’s Association of Professionals. “Children need to know that it is normal to experience reactions like fear or worry after exposure to trauma or an overwhelming life event,” Kuban says. “This knowledge reduces their concern that something might be ‘wrong’ with them. It also provides them with assurance that they are not alone in how they are feeling.” During an initial four- to six-week period following the traumatic experience, any sort of behavior is common and should be considered normal, she says. Following this period, behavior outside of a child’s norm can indicate trauma or post-traumatic stress. These behaviors include hyper-vigilance, asking lots of questions and being abnormally fearful and clingy. Kuban offers steps parents or caregivers can take to help a child in trauma. Turn off the TV if a traumatic event is being shown to prevent overexposure. Actively listen to what they are experiencing. Be careful not to judge or state that “It’s no big deal” or “This is something we all go through.” “If a child has questions regarding a traumatic event, be honest and answer their questions without going into unnecessary detail,” she advises. “If questions are avoided, children will often make up a scenario on their own that is many times scarier. Be honest and give facts but at their pace.”

(continued from page 1)

Parents may want to explain that it is to be expected that the child is feeling jumpy or nervous, Kuban concludes. It is OK to be mad about what happened, and even grown-ups have similar feelings when they are scared or worried.

Understanding Grief Marla Ruhana, LMSW, a clinical social worker in private practice in St. Clair Shores and member of The Family Center’s Association of Professionals, notes that there are several stages of grief: denial, anger, depression, bargaining, and acceptance. Shock is also part of grief as well as social isolation. “Every individual is different, some stay in the anger stage for years, others move through these stages within each day, for years,” Ruhana says. “Everyone experiences grief in their own way and for a variety of reasons.” “We will never change how others cope,” she says, “but you can be proactive and seek out a grief and loss support group or simply surround yourself with those who do provide you with the support you need. Psychotherapy with a therapist who specializes in grief and loss is also beneficial.”

Grief Over the Holidays While there are other critical dates and times that affect grieving people, says Rebecca L Palen, a clinical therapist serving the Grosse Pointe/St. Clair Shores area and a member of The Family Center’s Association of Professionals, for many the most difficult day for the bereaved is Christmas. “This particular holiday, more than any other,” she says, “means family is together, making the void of your loved one even more acutely aware.” Listed below are some suggestions that others have found helpful in coping with the holiday season. Choose the ones that will help you: • Keep it simple • Accept help • Eat wisely • Know your limits • Be smart about travel • Share your feelings • Set goals for the New Year • Discover what the holidays mean to you For more on suicide and grief or more information about our Ask the Experts professionals, go to The Family Center website at familycenterweb.org.

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E n r i c h i n g O u r C o m m u n i t y T h r o u g h S t r o n g e r Fa m i l i e s HOLLYFEST SPONSORSHIP LEVELS CHAMPION SPONSOR: $5,000 • 8 tickets to HOLLYFEST’s VIP Reception and event • Full-page ad on inside of front or back cover of program • Half-page ad in Grosse Pointe Magazine ($1,025 value) • Prominent placards with logo at the event • 5-min. opportunity on the microphone • Listing in invitation, Save the Date mailer, and program SIGNATURE SPONSOR: $3,000 • 6 tickets to HOLLYFEST’s VIP Reception and event • Half page ad in HOLLYFEST program • Quarter page ad in Grosse Pointe Magazine ($600 value) • Prominent placards with logo at the event • Listing in invitation, Save the Date mailer and program PATRON: $1,500 • 4 tickets to HOLLYFEST’s VIP Reception and event • Quarter page ad in HOLLYFEST program • Prominent placards with logo at the event • Listing in invitation, Save the Date mailer and program BENEFACTOR: $500 • 2 tickets to HOLLYFEST’s VIP Reception and event • Listing in invitation, Save the Date mailer and program PARTNER: $250 • 1 ticket to HOLLYFEST’s VIP Reception and event • Listing in invitation, Save the Date mailer and program Sponsorship forms may be found at hollyfest.familycenterweb.org or call The Family Center at 313.432.3832.

HOLLYFEST A holiday benefit to support The Family Center of Grosse Pointe & Harper Woods

Join us for HOLLYFEST 2014! The Family Center will host its 12th annual signature fundraising event, HOLLYFEST, on Friday, Nov. 21. Due to ever-growing support for The Family Center, HOLLYFEST has sold out for two years consecutively and has become one of the area’s premier holiday events. To better accommodate all of our supporters for this year’s festivities, we are pleased to announce our partnership with the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club as our venue of choice for HOLLYFEST 2014. “We are very excited to hold our ever-popular HOLLYFEST fundraiser at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club this year,” said Cathy Leverenz, president of The Family Center board. “The larger space allows us to ‘spread out’ and offer even more fabulous silent auction items, not to mention the elegant atmosphere and superb cuisine at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club.” HOLLYFEST is an invaluable lifeline for The Family Center, as funds from guests and supporters help sustain programming efforts at The Family Center, including our Ask the Experts lectures and articles and Play Central (a place for parents, grandparents and all caregivers to play with their children while socializing with others), and more. Funds also underwrite communication outreach efforts to thousands of families and professionals via social media, our newsletters and website. Plans for the 2014-2015 programs are already under way but they can only be realized with community support and a successful signature event. Event sponsorships and program advertising opportunities are available. The benefit committee is actively seeking support at the Champion, Signature, Patron, Benefactor and Partner Sponsor levels, which include varying benefits, i.e. entrance to the VIP Reception, ticket(s) to HOLLYFEST and listing in the event program. Sponsorship information and commitment forms can be found online at familycenterweb.org or call 313.432.3832. Special gratitude is extended to our HOLLYFEST Benefit Committee — Mary Beth Austin, Gaby Boddy, Judy Gafa, George McMullen, Anne Prokop, Rania Routsis, Marina Southers and Beth Vernon — for their enthusiastic commitment. We would also like to thank our benefit support team: John Minnis, Pointe Magazine; Donald Schulte, Don Schulte Photography; and Vickie Winn, CKC Agency. Planning for HOLLYFEST has been under way for months now. Guests can expect the evening to begin at 6 p.m. with a VIP Reception for Sponsorships of $250+, followed by cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, silent and live auctions, dinner and musical entertainment/dancing to finish the night. General Admission New This Year! starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $125 each. HOLLYFEST Program Advertising Rates To donate either Silent or Live Auction items, contact the benefit committee or download the auction item form online at familycenterweb.org or call 313.432.3832.

• Full Page $1,000 • Half Page $500

• Quarter Page $250 • Business Card $125

All ads run black and white. Provide PDF or JPG or TIF. Images 300dpi at actual size. For more information, call 313.432.3832 or email [email protected].

4 The Family Center - Serving our community through programs and resources vital to today’s families. familycenterweb.org

E n r i c h i n g O u r C o m m u n i t y T h r o u g h S t r o n g e r Fa m i l i e s

From the Director Sharing = Stronger Families The Family Center will soon celebrate its 14th year of service — sharing resources that inform, educate and connect people of all ages across our community. The depth and breadth of our program offerings are enhanced by so many people who share what is most dear to them — their time, their talents and their financial support — to help our community better respond to the challenges of raising a family and caring for family members. The Family Center is grateful to the professionals who give of their time to share their expertise. When a local high school student turned to us for help promoting an Out of Darkness suicide awareness walk, a therapist in The Family Center’s Association of Professionals volunteered to provide oneon-one counseling at the event. Everyone who visited our resource table was grateful for the experience. A new evening of “Ask the Experts” Talks on grief, loss and suicide awareness is scheduled to help people impacted by the death of a loved one.

We rely on a corps of over 100 dedicated volunteers — community, Board and Advisory Council members, educators and health professionals — who share their time planning and staffing events. We value the financial support of our donors and in-kind contributors who support our work so that we can bring presentations to our community at no cost. We can share our valuable programming 24/7 to a global audience through our website and YouTube channel. Facebook and Twitter expand the immediacy of our interactions. Follow us, retweet and share links so we can expand our reach. The joyful results of all our work — the months of program planning; the hours of print and web and video production; the help of hundreds of people that support The Family Center — are the times when we can connect people in need with vital resources: • A school counselor sought connections to resources for three families facing a financial crisis. • A young mom called who had just moved to the community and was looking for an activity in which she and her 24-month-old son could connect with other moms and children.

• An older woman was looking for a program that her adult developmentally-challenged son could attend during the day. • A school district referenced our program materials as part of their response to the sudden death of a teacher. In each case, The Family Center provided timely, direct and appropriate responses that brought people together and helped enrich our community. Check out our calendar for upcoming programs — and share this newsletter with a friend! You’ll be interested to learn that this newsletter reaches more than 5,000 individuals. If you share your copy with someone else, that will help us reach 5,000 new individuals = 10,000! Sharing — in all of its forms — strengthens our mission of Enriching Our Community Through Stronger Families.

Deborah A. Liedel Executive Director [email protected] 313.432.3832

Family Center Videos on YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtCwssz2TjROvPz3jThCiMQ • Building Better Brains - Teaching Strategies that Work for Dyslexic and ADD Students • Becoming a Love and Logic Parent • Raising a Reader • Making the Most of Technology in Your Family • Mindfulness Meditation as a Method for Managing Stress • Modeling Adulthood: Powerful Methods to Lead By Example • Finding Normal in the Middle School Years • KINDERGARTEN I: Get Ready!! - Core Curriculum (part 1 of 2) • KINDERGARTEN I: Get Ready!! - Core Curriculum (part 2 of 2) • Kindergarten II: Transitioning to Kindergarten • Kindergarten II: Making a Successful Transition Into Kindergarten • Kindergarten III: Your Child is Ready - Are You? • Stop It Before It Stops You! Successful Solutions for Solving Stress • Healthy Cooking Demo with Executive Chef Dan Kellogg • Hope for Tomorrow: How Biomedical Treatments May Help Children with Developmental Disorders • How to Help Someone with Medication or Alcohol Misuse Issues • Help with Ending ‘Bedtime Battles’ • Are Your Kids at Risk? Trends & Signs of Addictive Behaviors

• Parenting the Middle School Years • RE: Bullying “The Psychological Costs of Bullying” • RE: Bullying “Starter Fluid of Bullying = Meanness” • RE: Bullying “Developing Healthy Relationships at Home, School, Community” • RE: Bullying “Building Resilience in Our Youth and Families” • RE: Bullying “The Consequences of Bullying From a Law Enforcement Perspective” • RE: Bullying “Law Enforcement and Grosse Pointe Public School System • Administrators Define the Consequences of Bullying • Peer Expectations during the Middle School Transition Years • Sleep Struggles with Infants and Toddlers • Face-time vs. Facebook: A conversation for Mothers & Daughters • Healthy Lunches: Eat This, Not That • HorsePlay with Christina Pitts - Session 1: “Slow is Fast” • HorsePlay with Christina Pitts - Session 2: “Be Present” • HorsePlay with Christina Pitts - Session 3: “Pause Reflect Choose” • HorsePlay with Christina Pitts - Session 4: “Less is More” • HorsePlay with Christina Pitts - Session 5: “Small is Big”

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E n r i c h i n g O u r C o m m u n i t y T h r o u g h S t r o n g e r Fa m i l i e s

Why Is It Important for Children to Be Protected Against the Flu? According to Prashant V. Mahajan, MD, MPH, MBA, Division Chief and Research Director in Emergency Medicine at DMC Children’s Hospital of Michigan, an estimated 20,000 Prashant Mahajan, M.D. children under the age of 5 are hospitalized each year because of flu complications. Severe complications are more common in children younger than 2 years of age. Children with chronic health problems like asthma, diabetes and disorders of the brain or nervous system are also at high risk of developing serious flu complications, Mahajan says. Parents should check with their pediatrician so the vaccine or nasal-spray is given when it is available. Should all kids receive a flu shot or nasalspray flu vaccine? The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention recommends that all children 6 months of age and older receive a flu shot. Children who are two and older can also receive the nasal-spray flu vaccine. How does the vaccine and nasal-spray flu vaccine protect children? They both cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination, which protects against infection with the viruses that are in the vaccine. The seasonal flu vaccine protects against three influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. The common influenza viruses circulating among people today include influenza B viruses, influenza A (H1N1) viruses, and influenza A (H3N2) viruses. Each year, one flu virus of each kind is used to produce seasonal influenza vaccine. Are there children who should not be vaccinated against the flu? Like adults, children with the following conditions should not be vaccinated against the flu. • People who have a severe allergy to chicken or eggs.

• People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination. • Children younger than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for this age group). • People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated.) Any other important information worth noting? Families are encouraged to touch base with their pediatrician to receive a flu shot or nasal-spray vaccine to provide the best protection against the flu. For those without insurance, you can visit www.childrensdmc. org/ImmunizationStation for resources on immunizations. “Each year, many children get sick with seasonal influenza (the flu),” Mahajan says. “Some of those illnesses can lead to hospitalization and even death. Flu Shots or the nasal-spray flu vaccine (LAIV) offer the single best way to protect children from the flu.” How do I know when my child is getting the flu? “Influenza is a virus that primarily affects the respiratory system,” says Nicholas Gilpin, D.O., chief of Infectious Disease, Beaumont Hospital, Nicholas Gilpin, D.O. Grosse Pointe, “so the most common symptoms include runny or stuffy nose, sore throat and cough. Your child also may have severe fatigue, body aches, fever and chills. During the winter, these symptoms should always raise one’s suspicion for the flu.” What kind of care should I give my child with the flu? For most healthy children, the best treatment for the flu is supportive care, including rest, Gilpin says. Parents should give their child lots of fluids and give them anti-inflammatory medications to control fever and body aches. What is the difference between a virus, cold and flu? Both the common cold and influenza are a type of viral infection. The common cold is caused by a number of different viruses,

including the rhinovirus. The flu is caused by the influenza virus. Colds are usually less severe and don’t last as long as the flu, Gilpin says. Common colds also are rarely associated with the more severe symptoms of the flu, such as fever, chills and severe fatigue. Do flu shots protect my child against all the strains out there? No vaccine is 100 percent effective, Gilpin says, but the shots are very effective at preventing influenza and its complications. Most of the flu this season is the H1N1 influenza virus, and the best news is that this virus is covered by all available influenza vaccines. After the onset of the flu, could the antiviral medicine Tamiflu® help my child? Tamiflu® can help reduce the severity of influenza symptoms in some people, but it’s not for everyone, according to Gilpin. For some children with more severe forms of the flu, or for those people who are at greater risk for the flu because of underlying medical conditions, Tamiflu® may be useful. Tamiflu® can be administered to children who are more than a few weeks old, Gilpin says. It is most effective when given within 48 hours of symptoms. Most healthy children will be able to manage flu symptoms with purely supportive care. Some children who may have weakened immune systems are more at risk for severe complications of the flu, and they are more likely to benefit from medications like Tamiflu®. Do antibiotics work against viral infections? No. The best treatment for viral infections is to let the illness run its course, while getting plenty of rest, fluids and nourishment. “Generally,” Gilpin says, “if a suspected viral infection is not improving after a few days, it is a good idea to inform your doctor.” For further information or to schedule an appointment with a pediatric specialist, call DMC Children’s Hospital at 313.745.KIDS, or visit www.childrensdmc.org, or call Beaumont, Grosse Pointe at 313.473.1000. DMC Children’s Hospital and Beaumont Hospital, Grosse Pointe are members of The Family Center’s Association of Professionals.

6 The Family Center - Serving our community through programs and resources vital to today’s families. familycenterweb.org

E n r i c h i n g O u r C o m m u n i t y T h r o u g h S t r o n g e r Fa m i l i e s

Often, ‘home care’ is the best option Ask the Experts by Mary Ellen Brayton As tough as it may be to enlist the help of a “stranger” when it comes to caring for your parents, sometimes it’s for the best. It will take the strain off of family and your parent may also benefit from professional care in the comforts of home. Home care promotes healing: “I know that our clients enjoy a much better quality of life which many families have said helped to extend the lives of their loved ones,” says Peter Ross, CEO and co-founder of Senior Helpers. “In many circumstances the person does better in the home, especially if they have dementia. They are in a familiar environment and more comfortable.”

Many risks, such as infection, are eliminated or minimized when care is given at home. Quality home care by professional caregivers can also help prevent falls in the home since seniors may be too weak or dizzy from medication and fall when they’re cleaning or bathing. Home care allows for freedom and gives them some control: As loved ones age, home care gives them more control over the type of care they’ll get to choose. It is tailored to meet the needs of each client as they receive one-on-one attention. Home care eases the burden on the family. While length of stay in the hospital decreases, many go home earlier. Professional home care can provide loved ones with the help that they need to recover at home.

Lastly, home care is comfortable: Most people choose to stay at home, if possible. There is familiarity and comfort of being in one’s own environment. Mary Ellen Brayton is a community relations manager at Senior Helpers on Mack Avenue in Grosse Pointe, which provides caring companions and personal caregivers to seniors in the Grosse Pointe area as well as in the tri-county area: Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. She can be reached at 313.885.0600. Senior Helpers is a member of The Family Center’s Association of Professionals.

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Founder Diane Strickler Board of Directors 2014-2015 Cathy Leverenz, President Allison Baker, Vice President Pamela Flom, Secretary Deann Newman, Treasurer Lynne Merrill Aldrich Ann Marie Aliotta Mary Beth Austin Gabriela Boddy Dona Johnson-Beach Erin O’Mara Rebecca Papas Milissa Pierce Rania Routsis Marina Southers Torrey Stackpoole Beth Walsh-Sahutske Rev. Richard Yeager-Stiver Advisory Council Todd Biederwolf Harper Woods School District Lynn Carpenter Community Representative John E. Danaher The Danaher Group Joan DeRonne Assumption Cultural Center Meagan Dunn Henry Ford Health System J. Theodore Everingham Everingham & Associates Ann L. Fouty Grosse Pointe News Mary Beth Garvey, LMSW Clinical Therapist Thomas Harwood, Ed D Grosse Pointe Public Schools Sean Hogan-Downey, LMSW Clinical Therapist Anthony Marchiori Marchiori Catering Roseanne Mark, MA, BSN St. John Providence Children’s Hospital John Minnis Pointe Magazine Beth Moran Community Representative Lori Mouton DMC Children’s Hospital of Michigan Carla Palffy, LPC Parcells Middle School Thomas F. Quinn Deloitte Consulting, LLC Rick & Cat Ruffner Community Representatives Lois Warden Community Representative Lori Warner, PhD Beaumont Children’s Hospital, CHD Vickie Winn CKC Agency Executive Director Deborah A. Liedel Assistant to the Director Beth Vernon

PRST STD AUTO U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

S.C.S., MI PERMIT NO. 111

Newsletter design courtesy of Beaumont Health System

Direct your United Way contribution to The Family Center Each year many of us contribute to the United Way campaigns at work. You can send those contributions right back to your own community by designating all or part of your contribution to The Family Center. It’s easy! When you log on to the United Way website to make your contribution – unitedway.org, click on Give – look for the button to designate your gift to a certain charity and then either type in or search for The Family Center. Enter the amount of your gift that you want to go to The Family Center and approve. If you use a pledge card, simply write in The Family Center of Grosse Pointe and Harper Woods in the area for designated gifts. The United Way handles the rest. It’s that simple! – Deann Newman, Board Member

Stay connected with us! Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Watch us on YouTube Visit familycenterweb.org

Newsletter printing courtesy of Children’s Hospital of Michigan

Thank you to our winterspring 2014 presenters: The Family Center’s Program Planning Committee is responsible for our outstanding lineup of informative and timely presentations and panel discussion throughout the school year. Family Center programs cover the gamut, from kindergarten to middle school to college and from infants to teens to seniors. The Family Center’s mission – to serve our community through programs and resources vital to today’s families – would not be possible without the depth our local experts who donate their time and expertise. Sharon Maier Services for Older Citizens (SOC)

Emily Robson Infant Massage

Heidi Uhlig Services for Older Citizens (SOC)

Angela Hill PLAYoga

Barbara Roden Senior Helpers, Inc.

Stefanie Cork Reading & Language Arts Centers (RLAC)

Kathleen Blazoff St. John Providence/ Providence Park Hospital

Ian Kinder Live Safe Academy

Melissa Sharp Assumption Nursery School & Toddler Center

Gail Elliott-Patricolo Integrative Medicine, Beaumont Health System

Christine Miller Kindergarten Consultant

Lynn Kaiser Raising Responsible Kids

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