Care Resources in the time of COVID-19
The virus has put the strain on those supporting loved ones in a care facility. It’s also made decision making for those in need of rehab or nursing care even more complicated. Here are some resources that may be helpful.
CareSharing by Marty Richards – Exploration of reciprocity through care partnering, amidst grief, hope, family forgiveness and other spiritual dimensions of caring. www.amazon.com
Weary Joy by Kim Marxhausen – Caregiver support through stories, explanations, tips, and devotional connections. Includes discussion questions that make a good starting point for conversations with family members, as well as resources and checklists to help navigate the journey. www.amazon.com
Seniors in Transition – Highly recommended! This is an excellent 8 week series of classes designed to help people make more pro-active decisions about living options as we age. This link gets you to the website for Bethlehem Lutheran in Santa Rosa, CA (Click on “Seniors in Transition” under “Health Ministry Links” on the left side). This congregation developed the material through a grant from Wheat Ridge Ministries, and it gives a nice look at an active health and wellness ministry in a local congregation. You’ll need to insert your own local resources into the Seniors in Transition material, but it is well put together and adaptable for local use.
Support group help from Mayo Clinic – How to pick the one that is right for you.
Hospice info from Mayo Clinic – General info about Hospice
Being Mortal by Atul Gawande – Useful for individuals, couples, families and church families to study. It could help you begin asking some of the most important questions of your life.
A Spirituality of Caregiving by Henri J.M. Nouwen & John S. Mogabgab. $9.99. Nashville: Upper Room Books, 2011. Anthology of inspirational and practical reflections by a well-known theologian on his own experiences with caring for others. www.upperroom.org
Lay Pastoral Care Giving by Tim Farabaugh. Nasville: Upper Room Books, 2009. ($18.00) A comprehensive course training lay persons to reach out with God’s love to those across the life cycle who struggle with suffering, illness etc. www.upperroom.org
No Act of Love is Every Wasted: The Spirituality of Caring for Persons with Dementia by Jane Marie Thibault & Richard L. Morgan. ($16.00). Nashville: Upper Room Books, 2009. Exploration of spiritual concerns for those with dementia and those who care for and about them. Offers practical suggestions for support. www.upperroom.org