'Dear Friends' December 2007

Monday, December 3, 2007    On the Lighter Side Dear Friends,     We're happy to report we've posted the latest edition of "Among Friends," the quarterly newsletter of the Friends of St. John Caregiver. (You may notice it's listed as "December 2007." It dawned on us that for our members south of the equator, this isn't the end of fall and the beginning of winter. Just the opposite!)     Here's one item from it. A little something to brighten your day: . . . You might just be a caregiver. — If you know six shortcuts – depending on traffic – between your house and your loved one’s nursing home that no GPS device could ever figure out. — If you never run to the store for just one or two items because you don’t want to leave your spouse home alone unless you really have to. (And you can get 20 items in the amount of time it takes most shoppers to get two!) — If your care-receiver’s doctor’s receptionist instantly recognizes your voice over the phone. —    If it’s been a long time since you’ve come across an insurance claim form that you haven’t seen (and filled out) at least once before. —    If you not only recognize the names of at least half the prescription medications mentioned on television shows but could describe the color, shape and size of the pill for each one of them. - - -     Welcome, new members! Hello to Mary H. in Iowa and Ron M. in Michigan.     As we mention in the newsletter, over the past three months we've had members join from five countries, including members from 24 of the USA's 50 states.     Find out more about becoming a member! You can sign up here or download an enrollment form here. No meetings, no dues. All we ask is that you pray for family caregivers and those in their care. Our members include caregivers, care-receivers, and those who support both (including quite a few former caregivers). - - -    And, again this week, we want to thank our donors. We're still getting a great response to this year's Annual Appeal. Every contribution is greatly appreciated.     If you received a letter from us and have been meaning to make a contribution, we encourage you to do so. We've also posted copies of the request letter and the donor form for those who didn't receive them in the mail.     As we've written previously, the Friends of St. John the Caregiver and its programs, YourAgingParent.com and CatholicCaregivers.com, rely on donations . . . and the grace of God. (Not in that order.)     - - -     Fa la la la la: Make a donation to the Friends of St. John the Caregiver in the name of a family member or friend as this year's Christmas gift to him or her. We'll send your loved one a card or, if you prefer, mail a card to you to give to him or to her.     God bless you!                                                          Monica and Bill To contact us To join FSJC To make a donation To view or make prayer requests Past "Dear Friends" notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, December 10, 2007    A Sense of Community Dear Friends,     As you probably know all too well, caregiving can be lonely. That was why one of our goals when we began the Friends of St. John the Caregiver was to help caregivers feel less isolated. We hoped -- and prayed -- that the programs and resources FSJC could offer would foster a sense of community. No wonder a recent response to our latest newsletter meant so much to us!     "I had forgotten about getting this newsletter and had tears in my eyes when I saw and read it.  It seems like my husband and I are the only caregivers for his mom and my parents.  This newsletter was like a friend stopping in and saying, 'Hi, how is it going?' Thank you for all the good you do."     Thank you for all the good all of you do, as caregivers and those who support caregivers! - - -     Another caregiver had a suggestion for the "Stages of Caregiving" listed in the newsletter. He wrote:     "I recommend you include depression in your description of stages, along with the other things you mentioned, such as anxiety. You might do a little piece on the signs and symptoms of depression (clinical or biological depression, not the blues). You could say not everyone gets this but many do and it's important to recognize and get care (usually medication and counseling). So much from your friend the therapist!"     He's right, of course. Depression was a featured topic in a previous newsletter. - - -    And two former caregivers told us this:     -- "What a blessing to have this arrive today.  Our caregivers [parish group] meet tonight.  I'll make copies to take to them."    -- "I've printed out the December newsletter for Jack [a caregiver].  He does not have access to the Internet."     Two great reminders that the newsletters -- as well as all the material on this site, the Friends of St. John the Caregiver and CatholicCaregivers.com -- can be downloaded and printed for friends and family who don't have access to the Internet. - - -     On Friday we mailed hard copies of the newsletter to members and donors who don't have an e-mail address or prefer to receive information by way of the post office. We also included a list of prayer requests up to December. You may want to print a copy as a reminder to keep these intentions in your prayers. (It's designed to be two-sided, folded in half, to make a little four-page booklet.) - - -     And speaking of community, this week we're pleased to welcome more new members. "Advent Greetings!" to Martha T. in Illinois, Candace W. in Minnesota, and Sue L. and Catherine T. in Maryland.     As we mention each week: Find out more about becoming a member! You can sign up here or download an enrollment form here. No meetings, no dues. All we ask is that you pray for family caregivers and those in their care. Our members include caregivers, care-receivers, and those who support both (including quite a few former caregivers). - - -     And many, many thanks to those who have chosen the Friends of St. John the Caregiver for this year's "Christmas donation." You, too, can make a donation to FSJC in the name of a family member or friend as this year's Christmas gift to him or her. We'll send your loved one a card or, if you prefer, mail a card to you to give to him or to her.     God bless you!                                                          Monica and Bill To contact us To join FSJC To make a donation To view or make prayer requests Past "Dear Friends" notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, December 17, 2007    Letting Go Dear Friends,     Just as caregiving can begin suddenly, it can end abruptly, too. That truth was brought home to the two of us on Saturday with the death of Monica’s Aunt Flora.     Over the past three years Monica had become more and more involved in taking care of her dad’s sister. Eventually, she was her primary caregiver. And Flora, from time to time, pointed out that she was helping both of us – and the Friends of St. John the Caregiver – by providing Monica with some “new” caregiving experiences.     She was also one of FSJC’s earliest members.     Over those months, Flora’s health problems increased and while there was the possibility of her dying, the more likely scenario was a continual diminishing of her health. So her death – while not unexpected – came sooner and faster than anticipated.     Often in our weekly letter, we say thank you to a variety of people for a variety of reasons. This week Monica wants to be sure to thank members of the Friends of St. John the Caregiver – and all those who pray for caregivers. She, in a wonderful and peaceful way, felt the support of your prayers in the difficult minutes and hours after Flora’s death.     It was Monica’s mom, who was with Monica then, who suggested she keep in mind the final lines of “A Caregiver’s Prayer”:    And when my job is through and it’s time for me to let go, help me remember my dear one is leaving my loving arms to enter you eternal embrace. Amen.     Rest in peace, Auntie Flora. - - -    This week we welcome the newest FSJC member. Hello to Sara D. who lives in Iowa.     As we mention each week: Find out more about becoming a member! You can sign up here or download an enrollment form here. No meetings, no dues. All we ask is that you pray for family caregivers and those in their care. Our members include caregivers, care-receivers, and those who support both (including quite a few former caregivers). - - -     And many, many thanks to those who have chosen the Friends of St. John the Caregiver for this year's "Christmas donation." You, too, can make a donation to FSJC in the name of a family member or friend as this year's Christmas gift to him or her. We'll send your loved one a card or, if you prefer, mail a card to you to give to him or to her.     God bless you!                                                          Monica and Bill To contact us To join FSJC To make a donation To view or make prayer requests Past "Dear Friends" notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, December 24, 2007    Merry Christmas, Happy Feast Day Dear Friends,     We want to share the Christmas message from our December newsletter: All the staff at the Friends of St. John the Caregiver wish you and your loved ones a very blessed Christmas and New Year. You, and all those you hold dear, remain in our prayers.     And a very happy Feast of St. John the Caregiver, too!    As you know, the feast of St. John the Apostle and Evangelist — who’s also the patron saint of family caregivers — is Dec. 27th.     It somehow seems fitting that this caregiver’s special day is just about lost in the general hubbub between Christmas and New Year’s. Caregivers tend to go unnoticed as they go about the many obligations and challenges that make up their vocation.     But certainly Jesus — who asked John to be his mother’s caregiver — is aware. And certainly Mary — Our Lady in Need — knows all that caregivers do.    Two of their great feast days, the Nativity (Dec. 25) and the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Jan. 1), have his feast day surrounded!    May Our Lord, Our Lady and St. John surround you, too, as a caregiver, care-receiver or one who supports both.    Thank you so much, as a member of the Friends of St. John the Caregiver, for remembering caregivers and those in their care in your prayers on the 27th of each month!  - - -    This week we welcome Frances R. from Michigan as the newest member of the Friends of St. John the Caregiver. Please keep her and her sister Mary in your prayers.     As we mention each week: Find out more about becoming a member! You can sign up here or download an enrollment form here. No meetings, no dues. All we ask is that you pray for family caregivers and those in their care. Our members include caregivers, care-receivers, and those who support both (including quite a few former caregivers).     Merry Christmas!                                                          Monica and Bill To contact us To join FSJC To make a donation To view or make prayer requests Past "Dear Friends" notes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, December 31, 2007    A Year Begins . . . and Ends Dear Friends,     Our prayers are with you as 2007 ends and 2008 begins. We pray especially for those who became caregivers in the last 12 months. Those who are now so deeply concerned about what may happen in 2008. Never imagining last January that they -- and their loved one -- would be where both are today.    We also pray for those whose caregiving responsibilities ended during 2007. Those who now grieve as the new year begins because it will be "last year" that their loved one died. Realizing that more than carved in stone, "2007" is etched forever in their heart.     And we pray for those whose caregiving stretches back before 2007 and may well extend beyond 2008. Day by day, night by night, you are remembered in the prayers of members of the Friends of St. John the Caregiver worldwide. "Your" community -- whether you yourself are a signed-up member or not -- has not, will not, forget you. You are not alone. - - -     Please join us in welcoming Anne McC. from Kentucky as the newest FSJC member. Anne assists caregivers and those receiving care.     To find out more about becoming a member, you can sign up here or download an enrollment form here. No meetings, no dues. All we ask is that you pray for family caregivers and those in their care. Our members include caregivers, care-receivers, and those who support both (including quite a few former caregivers). - - -     In other news, January editions of Catholic Caregivers ("If Your Loved One Has Poor Vision"), Bulletin Briefs and Prayers of Intercession have been posted at CatholicCaregivers.com. All the material is free and can be used by any group or individual. Print as many copies as you would like -- all for the same great price: nothing.     God bless you!                                                           Monica and Bill To contact us To join FSJC To make a donation To view or make prayer requests Past "Dear Friends" notes