Guest blog: Eileen Doherty talks about Colorado Gerontological Society

This week we are delighted to introduce you to the Colorado Gerontological Society through a blog written by Eileen Doherty, MS, who serves as the Executive Director of Senior Answers and Services and the Colorado Gerontological Society, here in Denver. She has more than 30 years of experience in education and training, clinical practice, research, and public policy in gerontology. You may reach her at 303-333-3482 or Doherty001@att.net.

Eileen writes about the upcoming Salute to Seniors annual event to be held on May 14. It’s an all day event filled with seminars, appropriate vendors and other specialists who can help you and your family maneuver through the many issues of aging and caregiving.

Baby Boomers Connect with Experts for Advice on May 14 at Convention Center

Are you feeling tired and overwhelmed with caring for your mother? Baby boomers all across Colorado are faced with questions about where to turn for help for a parent. But, little things such as picking up medications, quickly become chaotic for families. A stop at the store means Mom might be left alone for too long.

Susie is stressed that her 87-year-old father may be in danger as he sometimes leaves the house and hitchhikes to church, but the police find him instead and call her at work to come down to the police station. Lucky for Susie, her father had her telephone number in his wallet. Although her boss says “he understands”, Susie must take personal leave. The fear of her father being a “missing person” or worse yet, being accused of neglect has haunted her ever since he wandered away from home.

And Sharon is confused about how to file for Medicaid because she has spent all of Mom and Dad’s savings. She can’t care for her mother any longer and knows that she will not be able to afford a nursing home on Mom’s $3000 per month income, but she is overwhelmed about all the jargon and what it means -- Medicaid trusts, functional assessments, Part 1 and 2 of the Medicaid application, case managers, and care managers. Who are all these people and what do they do and why are there so many?

Dawn is only 36 and her 65 year-old-father has been diagnosed with colon cancer with six to eight weeks to live. She does not know the state of his legal affairs and her grief is overwhelming to the point that she cannot even consider the idea of a funeral. Her father wants to talk about his wishes, but she collapses each time he tries to bring up the conversation. The hospital has told her to seek hospice care, but she can’t even remember how to pronounce the word correctly, let alone understand what it means. She feels alone and empty.

If you see yourself in these situations, take a power hour and attend the elder care fair which offers one-stop shopping for baby boomers who are looking to manage a parent’s life, as well as ways to avoid this horribly scary situation for their own retirement. The Salute to Seniors will have more than 130 experts at the Colorado Convention Center on May 14, 2008 from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm to answer questions, present solutions, and increase awareness for baby boomers about problems facing them.

Capabilities is proud to be affiliated with this event. If you are in the Denver area, please stop by and visit us at our booth. We are also pleased to donate wheelchairs for use throughout the day.

For more information call 303-333-3482 or senioranswers.org .