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Project
Coordinator, Caregiver
Resource Center
Erie County Senior Services
Miriam's
job is to help caregivers. Her work experience in the field
of aging encompasses facility based health care, in-home health
care and case management for the frail, homebound elderly.
Miriam's
Story |
Miriam's
Story |
| I
was an only child and my parent's only informal support.
Shortly after dad died, my mom was hospitalized
for about a month, and the discharge planner felt it was unsafe
for her to return alone to her large, two-story home. She
reluctantly moved in with me and my family. The thought
that she would eventually be able to return to her own home
and live independently kept mom somewhat content
at my house. Her house was empty with all the utilities
on the entire time she was with me. We watched mom's
physical abilities gradually decline, though cognitively she
did very well for someone in her late eighties.
We
had our challenges as mom needed more and more care but fought
to do everything for herself. She had always been a
very capable woman and was unrealistic about what she could
still do for herself. I finally got her to agree to let me
hire in-home help to assist us, which worked out very
well. I depended heavily on my co-workers to listen to
me vent and validate my caregiving efforts.
Eventually, we acquired
a hospital bed for mom's room (the former sun porch)and provided
total care. Like many other caregivers, I was everything
for my mother: nurse, social worker, hairdresser, chauffeur,
cook, seamstress, bookkeeper, etc. I was thankful I
had the training and background to do all this, but was also
resentful at times that my entire life was changed by these
caregiving responsibilities. I was always tired from
being up every night with mom while still holding a full time
job and keeping the household going. Mom was with me seven
years before she quietly passed away at 93 years of age. |
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Reverend
Episcopal
clergy for 51 years, Missionary for 12 years in the Dominican
Republic with his wife Pauline, served as Latin America director
and then human rights director for the National Council of
Churches.
Bill's
Story |
Bill's
Story |
I
worked for the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in
1988 and for the Archbishop of Canterbury at the United Nations
office of the Anglican Church in 1991.
Pauline
(my wife) was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1988 at
the age of 56. I reduced my workload to half time to become
her primary caregiver and retired fully in 1995.
Pauline
was a distinguished teacher of English as a second language.
She was honored by PBS in Metropolitan New York as teacher
of the year, and later honored by Newsweek Magazine as teacher
of the year. As Pauline's disease progressed and caregiving
was taking a physical toll on me, my four children encouraged
me to move to Western New York to be near my two daughters.
In
memory of my wife, the Memory
Walk is planned in Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus,
Chautauqua and Genesee counties. Call
(716) 626-0600 for more information.
In
2006, more than $180,000 was raised! Thanks to all of our
sponsors, walkers, volunteers and supporters for making last
year's event a success!
I
also became involved with the local Alzheimer's
Association as a member
of their support groups and then joined as a member of the
advocacy and public policy
committee. I began speaking at churches with professionals
on spirituality and caregiving issues. Several years ago,
I was elected to the board of the Alzheimer's Association.
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Attorney
at Law
Partner
in the law firm of Magavern,
Magavern & Grimm, L.L.P. He
concentrates his practice in the areas of elder law, estates
and trusts and health law.
Bruce's
Bio |
|
Mr.
Reinoso counsels and advises elder law clients regarding estate
and long-term care planning, wills, trusts, real estate transfers,
powers of attorney, health care proxies, living wills, guardians,
long-term care insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, employer and
retiree group health benefit plans and other health insurance.
He works with clients and their financial advisers to develop
wealth preservation plans integrating lifetime conservation
and management of resources, deployment of retirement and
deferred compensation assets, orderly wealth transfer to heirs
and estate tax planning. He also helps elder law clients protect
their interests when disputes arise and find solutions when
there was too little planning too late.
Mr.
Reinoso is past president of the board of directors for the
Network
In Aging Of Western New York and vice
president of the board for Legal
Services for the Elderly,
Disabled
and Disadvantaged of Western New York,
Inc. He is chair of the Elder Law Committee of the Erie
County Bar Association. He is dean
of the Erie
Institute of Law. He regularly presents
educational programs to state and local professionals, and
their clients, regarding health and elder law. |
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