Jane is a long-distance caregiver to her mother who is 86 and has dementia and a history of cancer. Though Jane is from a large family, she received little help from her siblings after her mother's recent fall. Overwhelmed by what needed to be done to ensure her mother's safety at home, Jane contacted CAPP for guidance. The CAPP social worker assisted Jane in prioritizing the tasks at hand and helped her evaluate the various options for care. Even though Jane lives in another state, she still checks-in monthly with the CAPP social worker who assisted her. Now that the crisis has passed, Jane uses the phone sessions to talk about the family dynamics that complicate her caregiving and is learning to balance her needs with those of her mother.

Matthew, who works full-time, reached out to CAPP when his 85 year old father began refusing to bathe. Matthew was distressed and unsure about what to do. The social worker at CAPP partnered with Matthew to learn more about his father. Later she met with his concerned siblings to discuss possible explanations for the behavior as well as ways to intervene. With the social worker's guidance Matthew and his family were able to talk with their father about their concerns and offer help that he would agree to. Today, Matthew checks-in with the social worker every few months to problem-solve other concerns and receive support in managing his new role.

Inez, is the sole caretaker of her 92 year old mother who has had multiple health conditions for the past several years. Recently, when doctors told Inez that her mother's health was declining, Inez turned to CAPP for support in coping and information to help her plan. The CAPP social worker listened to Inez's worries and answered her questions about hospice services and advanced directives. Now that end-of-life care has begun, Inez meets weekly with the social worker to discuss her feelings as she prepares to lose her mother.

Jane, Matthew and Inez all called the CAPP Caregiver Resource Center at Mount Sinai and spoke with a social worker who specializes in assisting family caregivers. Each received a combination of information, support and guidance that met their unique needs. In the process, a collaborative partnership was formed with a professional who can remain available to them for as long as necessary.

Maria Basso Lipani, LCSW
Coordinator, CAPP Caregiver Resource Center

Maria graduated from Columbia University School of Social Work in 2000 where she focused on Aging through a unique fellowship program jointly sponsored by The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation and The New York Academy of Medicine. Before becoming the Coordinator of the CAPP Caregiver Resource Center at Mount Sinai in 2007, Maria worked at Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco for several years where she assisted seniors and their family caregivers facing complex, chronic and life threatening illnesses.

Amy Waldowski, LMSW Social Worker, CAPP Caregiver Resource Center

Amy graduated from Catholic University School of Social Service in Washington, D.C. in 2007 where she specialized in clinical social work with a focus on Aging. Prior to joining CAPP, Amy worked for several years at IONA Senior Services, where she provided case management services to low-income seniors and also worked in the adult day program for those with dementia and memory loss. Amy completed internships at the Grandparent Information Center (a program of the AARP Foundation) and at the Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, both in Washington D.C.

Christine Valentin, LMSW
Social Worker, CAPP Caregiver Resource Center

Christine graduated from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work in 2006 where she focused her studies on Aging. Prior to joining CAPP, Christine managed the Manhattan Legal Elder Abuse Program (L.E.A.P.) at the Jewish Association for Services for the Aged (JASA). While in school, she completed internships at the Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens where she helped discharge seniors from the Intensive Care Unit and at JASA where she provided case management services to older adults in senior housing.

While caregiving can be very rewarding, it can also be very difficult. Feelings of stress are common and certain situations can make stress worse such as when a caregiver is also caring for children and/or is working outside the home. Additionally, if the person who is receiving the care has Alzheimer's disease or another dementia, or suffers from a condition that restricts mobility or is life-threatening, caregiving can present additional challenges.

Did you know?

• 25%–35% of all workers in the U.S. report that they are currently providing, or have recently provided care to someone 65 or older?¹
• Estimates are that 44% of those age 45–55 have at least one living parent and one child under 21. (This group is commonly referred to as the "sandwich generation")²
• 10 million Americans are providing care to someone with dementia³

Recognizing the signs of stress is a first step to getting help. If you are experiencing any of the following related to your caregiving, call CAPP:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Exhaustion
• Sleeplessness
• Irritability
• Lack of Concentration
• Social Withdrawal
• Anger
• Denial
• Health Problems

¹AARP Public Policy Institute Study, 2007
²Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2006
³Alzheimer's Association