Local News Spotlights St. John’s Meadows Caregiver
“You need to take care of yourself, so that you can take care of somebody else,” caregiver and St. John’s Meadows Resident Barbara Smith told local news outlets on National Caregiver Day, February 21.
Smith’s husband Bill, was diagnosed with dementia in 2018 and shortly thereafter the couple moved into St. John’s Meadows to be a part of St. John’s continuum of care. “I am a planner and an organizer,” said Smith.
“Caregiving is difficult,” Smith said. “It’s frustrating at times. There are stresses involved. I have to do everything for myself and everything for my husband.”
As a caregiver for her husband for seven years, Smith knows the power of respite. Bill is a member of St. John’s Dementia Caregiver Respite Program. This free weekly program provides respite to community caregivers like Barbara Smith while their loved one participates in stimulating social activities and engagement.
Watch: News 8 WROC‘s “Brighton independent living community spotlights National Caregivers Day”
“[Members] look forward to coming every week,” said St. John’s Vice President of Marketing Jennifer Lesinski. “They can get fellowship, engagement, and activities – and the caregiver themselves gets to have some free time.”
The Dementia Caregiver Respite Program is now in its second year, but St. John’s initiative to help local caregivers has gone back several years.
“National Caregivers Day is very close to our hearts here at St. John’s,” said Lesinski. “About four years ago during COVID, we started an initiative that was aimed at supporting specifically caregivers whose loved ones have dementia.”
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 11.5 million family members and caregivers of people living with dementia provide around 18.4 billion hours of help per year. These numbers are expected to only increase as the aging population grows. This is why St. John’s hopes to have a physical Dementia Resource Center up and running by 2026.
Listen and Read: WXXI News’ “Local senior living community encourages caregivers to take care of themselves, too”
“If we can’t help these caregivers fill up their buckets, they’re not going to be good caregivers,” Lesinski said. “They’re not going to be able to support their loved ones, which they need to do and want to do.”
Smith agreed, “As a caregiver, you can’t have enough resources — I’ve decided.”
Watch: 13 WHAM‘s “St. John’s Meadows celebrates National Caregivers’ Day”