A special edition of The Journal September 28, 2011 Coping with change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2A What you need to know about vaccines . .4A Teach kids to make healthy lunch choices .6A Help your teenager get more sleep . . . . . .7A Senior LinkAge Line expands . . . . . . . . . . .8A Volunteering benefits everyone . . . . . . . . .9A Dealing with Alzheimers . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10A Inside: The Journal Family Matters Family Matters THE SANDWICH GENERATION: People taking care of their children and aging parents at the same time In a few short weeks, the Bjorkquist family of International Falls will be packing up and moving to a new home so that Bjorkquist’s mother, Sherry Wold, can live with them. Kooch County pushes to educate families on Tdap and Measles vaccines
Transcript
A special edition of The JournalSeptember 28, 2011
THE SANDWICH GENERATION: People taking care of their children and aging parents at the same timeIn a few short weeks, the Bjorkquist family of International Falls will be packing up and moving to a new home so thatBjorkquist’s mother, Sherry Wold, can live with them.
KoochCounty
pushes to educate families
on Tdap andMeasles vaccines
Family Matters2 THE JOURNAL, International Falls, Minn. Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Coping with changeBy EMILY GEDDE
Staff Writer
Caregiving can bring on anumber of mixed emotions.From rewarding to exhaust-ing, fulfilling to draining, theups and downs of the deed
can seem endless. Caring for children can be one thing,
but as reported by CBS News, 20 million ofthose people are also taking on the role ascaregiver for their parents. These peopleare caught in what is called the “SandwichGeneration” — people taking care of theirchildren and aging parents at the sametime.
Robin Bjorkquist of International Fallslives with her husband, Steve, and their
two young boys, Kylan, 12 and Kaden, 10.Robin works part-time as the web coordi-nator for The Journal and Steve is a labor-er at Boise Paper. Both boys are in schooland are involved with a number of activi-ties.
Life at the Bjorkquist household is busyand is about to pick up even more.
In a few short weeks, the family will bepacking up and moving to a new home sothat Bjorkquist’s mother, Sherry Wold, canlive with them. Soon this family of fourwill be a party of five under a whole newroof.
“Because of mom’s deteriorating health,she is unable to live on her own,”Bjorkquist said.
Wold suffers from exercise-inducedpulmonary arterial hypertension whichhinders her breathing and limits what shecan do. She also has other breathing andheart issues, Bjorkquist explained.
According to Bjorkquist, her mom isstill very independent and can do thingson her own. “Her independence doesn’tmake her a candidate for assisted living ora nursing home. Plus, she has cats shedoesn’t want to part with. As an only child,
I need to take care of her,” said Bjorkquist.For Wold, it has been difficult to accept
the fact that she will be leaving her homeand that she is unable to do the things sheonce was able to, Bjorkquist noted. “Kylanhas been up and down with moving,” saidBjorkquist. “It is hard for him to leave theonly home he has ever known.”
Nonetheless, Bjorkquist knows that themove will be the right thing for everyoneand that Wold’s health and well being isthe top priority.
Making changesAlthough Wold’s mobility is limited, she
has lived alone for almost a decade. Butas her health continued to decline, it wasclear she needed additional help.
“We can do more for her if we’re all
“Sandwich Generation” — people taking care of their children and aging parents at the same time
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under one roof,” Bjorkquist said. “Ourdesire is for her to remain independent aslong as she can, but with us close enoughto help out when we need to. This is goingto be the best thing for her and for all ofus.”
Now, the family must sell their homeand Wold’s home — hopefully soonerthan later, Bjorkquist said. “It is scarystepping out on faith having not sold ourhouses yet,” Bjorkquist said.
On top of packing to move, marketingtheir homes, and working, Bjorkquist isjuggling finding time to be a wife and amother.
“Steve and I see each other wheneverwe can,” she said of her husband whoworks shift work. “I’m fortunate that Ihave a flexible job that I can go home to
see him on his days off.” She added that she and Steve try to
include Kylan and Kaden in decision mak-ing.
“We want them to understand whywe’re making these changes,” Bjorkquistsaid. “Having them help also gives us timewith them.”
Not aloneBjorkquist has a lot of company as a
member of the sandwich generation. CBSNews stated that Americans are livinglonger, and people are starting their fami-lies later. According to the Pew ResearchCenter, one out of every eight Americansages 40 to 60 is raising a child and caringfor a parent at home. On top of that, sevento 10 million Americans are caring for
their aging parents from a long distanceaway, according to the report.
Debra Landmark, Koochiching CountyHealth Department nurse, stresses that afine line must be established when itcomes to caregiving for elderly parents.
“Do only what you’re comfortablewith,” she said. “There need to be bound-aries.”
While Landmark is surrounded withcaregiving as a county nurse, it also affectsher personally. She spent several yearscaring for her elderly father and father in-law as well as her three children.
“It was a challenge,” she said of the splitrole.
Both Landmark’s father and father in-law have died, but she sees many peoplewalking in the shoes she once wore.
“There is a lot of support out there,” sheexplained. “Some times it takes just onephone call to start establishing contactsfor help and advice. A lot of people don’tknow what help is available.”
Landmark cautions caregivers to acceptthat specific situations can be stressfuland to take time for themselves and theirspouse.
“Take time for rela-tionships with your sig-nificant other. That rela-tionship is very impor-tant and can be easilyignored during certaincaregiving situations.Communication is key.What helped me wasalways talking with myhusband and sometimessaying ‘I can’t do this.’”
Bjorkquist admitted that at times, she isguilty of feeling overwhelmed. “I’ve triedto remain very positive and upbeat andfocus on my faith, but there are timeswhen life beats me up, but I just have toget back on my faith horse and keepgoing,” she said.
In the end, the closeness of theBjorkquist family and a strong faith iswhat Bjorkquist is confident will get themthrough this transformation.
“I don’t think it’ll be an issue for all of usto reside in the same space,” she said.“We’re excited about being able to spendmore quality time with each other —especially during football games.”
Family MattersWednesday, September 28, 2011 THE JOURNAL, International Falls, Minn. 3
From left, Kaden Bjorkquist, Sherry Wold, and Kylan Bjorkquist smile for a photo taken lastChristmas at church. Soon, the trio will living together under one roof.
Landmark
By LIALA HELALStaff Writer
Recently, more and morebabies are dying of whoopingcough, said Nancy Lee, a pub-lic health nurse with theKoochiching County Health
Department.“Adults are passing it on to infants who
cannot be vaccinated for it,” Lee said.“There is a big push within the county foradults to get the Tdap vaccine.”
Tdap is a version of a tetanus shot withan added component to protect againstwhooping cough, Lee said. Tdap standsfor tetanus diphtheria acellular pertussis,and for adults who are exposed toyounger children or infants, it’s a betteroption than getting a regular tetanus shot,according to the health department.
Another important vaccine for familiesto consider is one which protects childrenagainst measles.
“These (whooping cough and measles)are two diseases that we really haven’tseen in a long time,” Lee said. “Measles isresurfacing in kids and lots of kids in theU.S. are dying.”
The vaccine is called MMR, for measles,mumps and rubella. Measles recentlymade a comeback in Minnesota fromchildren who travel to foreign countriesand bring the virus back, Lee said.
Some parents are against having theirchild vaccinated for measles because of arumor that the vaccine causes autism inchildren.
“It’s been disproved, but the question isstill there in parents’ minds,” Lee said.“Some groups have decided that they’drather see their kids get measles than haveautism, because autism can be a scarything. But measles is coming back; thesediseases are still there and kids should bevaccinated for it.”
Research has shown no valid evidencethat the vaccine causes autism, or increas-
es the chance of a child becoming autistic,Lee said.
The measles virus causes a rash, cough,runny nose, eye irritation and fever, andcan lead to ear infection, pneumonia,seizures, brain damage and death,according to the Department of Healthand Human Services Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention.
Access to vaccinesA statewide program called MnVFC,
Minnesota Vaccines for Children helpsfamilies get free or low cost shots for chil-dren who do not have health insurance,have health insurance that doesn’t pay forall shots or have health insurance that hasreached the cap for shots for the year.
The program covers the cost of the vac-cine but there may be an additional costfor giving the shot and the office visit.
For more information, call theMinnesota Department of Health at 1-800-657-3970 or visitwww.health.state.mn.us/immunize.
In International Falls, a flu shot clinicfor the combined flu shot, protectingagainst the seasonal flu and H1N1, will beconducted Sept. 30 at International Mall.The vaccines will be available from 10a.m. to 5 p.m.
This fall, the Koochiching CountyHealth Department will also hold weeklyflu shot clinics through the first two weeksof December.
“The challenge we had before, with ashortage of flu vaccines, was making peo-ple wait,” Lee said. “It’s never too late toget it. On the other hand, some peoplethink they should wait to get it, they think,‘I can’t get it too early or I won’t be pro-tected.’”
Lee said vaccines don’t stop being effec-tive a few months after they are given;they last up to one year.
The health department recommendsanyone six months or older to be vacci-nated for the flu.
Family Matters4 THE JOURNAL, International Falls, Minn. Wednesday, September 28, 2011
County pushes to educate families on Tdap and Measles vaccines
Reliable sources for immunization information:Websites:• National Network for Immunization Information - www.nnii.org• Immunization Action Coalition- www.immunize.org and www.vaccineinformation.org• Every Child by Two- www.ecbt.org and www.vaccinateyourbaby.org• Centers for Disease Control’s National Center for Immunization- www.cdc.gov/vaccines• American Academy of Pediatrics Immunization Initiatives- www.cispimmunize.org• National Vaccine Program Office- www.hhs.gov/nvpo• Minnesota Department of Health Immunization Program- www.health.state.mn.us/immu-nize
Phone numbers:• Centers for Disease Control Immunization Information Hotline- 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)• Minnesota Department of Health Immunization Program- 1-800-657-3970
Source: Minnesota Department of Health
www.ifallsjournal.com
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Help your child start off theschool year on the right footby making healthier choicesin the cafeteria line. Schoollunches are designed to be
well-balanced and healthy; they have tomeet guidelines set by the federal govern-ment for vitamins, fat content, iron, andcalcium. But, it’s still easy for kids to eattoo much of the wrong foods and notenough of the right ones. So we’ve puttogether some suggestions to help you
make sure your child eats a healthy lunchwhen you’re not there to supervise.
• Make sure your child eats a healthybreakfast every morning, so she or he isnot overly hungry at lunch time andtempted to overeat or to crave the wrongfoods.
• Look at the menu with your childbefore school starts each day, and comeup with a plan for healthy foods that yourchild likes.
• Recommend fruits, vegetables, andwhole grains. Point out that healthy eatingincludes a lot of colors, like green salad,
orange carrots, and red strawberries.• Suggest water, 100 percent juice, or
plain low-fat or skim milk to drink.Flavored milks and juice drinks haveadded sugar and a lot more calories.
• Make a rule that your child should getonly one serving of fatty or high-calorieitems like French fries or dessert. Federalguideline limit food portions to the rightsize for your child’s age, but that doesn’tkeep your child from buying two of some-thing.
• Encourage your child to try new foods.Sometimes children are more likely to try
a new food at school than at home,because they see their friends eating it.
• Limit the money your child can spendon the vending machine and snack bar —those foods to not have to meet the feder-al guidelines for school lunches. However,regulations are currently under revisionso that all food sold in schools will have tobe healthy and nutritious.
If your child’s school allows it, arrangeto eat lunch with your child in the cafete-ria one day. Then you can see and tastethe food for yourself and find out exactlywhat your child is eating.
Family Matters6 THE JOURNAL, International Falls, Minn. Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Teach children to make smartchoices for healthy school lunches
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Family MattersWednesday, September 28, 2011 THE JOURNAL, International Falls, Minn. 7
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f your teenager has trouble wakingup in the morning and is grumpyduring the day, it may be more thanjust typical teen behavior.
The National Sleep Foundationsays most children in sixth through 12thgrade do not get the recommended ninehours of sleep a night. In fact, almost half aregetting less than eight hours. But most par-ents think their teens are getting more sleepthan they really are.
Teens who do get enough sleep havebeen shown to get better grades in school,have a lower body mass index, and sufferless from depression and thoughts of sui-cide. They also report feeling happier andgetting along better with other family mem-bers.
Those who don’t get enough sleep aremore likely to become drowsy while driving,
which is extremely dangerous. A NationalSleep Foundation poll found that 15 percentof drivers in 10th through 12th grade drivewhile drowsy at least once a week.
Help your teenager get more sleepI
To help your teen get more sleep at night:• Set a consistent bedtime, even on week-ends.• Keep computers, cell phones, and TV outof your teen’s bedroom.• Help cut out caffeine after lunchtime.• Encourage a relaxing bedtime routine(read, listen to music or take a bath).• Be a good role model by getting enoughsleep yourself.• Talk to your teen about the importanceof sleep.If your teen still has difficulty fallingasleep or staying asleep, talk with yourfamily doctor.
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Senior LinkAge Line Report
Furthering the Dayton adminis-tration’s commitment to trans-parency and accessibility, Lt.Governor Yvonne Prettner Solonrecently announced the creation
of the Senior LinkAge Line: A One StopShop for Minnesota Seniors.
The service will build on a legacy of pro-viding Minnesota seniors with health carerelated information to include all govern-ment services, as well as to connect seniors
with volunteering and employmentopportunities in their communities.
Prettner Solon demonstrated the serviceduring Seniors Day at the Minnesota StateFair at the Minnesota Board onAging/Senior LinkAge Line: A One StopShop for Minnesota Seniors booth in theEducation Building.
“Throughout the campaign, Gov.Dayton and I heard a need from seniorsand their families for a better way to navi-gate government and have their questionsanswered,” Prettner Solon said. “With this
service, we are making the Senior LinkAgeLine a true one stop shop. Minnesota’s sen-iors are a critical resource to our state. Theyare concerned and engaged citizens, vol-unteers, grandparents, and an importantpart of our work force. It is essential thatthe right supports are in place to guaranteethat Minnesota will continue to be a greatplace to age and live well.”
This expansion is a significant changefor the line, which previously handled pri-marily health insurance and long-termcare services related questions.
Now when Minnesota seniors call theSenior LinkAge Line: A One Stop Shop forMinnesota Seniors, they will be connectedto a live person who will help them with
any government service related questions.Line operators will utilize a specializedchat system, connecting them to represen-tatives from all state departments and pro-viding instant access to answers for callers.
In the near future, the line will also con-nect seniors to volunteer and employmentopportunities that tap the talents of olderMinnesotans.
Senior LinkAge Line: A One Stop Shopfor Minnesota Seniors Line is a toll-freenumber (1-800-333-2433) and service thatcovers all 87 Minnesota counties. The serv-ice can also be accessed via a chat line atminnesotahelp.info.
It is operated by the Minnesota Board onAging.
Family Matters8 THE JOURNAL, International Falls, Minn. Wednesday, September 28, 2011
New service to help seniors navigate state government,connect with volunteer and employment opportunities
Expanded Senior LinkAge Line will be a one stop shop for Minnesota seniors and their families
Food for Thought is essential in helping children learn the importance of developing a healthylifestyle by eating nutritional food.UnitedHealthcare and SesameWorkshop have a tremendousopportunity to provide parentsand caregivers the tools andresources needed to help gain agreater understanding of the rela-tionship between healthful foodhabits and children’s healthygrowth.
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Family MattersWednesday, September 28, 2011 THE JOURNAL, International Falls, Minn. 9
ave you ever heard yourselfwonder, “But what can I doto help?”
The answer may be:“Plenty. Just ask.”
Volunteer opportunities abound in ourarea, said Douglas Skrief, executive directorof Koochiching Aging Options.
“Many area organizations depend onvolunteers to get their job done, from theFalls Hunger Coalition to the BackusCommunity Center,” he said. “Volunteering
has a huge, positive impact on our commu-nity. And not only for organizations andthose they serve. The biggest volunteerefforts may be person to person.”
“We become a better connected com-munity when neighbors show concern forneighbors and offer to help with groceryshopping, changing a light bulb or yardchores,” he said. “We hear many requestsfor help with ‘chores of daily living’ such ashouse cleaning, lawn care and snow shovel-ing. Sometimes all you need to do is ask
your neighbor what they need.”Studies have shown that, in addition, vol-
unteering also helps the volunteer.“Volunteering benefits one’s own sense
of well-being and adds to our sense of liv-ing a meaningful life,” Skrief said. “Thiscan be especially important as peopleface a major change in their life such asretirement. It’s not only about keepingbusy but also about feeling needed andconnected. And you are bound to learnsomething in the meantime.”
Volunteering benefits everyone Reasons, from the World Volunteer Web, to volunteer:• Learn or develop a new skill. It may leadto a job or a new hobby.• Be part of your community. Meet newpeople and connect with others who havethe same interests.• Motivation and sense of achievement.See the results of your efforts that makethe little corner of the world where youlive just that little bit better.• New interests and hobbies. Finding newinterests and hobbies through volunteer-ing can be fun, relaxing and energizing.• New experiences. There are infinitenumbers and types of volunteer opportu-nities.• Meet a diverse range of people.Volunteering brings together a diverserange of people from all backgrounds andwalks of life.
H
“Volunteering benefits one’s own sense of well-being and adds to our sense of living a meaningful life. This can beespecially important as people face a major change in their life such as retirement. It’s not only about keeping busybut also about feeling needed and connected. And you are bound to learn something in the meantime.”Douglas Skrief, executive director of Koochiching Aging Options
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Family Matters10 THE JOURNAL, International Falls, Minn. Wednesday, September 28, 2011
By KIMBERLY M. PERKINSCEO Littlefork Medical Community
Chances are you have a friendor loved one afflicted withsome form of dementia,including the most prevalent,Alzheimer’s disease. Nearly 14
percent of the Minnesota population seg-ment aged 65 and older has a diagnosis ofAlzheimer’s disease. In KoochichingCounty, that’s roughly 350 seniors who areour friends, neighbors, parents, grandpar-ents, co-workers, and fellow churchgoers.With as many as 50 percent of individualsdisplaying criteria for Alzheimer’s diseasenever receiving a diagnosis, the total pop-ulation is actually much larger.
Roughly 80 percent of individualsafflicted with Alzheimer’s disease receivecare at home by a working family mem-ber. While it is never recommended toleave an individual with Alzheimer’s dis-ease unattended, most families dobecause they are working children orgrandchildren. Lack of supervision, evenfrom a family member, can result ininjury. In 2009, 26 percent of theAlzheimer’s population was hospitalizedas a result of a fall. These injuries couldhave been prevented. The problem ismost family members are not seasonedon the progression of the disease, the
effects the disease will have on their lovedone, their role in caregiving, and ways toreduce stress which lead to abuse, neglect,or self-injury.
Having worked with individuals afflict-ed with Alzheimer’s disease of all ages anddemographic backgrounds, I would like tooffer you researched strategies to betterprovide a quality lifestyle for your lovedone, for as long as they can safely remainat home under the direct supervision of afamily member. In the event a family care-giver is unable to continue providing careor the environment is no longer safe, it isrecommended to seek professional med-ical care. Please note that experts advisefamily caregivers to decide when (not if)to place their loved one in a nursing homeexperienced with Alzheimer’s diseasebecause of the steady progression ofphysical and mental decline.
Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease withno known cure. On average, Alzheimer’sdisease has a 3 to 20 year trajectory.Although memory impairment is themost common symptom, the diseaseaffects judgment, orientation, compre-hension, the ability to communicate, andcan negatively alter personality andbehaviors not previously displayed. Earlydetection is the key to coping with the dis-ease. Family members are encouraged tolearn the warning signs and seek medical
Alzheimer’saffects
everyoneIn Koochiching County,
nearly 350 seniors have the disease
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advice if present:• Misplacing things• Unable to retrace steps• Withdrawal from social activities• Confusion with time or place• Trouble understanding images• Changes in mood or personalityOnce diagnosed, family caregivers
possess a unique challenge of providingphysical, emotional, and psychologicalsupport to their loved one afflicted withAlzheimer’s disease. Family caregiversreport high levels of stress, psychologi-cal and physical illness, and negativeeffects on their health, well-being,employment, income, and financialsecurity.
The following caregiver strategies havehelped reduce negative effects and arealso foundational to providing high quali-ty of care to a loved one who is afflictedwith Alzheimer’s disease:
• Communicate with eye contact, ges-tures, facial expressions, and clear, shortphrases
• Maintain a calm demeanor.• Set up a structured, daily routine.• Increase self-esteem of family mem-
ber by praising and reassuring them oftheir successes.
• Encourage memory aids such as
notes, signs, clocks, and calendars.• Use short, simple words and sen-
tences.• Give one-step directions one step at a
time.• Repeat information or questions in the
same way, using the same words as before.• Give simple explanations. Avoid using
logic and reason at great length.• Be aware of your tone of voice. Speak
slowly and distinctly. Use a gentle andrelaxed tone of voice (lower pitch is morecalming).
• Pay attention to your body language.Approach from the front. Avoid quickmovements. Keep good eye contact. Getdown to their level if they are sitting. Usepositive, friendly facial expressions.
The most important component ofcontinuing to provide care for a familymember is identifying caregiver stress andburnout. Feelings of anger, anxiety, stress,or harm are not normal and requireimmediate attention. If a family caregivershows signs of severe stress or burnout,they should remove themselves from theimmediate environment and seek profes-sional care for their loved one. Doing sowill protect the family caregiver andensure a quality lifestyle their loved onedeserves.
Family MattersWednesday, September 28, 2011 THE JOURNAL, International Falls, Minn. 11
Strategies to help you cope with your recent diagnosis of Alzheimer’s diseaseEffiective coping strategies:• Accept the reality of the disease and learn to live with it.• Seek emotional support and understanding from others.• Try to see things from a different perspective.• Find comfort in your religious or spiritual beliefs.• Concentrate your efforts on doing something about the situation to make it better - takeaction!• Come up with a strategy about what to do and the steps to take.
Disfunctional coping strategies:• Giving up trying to cope with the disease.• Telling yourself, “This isn’t real” or refusing to believe.• Using drugs or alcohol to make yourself feel better.• Trying to take your mind off the situation.
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