This poem is titled: Faith

or, you will be taught how to fly.

An AARP survey reports that members of the sandwich generation aged 45 to 55 may be "squeezed" but not overly stressed by the responsibilities of both parenting and caring for elderly parents. Overall, the survey results describe a generation comfortable with, and confident of, its capacity to manage family roles. From In the Middle: A Report on Multicultural Boomers Coping with Family and Aging Issues

The mental health of seniors is emerging as a "national crisis," according to an Administration on Aging (AoA) report, Older Adults and Mental Health: Issues and Opportunities.

Contrary to popular belief, teenagers are not the most suicide-prone group. In fact, elders in the U.S. experience the highest suicide rate. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, persons 65 and older – about 13 percent of the U.S. population – account for 20 percent of suicide deaths. White men over the age of 85 have a suicide rate that is six times the national rate of 10.8 suicides per 100,000 persons. Another shocking fact is that most senior suicide victims had recently visited with their general practitioner – 20 percent the same day, 40 percent within 1 week, and 70 percent within 1 month of the suicide.

The May issue of Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association reveals that more than one-third of family caregivers become depressed, but little is known about specific causes of their depression. A survey at the University of Indiana School of Nursing asked 32 stroke caregivers to identify difficult tasks linked to depression in caregivers. Survey items most often listed were managing changes in the stroke survivor’s behavior-moodiness and dealing with memory loss, irritability, and confusion. Caregivers' lack of time for other family and friends was also mentioned. Depression levels in caregivers increased with the difficulty of tasks and the negative changes occurring in their lives as a result of the stroke.

When you’re faced with eldercare issues that demand attention, engage your parents in a conversation to help them become aware that a problem exists. Ask your parents probing questions, such as: --Is anything bothering you? --Is there something you’d like to talk about? --Do you need help with anything? --I see (hear) that you’re upset. Would you like to talk about it? --What can you do about this problem? --What are your options? Family discussions go much smoother when parents are involved in their own decision-making. This approach fosters mutually responsible partnerships and lessens the potential for conflict. For more ideas, check out Caregiving Basics and Caregiving Journey by clicking on the Resources button above.

May is Older Americans Month, a time to acknowledge the contribution of America’s older persons and the people who care for them. To strengthen the informal system of caring for elders, the "Older Americans Act Amendments of 2000" established the National Family Caregiver Support Program. It calls for such basics for family caregivers as information about available services and assistance in accessing them, counseling, support groups, caregiver training, and respite care. Find more information about Older Americans Month or the developing National Family Caregiver Support Program at the Administration on Aging's web site below.

Have you considered adaptive equipment to help accomplish daily tasks? Equipment can be as simple as a gadget that converts a doorknob into a lever or as sophisticated as an automated pill dispenser or a personal emergency response system. Medicare may cover certain equipment when deemed a “medical necessity” and prescribed by a physician. Local programs often provide adaptive equipment free of charge. Also check out loan closets operated by nonprofit agencies. Refurbished equipment can be purchased at reduced cost; check your local phonebook and the Internet. Creative use of items can help as well -- for instance, placing a lazy Susan on a table or using a timer to turn lights on and off.

More than one-fourth of the adult population in this country provides care for a family member or friend, according to the National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA). That means 54 million people were caregivers in 1999. The NFCA study, published in July 2000, confirmed two growing trends -- more men (44 percent) provide care than previously reported, and more caregivers (37 percent) live under the same roof as the one receiving care. More than half of all caregivers give personal physical care.

A final gentle reminder: Realize that you made the best decision you could at the time. (Lynn Cibuzar, LSW, Service Coordinator at DARTS)