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[ Article crossposted from community.general ]
[ Author was Patrick McKenna ]
[ Posted on 18 Aug 1994 14:51:04 -0700 ]

DATELINE TRAVIS 

Stories concerning Travis Air Force Base, Solano County, California.

DATE: AUG. 19th
FROM: TSGT. Patrick M. McKenna
      NCOIC, Media Relations
      60th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
      Travis AFB, CA  94535
      
      (707) 424-2011 or (707) 424-0135
      paddy@solano.community.net

Taking care of elderly parents

Patti Rogers
Contributing editor     

     "When did my parents get old?" is not only a question many adults
eventually ask themselves, but it's also the name of a seminar on elder
care being sponsored by the family support center Aug. 30. 
     "So many DoD military and civilian members are away from their elder
parents, and when they find their parents need care, they don't know what
to do," said Jim Harris, family support center. "We don't think of our
parents as being old, and then we're
 surprised to find out they are." 
     The elder care seminar is the first in what Harris hopes will be a
continuing educational process for adults with aging parents. Three panel
members with expertise in the field of elder care will lead the
discussions. They are Travis' Chaplain (Lt. C ol.) Wallace Robinson, Pat
Aliangan, a senior services specialist with the Solano/Napa Agency on
Aging and author Cazeaux Nordstrum. Issues such as understanding the aging
process, housing options, tips on communication, being a long-distance
elder care g iver, elder rights and financial concerns will be discussed.
Information on national organizations such as the National Council on
Aging, American Association of Retired Persons and The Alzheimer's and
Related Diseases Association will be available, as we ll as information on
DoD community resources. 
     "The best way to help your family member when they need you is to
first be informed yourself so that you can handle situations as they
arise," said Harris. "Whether you are a care giver now, or have elder
parents who may need your help later, everyon e can benefit from this
seminar. 
     "And taking care of yourself is very important, too. When elder care
situations arise, they can cause all kinds of emotional and family
problems. Knowing how to handle them is important," said Harris. 
     Robinson first became aware of the need to inform adult children
about elder care when he was a parish pastor in Iowa -- a state that, at
the time, had more older people than any other state in the country. At
this seminar he will focus on two themes
 that have benefited people in the past, "How to handle the aging process"
and "When your parents get old, how to light up there lives." 
     "There are many myths in our society today about aging, and we have
to reevaluate those. There is no reason people can't live victoriously
through old age, and part of that is understanding the process," said
Robinson. "Secondly, although many of us are far away from our parents, we
can help them by showing them practical ways to 'light up their lives'." 
     The seminar will be held at the family support center from 11 a.m.-1
p.m. To register call 424-2486. 


-- 
______________________________________________________________________________
Patrick M. McKenna     Air Force Technical Sergeant       Travis AFB, Calif. 
              Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of Media Relations
Work Phone: (707) 424-0135/2011             E-Mail: paddy@solano.community.net
-- 
______________________________________________________________________________
Patrick M. McKenna     Air Force Technical Sergeant       Travis AFB, Calif. 
              Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of Media Relations
Work Phone: (707) 424-0135/2011             E-Mail: paddy@solano.community.net