An innovative program from the University of Michigan
Health System aims to address the needs of care-partners of adults living with
memory loss
Matthaei Botanical Gardens is the setting for
a new monthly wellness program developed by the Michigan Alzheimer’s DiseaseCenter (MADC). The free stress-reduction program, called “Catching Your
Breath,” allows caregivers to refresh and recharge in the restorative
atmosphere of the Gardens.
We’re all familiar with stress and the toll
it takes on our well-being. For caregivers of adults living with memory loss,
stress is an even greater factor in their lives as the demands of the care they
provide pull them ever further from their own emotional and physical needs.
Despite the considerable contributions
care-partners make to loved ones suffering from memory loss they remain an
underserved and often overlooked group in the spectrum of care. And the care
they provide takes its toll; research shows that caregivers experience much
higher levels of stress than non-caregivers, and caregivers report feelings of
anger, guilt, or helplessness as a result of providing care.
Catching Your Breath is a way to support
care-givers and the ways they take care of themselves, explains MADC program
coordinator Laura Rice-Oeschger, LMSW. “Caregivers experience more stress,
doubt, and fear,” Rice-Oeschger says. “Catching Your Breath introduces the idea
of self-care for caregivers in an atmosphere that’s welcoming and nonjudging
and about letting go.”
Each Catching Your Breath session is unique
and may include instructions and guidance in meditation practices; mindful
perspectives such as mindful eating, walking, and breathing; visualization; art
projects; and book or poetry readings. Spring and summer 2012 guest speakers
facilitated discussions for maintaining balance and cultivating wellness while
caregiving, and for the November session Rice-Oeschger coordinated a
discussion and activity around preparations for wellness during the holiday
season to help members create a holiday stress-management plan. “For any new members,”
Rice-Oeschger explains, “the practices and discussion are simple and open. For
folks who are returning, it’s an opportunity to deepen the commitment to
self-care and revisit old skills.”
A Holistic Approach
Catching Your Breath is part of MADC’s larger mission to
improve the life experiences of caregivers, their families, and those who have
cognitive impairment, says Dr. Henry Paulson, Professor of Neurology at the University of
Michigan Medical School and the Director of Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease
Center.
MADC’s three-pronged mission includes research, care, and
education for the public and health care professionals alike about the causes
and treatment of dementia, and Catching Your Breath “is an exciting new
component of our growing effort to help caregivers understand and deal with the
issues they might face as this complex, chronic disease goes through its many
phases,” Paulson notes.
Inspiring and enriching people’s lives
through contact with nature forms a core mission of Matthaei Botanical Gardens
& Nichols Arboretum, and the Catching Your Breath program speaks to that
principle, says Matthaei- Nichols’ Director Robert Grese. “Catching Your Breath
recognizes the restorative value of nature and beautiful gardens in people’s
lives, particularly for those dealing with much emotional stress,” he says. As
medical care shifts to recognize the need to treat the whole person as well as
to provide support for family members who serve as caregivers, adds Grese, places
like the Conservatory, gardens, or nature trails become more important as
settings that provide respite.”
Working with MADC also underscores how the
Arb and Gardens continues to find new ways to collaborate with other units at
the University, says Grese. “Catching Your Breath is a perfect fit, in part
because of the medical campuses’ proximity to the Arboretum and the Gardens but
also because it’s natural that we should look for ways to improve physical
access to our properties and institute programs here that engage medical staff,
patients, and their families.”
For more information about Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Center or Catching Your Breath visit the MADC website or call 734.936.8764. Interested in attending a session in 2013? Catching Your Breath winter / spring 2013 schedule:
Jan.
16, 6:30–8 pm
Feb.
13, 10–11:30 am
March
20, 6:30–8 pm
April
17, 10–11:30 am
