UA retirees are in that stage of life where they may be providing care for a parent, a spouse or another loved one. While caregivers have access to multiple resources online and elsewhere that provide information about the conditions, challenges and potential solutions inherent in caregiving situations, the scope of these resources tend to be more general in nature. Support groups can provide more specific suggestions to help navigate daily challenges, but information is typically limited by the number of participants and the range of experiences those participants may be able and willing to share.
TUARA’s What I Know Now project seeks to address the critical gap that exists between these resources. By drawing on the caregiving experiences of UA retirees, we will create a larger base of potential support that allows for more personal and confidential interactions regarding specific challenges.
The project will initially focus on retirees who are providing care to a person living with dementia, Parkinson’s Disease or ALS; our hope, however, is to expand this resource to include other caregiving situations and, eventually, to other higher education retiree groups in the state, as appropriate.
The first step is to conduct a survey of TUARA members to gauge interest in a confidential vehicle that will allow UA retirees to share their caregiving experiences through one-on-one interactions with other UA retirees who are facing or have faced similar issues and situations. Some examples of the types of conversations that could occur are: “My loved one was just diagnosed with dementia. What can I expect?” Or “My loved one uses a wheelchair. How do we handle going through security checkpoints at the airport or a concert?”
As you respond to the following yes/no questions, we invite you to add any comments or suggestions that would help in the development and implementation of the What I Know Now pilot program. All responses will be aggregated to ensure anonymity and confidentiality. Please copy the survey and email your responses to bkellen3333@gmail.com by Friday, Dec. 17, 2021. Thank you for your participation.
What I Know Now
Interest Survey
Would the What I Know Now program be helpful to you as a caregiver? Please tell us why.
Yes: ______________________________________________________________
No: _______________________________________________________________
Would you consider participating in the What I Know Now program as a current or former caregiver? Please tell us what factors would influence your decision.
Yes: _________________________________________________________________
No: _________________________________________________________________
Additional Comments:
Please submit your responses no later than Friday, Dec. 17, 2021.