Stress Management for the Caregiver

Outline:
I. Stress Management and the Caregiver (60 minutes) a. Introduction i. Course description and objectives ii. Commitment to take care of oneself b. What is stress? i. Definitions 1. Pressure 2. Tension 3. Body response c. The body’s automatic detection process i. Sensory input ii. Stored memories iii. The amygdala d. Stress reactions i. Freeze or fright ii. Fight iii. Flight iv. Checkpoint 1: Multiple-choice question e. Myths about stress (Six new slides) f. Positive stress i. Change and growth g. Persistent low-level stress i. Changes in the endocrine system ii. Poor coping strategies h. Stress causes distress i. Physical ii. Psychological i. Sources of stress i. Individual ii. Check point 2. Multiple-choice question iii. Interpersonal iv. Organizational v. Caregiving Stress (nine new slides) 1. Risk Factors: Signs of Stress 2. Case Scenarios a. Monique: Dementia and discrimination b. Joshua: Physical injury while new on the job c. Rhonda: Health effects of caregiver burden d. Stuart: Dealing with unpleasant family members e. Nichole: The loss of residents and feelings of grief 3. Responding to caregiving stress vi. Checkpoint 3: Multiple-choice question j. Stress and the five realms of experience i. Physical ii. Emotional iii. Mental iv. Social v. Spiritual k. Care for the body i. Good nutrition ii. Sleep hygiene iii. Exercise iv. Nature v. Checkpoint 4: Multiple-choice questions l. Nurture yourself i. Feel it to heal it ii. Name it to tame it iii. Reach out to others iv. Checkpoint 5: Multiple-choice question m. Thoughts that don’t really help i. On ready alert ii. Attention bias iii. Harsh inner critic n. Be mindful i. Self-talk ii. Offering compassion iii. TLC — tender loving care iv. Checkpoint 6: Multiple-choice question o. A lack of caring relationships i. Pain of loneliness ii. Side effects — isolation and loneliness iii. Loneliness in the workplace p. Find connection i. Connection ii. Available, responsive, reliable, and trustworthy iii. Making others feel valued and loved iv. Checkpoint 7: Multiple-choice question q. What’s the point? i. Crisis of faith ii. What makes life worth living? iii. Seek help r. Discover gratitude, purpose, and meaning i. Restore the soul with simple pleasures ii. Nurture the spiritual self iii. Be in nature iv. Checkpoint 8: Multiple-choice question II. Course Summary III. Final Exam (Posttest)

Catherine Zimmerman is a licensed independent clinical social worker who has a private practice providing counseling services to people of all ages and all stages of their lives. She is a freelance healthcare writer and speaker specializing in mental health, ethics, hospice and palliative care, gerontological topics, substance misuse, caregiving, stress and trauma.  Zimmerman received her master's degree from Portland State University thirty years ago and is certified in clinical social work-Gerontology. Zimmerman supervises and mentors therapists seeking licensure in Oregon or Washington states. She is the current President of the Washington chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and has provided public presentations on over twenty topics and has numerous published works. Disclosure: Catherine Zimmerman, LICSW, ACHP-SW, CSW-G has declared that no conflict of interest, Relevant Financial Relationship or Relevant Non-Financial Relationship exists.