Wednesday, March 11, 2009

ARCHDIOCESE — The Caregiver Assistance Network (CAN) has launched a new website designed to focus on the ongoing needs and issues facing family caregivers and caregiver professionals across the Greater Cincinnati region. CAN is just one of the programs and services available to the community through Catholic Charities SouthWestern Ohio.

CNS PHOTO

The Caring Matters ECAREline debuted March 3 with a variety of tools and information resources for those interested in learning more about caregiver issues. The new website includes a weekly video topic, listing of upcoming programs and services available through CAN, staff listings, and a place where caregivers can share information and ideas about their caregiving experience with others, ask questions, and have them posted to the website.

“This year, we have decided to broaden our horizons,” said Margaret Iannaci, coordinator of the CAN program. “While continuing to provide caregiver programs throughout the Greater Cincinnati area, the Caregiver Assistance Network would like to reach out to caregivers beyond the realm of Southwestern Ohio. With just a click of a mouse from our website, our educational programs become more inclusive and convenient for family caregivers, wherever they may be.”

The new website can be found on the Catholic Charities SouthWestern Ohio web page at www.catholiccharitiesswo.org; follow the programs and services link, where you will find the ECAREline page.

The agency is hopeful that local businesses and organizations with family caregiver ties will want to help sponsor the website.

The Caregiver Assistance Network is a program of Catholic Charities SouthWestern Ohio.  CAN was established in 1996 and is dedicated to providing a variety of free services to family caregivers and professional caregivers.  It is funded in part by the Ohio Department of Aging through the Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio.

For more information about the new website or if you are interested in becoming a sponsor on the new site, contact Chris Gramke at 513-241-7745 or via email at [email protected].

Upcoming presentation focuses on caregiving

ARCHDIOCESE — A free presentation on “The Legal and Financial Impact of Caregiving” will be held Thursday, April 23, 2-3 p.m., at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Montgomery.

Elder attorney Patricia Meek will discuss the legal and financial impact of caregiving. Meek is a volunteer with the Caregiver Assistance Network of Catholic Charities and accepts cases from Pro-Seniors, a nonprofit organization that provides legal services to older Ohioans.

Her areas of concentration include Medicaid, estate planning, probate and taxation. She holds accounting degree from the college of Mt. St. Joseph, an MBA in taxation from Xavier University and a law degree from the University of Cincinnati.

This program is co-sponsored by the Caregiver Assistance Network, a program of Catholic Charities of Southwestern Ohio and is funded in part by the Ohio Department of Aging through the Council of Aging in Southwestern Ohio.
To register for the program, call 513-489-0300.

Legal risk management workshop for care staff

ARCHDIOCESE — “Are You Ready to Prevent a Lawsuit? Legal risk management and documentation for long-term care staff” will be the topic of a presentation on Thursday, April 2, 8:30-11:45 a.m., at Bayley Place’s Enrichment Center, 990 Bayley Place Dr., Cincinnati.

The presentation will provide an overview of nursing home negligence litigation in Ohio and will include a discussion of common causes of lawsuits and how to prevent them.

The event is aimed at nursing home administrators, nurses, counselors, social workers, activities personnel, pastoral services persons, and anyone who works with older adults.

The presenter will be Paul W. McCartney, a Cincinnati attorney whose areas of practice include medical and healthcare provider malpractice, nursing home litigation and professional liability.

The event is co-sponsored by Bayley Place and the College of Mount St. Joseph.

Fees for persons registering before March 25 are $50. After that date it is $55. For information on registering, call 513-347-5510.