Caregiver Connection Quarterly Newsletter

The Caregiver Connection Newsletter is a free publication of the Baltimore County Department of Aging (BCDA).

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April, May, june 2025

stories in this issue

VIRTUAL SPRING MINI-CONFERENCE

Join the Caregiver Support Program for the upcoming Spring Virtual Mini-Conference on Friday, May 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. This year we are focused on "Nourishing Caregivers-Mind, Body, Spirit."

Caregivers often spend all of their time and energy caring for someone they love, while neglecting their own health and wellness. Join us as we host various experts from the community, focused on helping caregivers with Living Longer and Living Well.

Discover ways to:

Nourish the Mind: Learn strategies for mindfulness and finding relief for anxiety and depression.
Nourish the Body: Discover tips for finding wellness through healthy eating habits while caregiving.
Nourish the Spirit: Learn ways to find fulfillment and joy in caregiving.

Registration information is coming soon. Contact the Caregiver Support Program for details.

You are invited to Join Trualta

As a caregiver of someone in Baltimore County, you are eligible for free registration on Trualta, an online platform that provides support and education for caregivers, in both English and Spanish. Trualta provides access to a library of information tailored to your specific needs. This includes tips and strategies for providing the best care for your loved one, such as:

Communication ideas when caring for someone with dementia.
Techniques for providing safe, hands-on care, such as showering and dressing your loved one.
Care strategies for loved ones with a specific health condition such as diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, heart failure and many more.
Tips for managing medications and other important health needs.

In addition, Trualta gives you access to online support communities:

Virtual support groups at various days and times throughout the week, that are offered in both camera-on and camera-off styles, depending on whether or not you wish to remain anonymous.
Community chat groups where you can post questions and connect with others.
Your own personal care coach who can provide one-on-one support and advice through video calls or emails.

For more info about Trualta, access to free registration, or one-on-one assistance with Trualta registration and navigation (provided in local senior centers), contact the Caregiver Support Program.

April is defeat diabetes month

Each year in America, 1.2 million people are newly diagnosed with diabetes. Learn more about diabetes

and how to lower risk.

Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which your blood glucose (or blood sugar) levels are too high. Glucose comes from the foods you eat and is your body’s main source of energy. There’s a hormone called insulin that acts as a key—it “unlocks” your body’s cells in order to let glucose into them and provide energy to your body. When you have diabetes, your body isn’t making enough insulin or isn’t using the insulin properly. This leads to the glucose staying in your blood and not enough of it going into your cells. Eventually, this imbalance of insulin and blood sugar can lead to many other health issues.

Lower Your Risk

Luckily there are small changes to your lifestyle choices that can help control/lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This includes important factors, such as increasing your daily physical activity and finding ways to better manage stress. Additionally, small changes to what you eat can have big impacts. Whether you or someone you care for are looking for ways to improve your eating habits, it’s important to understand what healthier eating means and how it can help reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes. Read below for healthy eating tips from the American Diabetes Association.

Simplify your meal planning and help manage your blood sugar by using the “diabetes plate” method:

Fill half of the plate with non-starchy vegetables—These are vegetables that are low in carbohydrates. This includes vegetables like spinach, broccoli, mushrooms or asparagus.
Fill one-quarter of the plate with quality carbohydrates—Opt for whole grains such as brown rice or quinoa, which are also rich in other nutrients such as vitamins, minerals and fiber.
Fill one-quarter of the plate with lean protein—This includes lean animal and plant-based proteins, such as beans, eggs, fish, and baked chicken. The serving should be equivalent to a three-ounce cooked portion (about the size of a deck of cards or the palm of your hand).

By creating a plate using this method, and pairing your meal with water or another zero-calorie drink, you can help control or prevent diabetes. As always, be sure to speak with your doctor before making any changes in your diet and nutrition.

To learn more about managing diabetes, register for the upcoming Diabetes Self-Management class at the Catonsville Senior Center, Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., April 10 to May 15. Call 410-887-0900 to register.

MAy is national speech language-hearing month

There are links between hearing loss and dementia. A study conducted in 2023 found that for those who are already at risk for dementia, unaddressed hearing loss can increase or speed up the likelihood of developing dementia. Hearing loss can negatively impact someone’s ability to communicate and socialize. It is believed that these effects are what can increase the chance of cognitive decline for those who are already at risk.

This just reinforces how important it is to have hearing checks done and to follow the advice of your audiologist, if hearing aids are recommended. Studies show

that the use of hearing aids (for those who need them) reduced the rate of cognitive decline in older adults at high risk of dementia by almost 50 percent over a three-year period. If you are concerned about hearing loss for you or your loved one, it’s important to speak with your doctor.

For more info about hearing aids and related resources, join us May 8 at 11 a.m. as we host a webinar "Hear Better: Hearing Technology Resources and Services," with the Assistive Technology Program from Maryland’s Department of Disabilities. Contact the Caregiver Support Program to register.

In june we celebrate the multicultural caregiver community

Check out these facts showcasing caregivers across the country:

More than half of caregivers who are African-American find themselves “sandwiched” between roles, splitting their time between caring for both an older adult and a child, or by caring for multiple older loved ones. African-American caregivers are also more likely to reside with their care recipient and spend an average of 20.6 hours per week providing care.
Approximately 66 percent of caregivers who are African-American are employed full or part-time, in addition to their caregiving duties.
Approximately nine percent of caregivers self-identify as LGBTQ+.
The number of older adults who identify as LGBTQ+ is growing—there are at least three million who are aged 55 and up in the U.S. This number is expected to double in the next two decades.
Upwards of 75 percent of all caregivers are female, and may spend as much as 50 percent more time providing care than males.
Approximately 39 million caregivers provide care to adults (aged 18 and up) with a disability or illness ,or 16 percent of Americans.
About 15 million adult family caregivers care for someone who has Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia.

While each caregiver’s experience is unique, there are common challenges faced amongst individuals who come from an array of backgrounds. There are many barriers in place that often lead to increased difficulties in accessing care and assistance in the community.

Taking the time to recognize these challenges and valuing each caregiver’s unique experience is an important part of building a caring community for everyone in the County. For additional resources, contact the Caregiver Support Program.

The book nook

In "Ladysitting: My Year with Nana at the End of her Century" by Lorene Cary, Lorene's grandmother moves in, and everything changes―day-to-day life, family relationships, the Nana she knew―even their shared past. From cherished memories of weekends she spent as a child with her indulgent Nana to the reality of the year she spent ‘ladysitting’ her now frail grandmother, Lorene Cary journeys through stories of their time together and five generations of their African-American family. Brilliantly weaving a narrative of her complicated yet transformative relationship with Nana―a fierce, stubborn and independent woman, who managed a business until she was 100―Cary looks at Nana’s impulse to control people and fate, from the early death of her mother and oppression in the Jim Crow South, to living on her own in her New Jersey home.

PAST EDITIONS OF CAREGIVER CONNECTION

Read past editions of the Caregiver Connection newsletter: