Recognizing and Managing Caregiver Burnout
Caring for a loved one, especially someone with Alzheimer’s disease, is an important but often overwhelming task. The constant emotional, physical, and mental demands can lead to caregiver burnout, a state of exhaustion where it becomes difficult to continue providing care. Understanding the signs and knowing how to manage burnout can help caregivers maintain their own well-being while still supporting those in their care. What is Caregiver Burnout? Burnout happens when the stress of caregiving builds up over time. It can cause feelings of frustration, fatigue, and isolation. Physical symptoms, such as headaches or disrupted sleep, are also common. If burnout is not addressed, it can negatively affect both the caregiver’s health and the quality of care provided. Recognizing the early signs is essential. Ways to Manage Caregiver Burnout At Still Hopes, we understand the complexities of caregiving. That’s why we offer several programs designed to relieve caregiver stress, allowing you time to recover while your loved one receives quality care. Respite Care: Our respite care program offers temporary stays, giving caregivers a chance to step away for a few days or weeks. This provides a break, allowing you time to rest while ensuring your loved one is cared for in a safe environment. Adult Day Programs: Still Hopes also provides an Adult Dementia Day Program in a secure, group setting. This allows caregivers to have time for themselves while their loved one participates in supervised activities and social interaction. Support Groups: Participating in a caregiver support group is another valuable resource. These groups allow you to connect with others in similar situations, share advice, and find emotional support. Support groups can be in-person or virtual, depending on what best fits your needs. Join Us at the Columbia Walk to End Alzheimer’s Still Hopes will also be participating in the Columbia Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Saturday, October 19th. This event supports Alzheimer’s research and care, while giving caregivers and their loved ones the opportunity to come together with the community. It’s a meaningful way to raise awareness while also finding solidarity with others. Taking care of yourself is essential to being the best caregiver you can be. Still Hopes is here to provide the support and services that make this possible. Reach Out for More Information To learn more about our respite care or day programs, contact us or visit our Greenway at Still Hopes website. We are here to help you manage the challenges of caregiving with the support you deserve.
Re-Opening The Still Hopes Pool To Residents and Why
With summer upon us at our Retirement Home in West Columbia, SC, it’s no surprise that folks are wanting to take a dip in the pool. However, with all the questions surrounding COVID-19, some are wondering if pools are even safe any more. While we know that information can change, Still Hopes Retirement Community in Columbia SC has been closely following the information disseminated by health authorities like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Based upon the information we have studied, Still Hopes has decided to re-open our indoor pool on a very limited basis to our current residents that live on campus. Our pool has been completely closed since March of this year and the decision to re-open has been approached with extreme caution. However, the Still Hopes Retirement Community in Columbia SC leadership team, including Still Hopes’ Director of Wellness, Denise Heimlich, feel confident that re-opening on a limited basis is a safe measured step. Denise explains “The CDC states that there is no current evidence that the novel coronavirus can spread through treated pool water. Our pool uses an ultraviolet sanitation system as well as a small amount of chlorine. Both have been shown effective in destroying the virus. The CDC has issued guidelines for the safe operation of swimming pools that we are following closely. The most important is to maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from any other person unless from the same family. People are urged to maintain social distancing whether in the pool or on deck. The primary means of viral transmission is through speaking, coughing, sneezing, talking, or singing.” “The Still Hopes pool has a large ventilation system that moves huge amounts of air per minute. Air exchange is important for removing suspended viral particles. We measured the square footage of the pool, so we know, from CDC guidelines that we can have no more than 8 people in the pool at a time. Thus, we have check in times for pool sessions and swimmers will reserve their time in the pool so that we can keep count of pool users.” says Denise. In conclusion, Denise states “Other guidelines state that all adults should wear a mask while on deck, unless there is a medical reason not to do so, but do not wear a mask in the pool. Water soaked masks severely limit breathing. No equipment is to be shared. If you bring your own, don’t share it. We will no longer leave equipment such as noodles on deck for anyone to use. New noodles will be offered for sale in the Wellness Center. No one is to use the locker rooms for showering or changing clothes. All touchable surfaces will be sanitized by staff after each pool session. If people carefully follow recommended procedures, the risk of getting COVID-19 should be low.” So, with all of these things in mind, Still Hopes looks forward to offering this wellness option to our residents two days a week at limited times beginning July 14th. With all the stress that comes along with living in a global pandemic, Still Hopes strives to meet as many of our residents’ needs as possible. It has been shown that one of the most common mental benefits of exercise is stress relief, and we believe our pool can play a vital role. What are some of your favorite ways to relieve stress right now? Please let us know over on our Facebook page!
Over 200 Native Plants Added To Still Hopes Forest
The Still Hopes Memorial Forest, also known as The Forest, was given as part of the original gift from the Guignard family to Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. The purpose of the 44 acres that is now known as Still Hopes, which encompassed the Guignard Mansion and Forest, was to provide a place for seniors to live their most vibrant life. The Forest is currently served through an endowment to maintain this wooden area in perpetuity. The Forest is a recreational space including walking paths and a retention pond and is enjoyed by residents, employees, and the surrounding community. Through a collaborative effort of the Still Hopes Development Office and the Still Hopes Garden Committee, a proposal was submitted to Columbia Green to enhance The Forest by increasing the plant diversity of this space while maintaining its natural state and serene escape. The proposal was approved by the Columbia Green grants committee, which allowed for over 220 native South Carolina canopy and understory trees and shrubs to be purchased by the Still Hopes Grounds Supervisor, Chris Spearen. The Still Hopes Community also gave a matching gift equal to the value of the grant, as well as provided in-kind labor to really elevate this project to its greatest potential and further the diversity and interest. Chris brings a wealth of knowledge, and we were very fortunate to have his expertise and his team for this special project between Still Hopes and Columbia Green. As these plants flourish over the coming months and years, we know they will be appreciated by many! (The photos associated with this post were taken when members of the Columbia Green grants committee visited Still Hopes to walk the Forest with Chris Spearen and see the new plantings in person!) Complete Listing of Plants Added To The Forest 15 gal. Eastern Redbud (2) 15 gal. Flowering Dogwoods (5) 15 gal. Bay Magnolias (3) 15 gal. Service Berry (1) 15 gal. Laurel Oak (2) 15 gal. Chestnut Oak (2) 7 gal. Witch Hazel (4) 7 gal. American Snowball (1) 7 gal. Red Maples (2) 5 gal. Eastern Red Cedars (3) 3 gal. Dwarf Palmetto (18) 3 gal. Oak Leaf Hydrangea (25) 3 gal. Leucothoe (9) 3 gal. Illicium (6) 3 gal. Native Azaleas (19) 3 gal. Shrubby St. John's wort (10) 3 gal. Big Leaf Magnolia (16) 3 gal. Fothergilla (9) 3 gal. Franklinia (3) 3 gal. Sweet Shrubs (6) 3 gal. Chalk Maples (3) 1 gal. Live Oaks (3) 1 gal. Red Buckeyes (3) 1 gal. White Fringe Trees (5) 1 gal. Black Tupelo (3) 3 qt. Walter's Viburnum (5) 3 qt. Paw Paws (5) 3 qt. Beauty Berries (5) 3 qt. Coral Beans (5) 3 qt. Sweet Pepper Bush (15) 3 qt. Oak Leaf Hydrangea (5) 3 qt. Ink Berry Hollies (12) 3 qt. Sweet Spire (5) 3 qt. Sourwood (3) 3 qt. American Hornbeam (3)
A Peak into Gamecock History: The Story of Nelson Weston
In the early 1950s, long before the roar of Sandstorm or the bright lights of today’s stadium experience, Gamecock football had a different rhythm. Players suited up without facemasks, crowds were smaller but loyal, and the football players, like a young lineman named Nelson Weston, played both sides of the ball. For Nelson, those years weren’t just about wins or stats. They were about grit, adventure, and most of all...the lifelong friendships forged on and off the field. Now a proud resident of Still Hopes, Nelson reflects on a life shaped by those unforgettable Saturdays in Garnet and Black. “One of the things I remember most was the trips,” he recalls. “Going to Charlottesville, going to Austin. And we also went to West Point. You got to go a lot of places you wouldn’t normally get to go.” Those trips were just the beginning as Nelson and his co-captain also spent time at Shaw Air Force Base, where they even flew fighter jets! Surely a unforgettable perk of being part of the ROTC program. And then there were the post-season celebrations, the ones that are vivid in his mind decades later. One memory in particular was his favorite. “[My favorite memory] was celebrating after my senior year, the last game I had,” he says. “About four or five of us went to the beach.” Weston also recalls that back then, the crowds were smaller and the energy was different — except during big rivalry games like Duke or NC State, when the stands would fill to the brim. But Nelson and “the boys,” as he fondly calls his teammates, played for the game but they also played for each other. “The bond we had was special,” Nelson says. Many of those teammates remained close friends throughout their lives. That sense of brotherhood, he explains, was what made those years so meaningful. After graduation, Nelson traded in his helmet for a stethoscope, pursuing a career in pediatrics. He went on to found Sandhills Pediatrics, becoming a trusted and well-loved doctor in the Midlands. Though his career took him far from the field, his athleticism and leadership during his playing days left a lasting impression, one that followed him through every phase of his life. Today, Nelson is still a loyal Gamecock, using his season passes to cheer on the team with his family. “I go with Dot,” he says, referring to his wife. “And I go with my grandkids. I’ve got eight tickets and two parking places.” Those Saturdays in the stadium, surrounded by family, are a reminder that Gamecock football is more than just a game. It’s a legacy. As you listen to Nelson, it becomes clear that his story isn’t just about football, it’s about family, friendship, and finding joy in every stage of life. His journey from the fields of Williams-Brice to the halls of Still Hopes is a reminder of what it means to be part of the Gamecock family. It’s a bond that doesn’t fade with time; it only grows stronger. Forever to Thee, Nelson. By Amanda Anderson Amanda is a senior broadcast journalism major at the University of South Carolina and a guest writer for Still Hopes through her media and communications internship.