Silver Linings

Episode Title: Silver Linings – Interview with Laura Vaillancourt, LMHC. Intro: Laura is the founder of Eldercare Counseling and Guidance Services. Laura provides elders and their caregivers with resources and help as they navigate through the healthcare system. We’ll listen as Laura talks about the ways she calms the chaos in herself and especially her clients who are at increased vulnerability during the COVID-19 pandemic by seeing “Silver Linings” in the dark clouds of isolation and helplessness. The work Laura does Providing counseling, care management and resources to the aging population who are either in skilled nursing facilities, or receiving care at home from loved ones. Working with those who are caring for an aging person with Elders and how she is managing the chaos of increased vulnerability in her elderly clients during COVID-19 How to work with elders and caregivers and give them the support they need when all parties are feeling the effects of continued efforts at quarantine, separation increased isolation? In “Normal Times,” Laura provides: Counseling: support and resources to the elder populations and their caregivers Care Management: A team who act as surrogate family members to educate them Consulting: Laura consults as an expert in the aging population, meeting with families, defining problems and exploring solutions Since COVID-19, Laura still does this, but has gotten creative due to limitations on personal contact with clients. “It happened overnight” and COVID-19 ran rampant in a skilled nursing facility in Seattle, near where she works in Washington State. The most vulnerable populations are older adults and immune compromised individuals, who already struggle with physical / emotional loss and isolation Facilities, have done a great job in their efforts to protect residents…and…this increased caution and protective measures have resulted in even more isolation for residents, and increased helplessness for their caregivers Older adults aren’t eating together, spending time alone in apartments Memory care clients typically don’t do well with change Caregivers feel very helpless and at a loss of how to support their loved ones during times when physical contact is limited or shut down. Elders and caregivers already have a lot of loss (i.e., decreased physical or memory functioning, decreased ability to communicate, helplessness, and disconnection). How can you work with the caregivers and the elders with all of the chaos of COVID-19? Emphasize that although there are some things out of our control, we DO have control in some areas of our lives during times of chaos Reframing the situation (we can’t change the situation, but we CAN control our thinking, perceptions and reactions to the situation) Accepting what is, and moving forward with what is possible Choosing to see a difficult situation in a different, more positive light Consider what the benefits to the situation might be (Seeing the “Silver Linings”) Brainstorm the beauty of the situation (i.e., the caregivers at skilled nursing facilities now can become part of the family, and the caregivers can become a part of the professional team). Help caregivers not feel so isolated. Or giving the professionals gifts to thank them...