Sign up for our Email Newsletter "I learned that Share The Care™ supports the primary care giver in tangible and intangible ways. It allows the primary care giver relief from some of the overwhelming responsibility that comes with taking care of an ill parent, child, spouse, sibling." Click here for full story. Jean Nofles is a Legislative Advocate for AARP Colorado.   "I've got the kind of deafness that comes with age: I managed to get through Iliff School of Theology by sitting next to Jane Barton, leaning to the left, and reading her notes when lecturers mumbled key phrases. I should give her a copy of my degree, to hang with the others she has on her wall." Click here for full story. Rev. Kay Krebs is pastor of Deer Park United Methodist Church near Bailey, Colorado

CREATING COMMUNITIES OF CARE

Creating Communities of Care is a cost effective, efficient, compassionate model of communal caregiving designed to complement and support other patient centered models of care. Care receivers and caregivers invite family members, friends, colleagues, and volunteers to share in the responsibilities of care so that no one person is overwhelmed by the experience.  The model facilitates the creation of caring communities by:

• Addressing the resistance related to asking for and receiving help
• Suggesting sources for team members (family, friends, colleagues, faith communities, schools, volunteers, friends of friends)
• Describing the roles/tasks critical to the success of caring teams
• Detailing the format of the Initial Team Meeting that transforms a group of people into a caring community
• Identifying meaningful ways a team can help
• Discussing the foundational principles of successful teams: shared leadership, trust, communication, balance, appropriate boundaries, mutual respect, and commitment to a common goal
• Recognizing the complexity of our healthcare systems and the need for assistance with acute, chronic, and/or terminal illnesses
• Encouraging teams to identify and leverage their collective skills and abilities
• Recognizing that all participants in the process are enriched
• Providing web-based resources for communication and scheduling (www.lotsahelpinghands.com)
• Reminding us that as compassionate beings, we are called to care for one another

As our country debates and explores the various options for healthcare reform, there is one point about which we can all agree – caregiving is a daunting, problematic challenge requiring innovative approaches. The solution lies in coming together and working collaboratively to support and serve the person – patient, healthcare provider, and community members establishing a solid foundation of care. Creating Communities of Care is an essential part of the solution as it instructs and encourages community members to support each other. Communal care supports any proposed care management plan, leveraging critical care resources and serving to keep the patient at the heart of care. A very good thing indeed.