b'LIFE CHANGES: WHEN A LOVED ONE NEEDS HELP W hen a family member needs care,taxes, renters insurance, health needs and it helps to have support andinsurance. Im also a power of attorney advice from someone whos beenfor health decisions and representative there herselfsomeone like Jewishpayee for financial obligations. I take care Community Services (JCS) Patient Careof ordering medical supplies as needed, Connection case manager and therapistcommunicate with nursing and aide staff Alison Lynch. and set up Zoom calls with me, her sister In her work at JCS, Lynch helps olderand nieces.adults and their caregivers overcomeYet Lynch knows that for many family challenges that may be affecting theirmembers who become caregivers, health, well-being and ability to age the hardest part sometimes is even in a safe environment. As a longtimerecognizing your loved one may need volunteer chaplain at Frederick Health,help. A case in point for Lynch wasLynch knows what its like to work withwhen her aunt on her fathers sideindividuals in the end stages of life as wellhad undiagnosed dementia.as with their families. She was driving her car to meetBut Lynchs experience with caregivinga friend at Lennys Delicatessen when she doesnt end when she leaves her job atgot lost in a nearby neighborhood years JCS or her volunteer position at Frederickago, she says. Several random people Health. Lynch serves as a caregiver forshe asked directions from had to call 911 aging people in her own family as well. because they could tell she was confused. I care for my mother with AlzheimersThat was the beginning of discovering disease. I visit her, take care of her bills, hershe had dementia. Over the next few years, I had her in two different assisted living places, ultimately moving her closer According to the Caregivers Action Network:to my home so I could be more involved in her care. 23%of family72%of family caregivers20%of employed femaleAs a result of both her personal and caregivers, caring forreport not going to the doctorcaregivers over 50 years oldprofessional experiences, Lynch offers the loved ones for five yearsas often as they should andreport symptoms of depressionfollowing tips to help family members or more report their55% say they skip doctorcompared to 8% of their minimize stress and maximize satisfaction health is fair or poor.appointments for themselves. non-caregiving peers.when caring for a loved one.42 SHALOM BALTIMORE'