Caregivers are special people, and the people of First Woodway recognize that you also have special needs.
Caregivers Ministry
While your needs are varied and we cannot meet all of them, we hope this site will be helpful to you. It is designed to make you aware of, and make available to you, resources that may be beneficial.
Since caregivers vary in many ways and “one size” does not fit all, we value your feedback in how we can better minister to you. Also, this site is not intended to eliminate the personal touch – please know that the staff at First Woodway are ready to personally assist you at any time.
Most of all, know that you are loved and not forgotten.
What’s Happening Now
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Every Christian knows a loved one affected by mental health challenges that include depression, anxiety, substance abuse, sleep and eating problems, among others. 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 5 adolescents a year deal with a mental illness. In the church, the numbers are the same. Imagine about a quarter of our church affected by the impact of mental illness. There is hope! Our church is committed to supporting those in our congregation and community as they encounter mental health challenges. For more mental health information, please see below our Mental Health Awareness webpage.
Senior Care Resources
Independent Living may be right for you if:
• You need minor assistance with activities of daily living
• You want a home that does not require a lot of maintenance and upkeep
• You like the idea of being able to socialize and do activities with other senior adults
Resources in Waco
Emeritus at Meadowlands Terrace
3801 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, 254-714-2222
Lakeshore Estates
3209 Village Green Drive, 254-399-0109
Stilwell Memorial Residence
5400 Laurel Lake Drive, 254-772-4644
Providence Park
300 W. Highway 6, 254-761-8500
Cottages of Oak Springs
1900 Woodgate Drive, 254-666-2636
Ridgecrest Retirement & Health
1900 W. Highway 6, 254-776-9681
Assisted Living may be right for you if:
• You need more personal care than can be given at home or an independent living facility
• You do not need round-the-clock medical care and supervision
Resources in Waco
Alterra Sterling House of Waco
1700 Lakeshore Drive, 254-754-7900
Bentley House Assisted Living
500 North Hewitt Drive, 254-744-0187
Donna Berry Community Home
514 Concorn Way, 254-799-1849
Meadowlands Terrace
Assisted Living
3801 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, 254-714-2222
Ridgecrest Retirement Limited
1900 W Highway 6, 254-776-9681
Saint Elizabeth Place
300 W Highway 6, 254-761-8500
Stoney Brook of Hewitt
151 Royal Lane in Hewitt, 254-420-1400
A nursing home may be right for you if:
• You have both personal and medical needs that can not be met at home or at another facility due to a recent hospitalization or chronic illness
• You need a high level of care temporarily after a hospitalization and plan to return home or to another facility
Resources in Waco
Crestview Healthcare Residence
1400 Lake Shore Drive, 254-753-0291
Greenview Manor
401 Owen Lane, 254-772-8900
Jeffrey Place Healthcare Center
820 Jeffrey Street, 254-772-9480
Lakeshore Village Healthcare
2320 Lake Shore Drive, 254-752-1075
Quality Care of Waco
2501 Maple Avenue, 254-752-0311
Regent Care Center
7801 Woodway Drive, 254-235-7801
Ridgecrest Retirement & Health
2900 W. Highway 6, 254-776-9681
Royal Manor
9114 Royal Lane, 254-666-2164
St. Catherine Center at Providence Park
300 W. Highway 6, 254-761-8500
Texan Nursing and Rehab
5900 Clover Lane, 254-772-0610
The Courtyard at Hewitt
8836 Mars Drive, 254-420-5500
West Rest Haven
300 W. Haven Street, 254-826-5354
Westview Manor of McGregor
414 Johnson Drive, 254-840-3281
Woodland Springs Nursing Center
1010 Dallas Street, 254-752-9774
Home Health Care may be right for you if:
• You need minimal assistance with activities of daily living
• You have a close network of friends and family nearby
Resources in Waco
ABC Home Health Care
3115 Bellmead Drive, 254-867-1181
Amedisys Home Health of Waco
7003 Woodway Dr. Suite #313, 254-399-6422
Auxi Health Care
6600 Sanger Ave. Ste 11 Waco, 254-751-0200
Bethany Home Health Services
6801 Sanger Ave. Ste 150 Waco, 254-741-6451
Bluebonnet Home Care
2020 N. Valley Mills Drive, 254-772-5577
Comfort Keepers of Waco
6501 Sanger Avenue, 254-523-4234
Heartland Social Work Services
254-644-8205
Health Wise Home Health
7111 Bosque Blvd #101, 254-751-0623
Heights Home Health
3425 Hillcrest Drive, 254-753-0431
Hillcrest Home Care Services
3115 Pine Ave #408 Waco, TX 76708
Home Instead Senior Care
511 N. Hewitt Drive Suite 3, 254-666-7300
Interim Health Care
8004 Woodway Dr. #500, 254-751-9393
Providence Home Care
528 Meadow Lake Center, 254-399-2500
Reliable Home Health Services
6312 Cobb 254-772-1025
Texas Home Health Skilled Services
7503 Bosque Blvd, 254-755-6179
Visiting Angels
3833 Franklin Avenue, 254-772-8660
Resources in Waco
Bluebonnet Hospice
307 Londonderry Drive, 254-751-1790
Hillcrest Community Hospice
3115 Pine Ave #408, 254-202-5150
Family Hospice
1412 North Valley Mills Drive, 254-644-2757
Providence Hospice
4830 Lakewood Drive, 254-399-9099
Southern Care Waco
1101 Wooded Acres Drive, 254-751-9537
Texas Home Health Hospice
7503 Bosque Blvd, 254-756-0404
Vista Care Hospice
510 N Valley Mills Drive, 254-399-0963
Resources in Waco
Adult Day Care of Waco
323 N. 29th St. Waco, 254-714-2274
Friends For Life Adult Day Care
5000 Lakewood Dr. Waco, 254-772-7600
Ridgecrest Retirement & Health Care
1900 W. Hwy 6 Waco, 254-776-9681
St. Catherine Center at Providence Park
300 W. Hwy 6 Waco, 254-761-8500
Sunny Day Center
2714 Old Dallas Rd. Waco, 254-799-1099
The 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease
1. Memory Loss that Disrupts Daily Life
Forgetting recently learned information, forgetting important dates and events, asking for the same information over and over again, and relying on memory aides or family members for things they used to handle on their own, are all signs of Alzheimer’s Disease. Typical age-related change: Forgetting names or appointments but remembering them later.
2. Challenges in Planning or Solving Problems
A person with Alzheimer’s disease may have difficulty developing or following a plan and working with numbers. A person may experience difficulty in following a familiar recipe, or keeping track of their budget. It also may take them longer to do tasks than before. Typical age-related change: Making an occassional error when balancing a checkbook.
3. Difficulty Completing Familiar Tasks
Sometimes people with Alzheimer’s disease may have difficulty remembering familiar tasks. They may have difficulting with remembering the rules of a game, driving to a familiar place, managing a budget, or remembering how to cook a favorite food. Typical age-related change: Occasionally needing help with tasks such as recording a tv show or using appliances.
4. Confusion with Time or Place
Sometimes people with Alzheimer’s disease may have difficulty remembering what season it is, where they are, or how they got somewhere. They may have difficulty with the passage of time and remembering specific dates. Typical age-related change: Forgetting what day of the week it is, but remembering it later.
5. Trouble Understanding Visual Images and Spatial Relationships
People with Alzheimer’s disease may experience vision problems. These may include having difficulty reading, judging distance, and determining color. They also may not recognize themselves when they pass a mirror. Typical age-related change: Having changes in vision due to cataracts.
6. New Difficulties with Words in Speaking or Writing
People with Alzheimer’s disease may have difficulty joining a conversation or continuing one. They may begin to speak and forget what they were saying or repeat themselves. They may have difficulty with vocabulary and have trouble finding the right word, or call something by the wrong name. Typical age-related change: Sometimes having difficulty finding the right word.
7. Misplacing Things and Being Unable to Retrace their Steps
Sometimes a person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in the wrong place and have difficulty remembering where they put it. They may have difficulty in retracing their steps or accuse someone of stealing their missing item. Typical age-related change: Occasionaly misplacing things such as glasses or dentures.
8. Decreased or Poor Judgment
People with Alzheimer’s disease may have decreased or poor judgment such as giving large amounts of money to telemarketers. They also may pay less attention to things such as their personal hygiene. Typical age-related change: Making a poor decision once in a while.
9. Withdrawal from Work or Social Activities
Someone with Alzheimer’s disease may remove themselves from favorite activities or hobbies. They may have difficulty remembering their favorite sports team or remembering how to complete their favorite hobby. They may avoid being social due to the changes they are experiencing. Typical age-related change: Sometimes feeling weary of work, social, and family obligations.
10. Changes in Mood and Personality
Sometimes a change in mood will be noticed with people who have Alzheimer’s disease. They may feel confused, anxious, depressed, angry, suspicious, or fearful. They may become easily upset when they are in situations out of their comfort zone. Typical age-related change: Developing specific ways of doing things and become irritated when their routine is changed.
Dementia Resources
Alzheimer’s Association
Dementia Caregiver Resources
Palliative Dementia Care Resources
Waco Housing Options
AlzCare
4308 N 19th St.
Waco, TX 76708
254-752-1008
Wesley Woods Alzheimer’s Care
1700 Woodgate Dr.
Waco, TX 76712
254-666-5454
Emeritus at Meadowlands Terrace
3801 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
Waco, TX 76708
254-714-2222
Self Care
Caring for a loved one not only impacts the one receiving care, but it also can affect the caregiver both physically and mentally. “Caregiver burnout” consists of three major components which include emotional exhaustion, decreased feelings of personal achievement, and increased detchachment toward the one receiving care (Maslach, 2003). In order for “caregiver burnout” to be prevented, it is essential that the caregiver takes time to care for themself! Self-care will not only have a positive impact on the caregiver, but will also allow the caregiver to be effective in caring for their loved one.
Learn as much as you can about your family member’s illness so that you can be the best caregiver that you can be. Knowledge is power and the more you know, the more effective you will be as a caregiver.
Know your limits. Be realistic about how much time and energy you can invest in being a caregiver. Set your limits and clearly communicate your limits with your family members, doctors, and others who are involved.
Accept your feelings. Caregiving can trigger a wide variety of emotions including resentment, fear, guilt, anger, sadness, and helplessness. As long as you don’t compromise the well-being of the receiver, allow yourself to feel what you feel.
Confide in others. Talk to others about what you feel and what you are going through. Lean on your friends, family, and your church and join a support group so that you do not feel like you are going through this journey alone.
All information was provided by helpguide.org.
1. Caregiving is a job, and respite is your earned right. Reward yourself with respite breaks often.
2. Watch out for signs of depression and don’t delay getting professional help when you need it.
3. When people offer to help, accept their help and suggest specific things that they can do.
4. Educate yourself about your loved one’s condition and how to communicate effectively with doctors.
5. There’s a difference between caring and doing. Be open to technologies and ideas that promote your loved one’s independence.
6. Trust your instincts. Most of the time they’ll lead you in the right direction.
7. Caregivers often do a lot of pulling, pushing, and lifting. Be good to your back.
8. Grieve for your losses, and then allow yourself to dream new dreams.
9. Seek support from other caregivers. There is great strength in knowing you are not alone.
10. Stand up for your rights as a caregiver and a citizen.
Source: www.thefamilycaregiver.org