"Our Family Our Way: A New Resource for Caregiving Families"

When a person needs care and support, their family is usually first in line to provide it. However, family caregiving can be both rewarding and challenging—especially when there are multiple family members involved. Scripps Gerontology Center recently released Our Family, Our Way, a communication and care coordination resource developed to help families think and talk about caregiving. Our Family, Our Way provides carefully designed materials to walk a family through the process of holding a family meeting, where members can talk about what kinds of care and support are needed and wanted and how family members can work together to make it happen. This presentation will share information about Our Family, Our Way, and how it can be used by families and professionals.

 

Jennifer Heston-Mullins – PhD, LISW (PhD & BA, Miami University; MSW, The Ohio State University)

 

Jennifer is a Research Scholar with Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University. She has been a licensed social worker in the state of Ohio for 24 years where her practice focused on older adults residing in both home and residential care settings. Her research work has included explorations of the experiences and roles of direct care workers; person-centered care; communication and care coordination within caregiving families; efforts to build dementia-inclusive communities; end-of-life values and decision-making; and program evaluation.