2018 Gathering: Healthier, Happier Caregiving

On September 20^th, the Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation hosted its 17th Annual Gathering event – a FREE conference intended to provide the health information and resources that women and families need to be healthy. In years past, we’ve focused on topics such as aging & dementia, clinical trials, chronic disease, and most recently, grandparents as a key to family health. This year’s focus was “Healthier, Happier Caregiving” to equip caregivers with problem-solving strategies and self-care techniques for their individualized caregiving journeys.

There are over 40 million caregivers in the United States, and we found that people were eager to learn about this information. We had a max capacity turnout with 126 individuals, representing a variety of caregiving perspectives, join us at Marshfield Clinic Health System in Marshfield, WI! Sharing with them were speakers from all areas of expertise as well – dementia, nursing, disabilities, independent living, and more – many with both professional and personal caregiving experience:

Carissa Peterson, CTRS – EasterSeals Wisconsin

Notesong Srisopark Thompson, JD, BSN, RN, CLC – Thoughtful Wills

Jane Meier Hamilton, MSN, RN – Partners on the Path, LLC

Doug Seubert, MPH, CDP – Marshfield Area Purple Angels, Inc.

Martin J. Schreiber – Former WI Governor/Author of My Two Elaines

Kari LaScala, JD – Wisconsin Health Literacy

Sandi Walkush – Midstate Independent Living Choices

Sarah Bangart, BS, Ed, MS – Marshfield Clinic Health System

Attendees learned about the health risks associated with caregiving and the importance of recognizing their own needs in addition to their loved ones’. Throughout the day, speakers shared information on advance care planning, resiliency-building, and community resources that could easily be tailored to help each person create a personal toolkit for healthier, happier caregiving with their loved ones.

In addition to sharing information, an empowering part of the event was sharing experiences. “I think there’s comfort in knowing that maybe we’re all trying to manage together,” said Sue Ann Thompson, WWHF Founder & President, during her welcome address. “I think sharing stories and insights can be really powerful. Humor, especially, can help us step back and enjoy a moment of joy.” And as we learned in the keynote on “Preserving Your Capacity to Care,” each caregiver does have a basic need for positive energy, problem-solving resources, and partners on the path to keep from crumbling under the emotional and physical toll of providing care. I hope that through this year’s Gathering, we were able to provide all three.

Thanks to everyone who joined us and for the many individuals and groups who made the event possible: