Category Archives: Illness

Past Free Webcast – Loss, Grief, and Aging in a COVID World – May 13th, 2021

Earn 1 hr. CEU, pre-approved for Social Workers by BOSW; self-submit other disciplines.
MGS is an approved Continuing Education Resource by the MN Board of Nursing.
(The CEU is free for MGS members; $15 for non-members.)

By: Gary Roe, Th.M., M.A., Hospice Chaplain, Grief Specialist , author of over a dozen books and 700 articles

Handout – Loss Grief Aging in a COVID World – 5.13.21

We all experience significant loss in life – “deaths” of varying depth and intensity including disappointments, moves, rejections, estrangements, failures, health issues, physical decline, and the loss of people along the way. These losses impact us in ways we’re not aware of, influencing our relationships, overall wellness, and quality of life. As we age, our losses tend to pile up and the weight of our life experiences can be heavy. COVID has added a confusing and complicated layer to all of this, deepening our grief and adding to our already large burden of anxiety and depression. How we deal with these challenges matters deeply – to us and to all those around us. We’ll tackle these demanding issues, and then explore how we can personally navigate loss in healthy ways and help others do the same.

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Past Free Webcast – Older Adults, Homelessness, and COVID-19: Facts and Response – April 15th at Noon

Earn 1.15 hr. CEU, pre-approved for Social Workers by BOSW; self-submit other disciplines.
MGS is an approved Continuing Education Resource by the MN Board of Nursing.
(The CEU is free for MGS members; $15 for non-members.)

By: Rebecca Sales, MPH, Research Scientist, Wilder Research
Michelle Decker Gerrard, M.Ed., Senior Research Manager, Wilder Research
Melea Blanchard, Program Supervisor, Homeless Elders, Catholic Charities of St. Paul & Minneapolis
Lori Halbur, LICSW, Homeless Elders, Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis

Handout – Older Adults, Homelessness & COVID-19 4.15.21

Experiencing homelessness at any age is challenging but imagine experiencing the stress and uncertainty of living without a home as an older adult.  Now imagine that you are a homeless older adult who has been exposed to or is sick with COVID-19.  Using data from the 2018 Homeless Study, Wilder Research will highlight the current state of older adult homelessness across Minnesota. Catholic Charities will then share in-depth information about the response of Catholic Charities to older adults experiencing homelessness who are at risk of or sick with COVID-19.  We will discuss challenges and successes, and consider the importance of stable housing, including the resources needed to support older adults experiencing homelessness. Participants will have the opportunity to think critically as a group about these complex issues and the implications.

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