U of M News Wire: June 28, 2007

 
Weekly University of Minnesota group puts Alzheimer's sufferers in a teaching role
 
By Brigitt Martin
U of M News Wire

When we hear the word "epidemic," media warnings about killer bugs such as avian influenza or SARS tend to come to mind.
 
Not so for Wayne Caron, an assistant professor in the department of Family Social Science in the University of Minnesota’s College of Education and Human Development. Caron warns of an upcoming epidemic of chronic illness brought on by increasing longevity. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, Caron’s research and interests focus on the way that families cope with chronic illness, particularly demential illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer's Foundation of America estimates that one in 10 people over age 65 and nearly half of those 85 or older have Alzheimer’s disease.
 
"We are entering a time when virtually all families will be care-giving families," Caron warns.
 
Every Saturday morning for the past six years, Caron, his team of volunteer students, and a part-time employee have met with members of the community who suffer from dementia and their family caregivers -- on average, upwards of 25 participants each week. The mission of the University of Minnesota Family Caregiving Center (UMFCC), as this weekly gathering and related programs are known, is to prepare for a future epidemic of chronic illness by increasing knowledge of family care.
 
The center provides a collaborative learning community in which people with dementia, their caregivers, students, and professionals can teach and learn from each other. The interactions and support that have emerged from the community have led to new insights and ideas into the nature of dementia and its care, Caron reports. The weekly sessions also offer an opportunity to develop and test innovative services not offered elsewhere.
 
"Medicare excludes people with dementia from receiving counseling or psychological care," Caron said. "I chose this field because of this gap and to help prepare for the crisis in health care that's coming."
 
Teaching the teachers

Since 1999, the Saturday sessions have begun with a lecture by Caron or a volunteer from the professional community. Although Caron jokes that this portion of the program is "self-indulgent," Carmen Graumann, a licensed associate marriage and family therapist and the center's only paid employee, describes its value: "A place that is also about learning lifts the human spirit."
 
Carole Nimlos, a Saturday morning regular whose husband suffers from Alzheimer's, agrees. "I've learned a lot about the disease from Dr. Caron and how it affects us and our relationships," she said. "When my husband was able to attend, he always said he enjoyed the lectures -- even if he couldn't remember them. I think they made him feel like he still could learn and had something to offer as a person."
 
Following the lecture, the group divides into subgroups of family caregivers and of those who suffer from dementia. During this time, individuals share stories about their personal experiences, feelings and concerns that range from coping with multiple illnesses to estate planning.
 
"It sure feels good to find people who understand what your journey feels like and share similar experiences," Nimlos said.
 
Beyond such support for caregivers, the interactive experience allows those with dementia to feel normal and to not worry about mistakes they may make because of the disease, Caron explains. It also allows the participants to be important to others and to help those who may be more impaired. "I think you're looking at a context where who you are is more important than the problems you have," he said.
 
Because of Caron's conviction that "care-giving can be learned but not taught," he developed an education model in which the people they are supposed to help train students. After all, who knows more about what it's like to suffer from dementia than someone who is experiencing the disease? Students benefit from face-to-face interaction with caregivers and dementia sufferers and help facilitate the subgroups.
 
U of M undergraduate Kathleen Beddow believes that attending the Saturday meetings puts a face on dementia and on aging.
 
Reaching more Minnesotans

Beyond its Saturday sessions, UMFCC provides facilitated family consultations to those who have been diagnosed with dementia and any family members affected by the diagnosis. Online and in-person programs help families through seven different phases of the disease. To learn more about the programs, go to http://fsos.che.umn.edu/projects/fcc.html

The center has few financial grants, and owes its existence to annual university support, private donations and the volunteers who give their time. In its 2006 Annual Report, Caron said that the center's "present level of activity is not sustainable at current funding levels, and our plans for growth require establishing new sources."
 
Nevertheless, he concedes that the UMFCC's "growth is not measured in numbers of dollars, but in increased understanding and capacity to reach out to those who need help and guidance." One way the center is extending its reach is through virtual support groups that reach far beyond campus boundaries.
 
"In five years," he said, "we hope to be more present in the community and the state, to reach more families. We now touch about 50 families, but more than 100,000 people in Minnesota suffer from dementia."
 
Nimlos agrees that, to the thousands of Minnesota families caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's or another demential disease, collaborative learning environments like the center's provide life-saving support services.
 
"The program offers hope that an Alzheimer's diagnosis doesn't mean that life is over," Nimlos said. "It showed me that there are still many avenues of satisfaction while taking this journey.
 
 
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U of M recognizes 2007 farm families of the year
 
By Justin Ware
U of M News Wire

Sixty-eight families from around the state, one from each participating county, have been named a "2007 Farm Family of the Year" by the University of Minnesota.
 
The families will be officially recognized in a ceremony Thursday, Aug. 9, at the annual Farmfest near Redwood Falls. Profiles of the 2007 honorees and information on the recognition event can be found on the U's farm family Web site, at http://mnfarmfamilies.cfans.umn.edu/.
 
"The 2007 Farm Families were chosen based on their contributions to agriculture and their communities," said Bev Durgan, dean of University of Minnesota Extension. "Farm families are the foundation of Minnesota communities. More than 90 percent of Minnesota farms are operated by a farm family. These farm families live and work in our rural and urban communities."
 
Families receiving honors were selected by their local county Extension committees and have demonstrated a commitment to enhancing and supporting agriculture and agriculture production.
 
"This year's Farm Families show the broad range of food produced by Minnesota's farmers -- everything from corn and dairy to newer crops like wine grapes and handcrafted cheese," said Allen Levine, dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. "We're proud to salute these families and their hard work to put food on our tables."
 
The diversity of Minnesota family farms can be seen by looking at a sample of the 2007 honorees:
 
• William and Karolyn Zurn of Becker County, Callaway -- William, Karolyn and their two sons farm 5,000 acres of small grain, soybeans, corn and sugar beets. Also, Karolyn runs an on-farm soy candle business called Plum Grove Farms Candle, which donates most of its proceeds to school groups and other charities.
 
• Ronald and Karin Koenen of Chippewa County, Clara City -- Ronald and Karin, along with sons, Aric and Ethan, grow corn, soybeans, sugar beets, navy beans and grapes in the vineyard. The extra labor from the specialty crops helps the whole family stay on its toes, but despite the long hours they say they still enjoy rural life.
 
• Lutteke Organics of Faribault County, Wells -- Lutteke Organics is a 100 percent organic 800-acre and 90-cow Holstein farm. Denny and Diane Lutteke started the operation in 1972. The Luttekes also design and manufacture flame cultivators and precision-type equipment for organic farmers. They have shipped their equipment to customers in 40 states and Canada since 1986.
 
• The John and Staci Scherber Family of Hennepin County, Corcoran -- John and Staci Scherber live on a farm with three generations at work, just miles from the densely populated suburbs. With many neighbors close by, the Scherbers work hard to use conservation practices in their 50-cow dairy and 200-acre crop operation.
 
• K Bar K Cattle Company of Meeker County, Litchfield -- Daniel and Teresa Kohls are celebrating their 10th annual on-site show lamb sale next April. They also have 30 to 40 calves born each year, which they raise on pasture. Their daughter, Kylee, serves as the National Salers (a breed of cattle) Little Princess and has raised more than $2,700 for breast cancer research by collecting Yoplait Yogurt lids.
 
• Welter Family Farm of Olmsted County, High Forest -- Randy and Myrna Welter operate 500 acres of corn, soybeans and hay. With the help of their seven children, they also take care of 1,100 pigs at all ages and sizes. They started in 1989 by purchasing 135 acres at their current site.
 
• Johnson Farms of Sherburne County, Clear Lake -- Norman and Margaret Johnson's farm has been in the family since 1892. The Johnsons grow many vegetables including  Red and Yukon Gold fresh potatoes, green beans, wheat, corn, soybeans and sweet corn on 3,000 acres. The vegetables are sold at a stand with the help of Norman and Margaret's children and grandchildren.
 
• The Craig DeWolf Family of Washington County, Stillwater -- Craig and Marcia DeWolf operate 600 acres of land where they rotate no-till soybeans and minimum till corn. They also raise beef cattle and hay.
 
Along with Farmfest, university units sponsoring the recognition event include University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, and the College of Veterinary Medicine.
 
Farmfest runs Aug. 7-9 at the Gilfillan Estate, near Redwood Falls. Event hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 7 and 8, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 9. Admission is $7 per person, and those 18 and younger are admitted free. More information on Farmfest is available at www.farmshows.com/ffst <http://www.farmshows.com/ffst> .
 
 
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Growing Concerns
A parenting question-and-answer column with Dr. Martha Erickson of the University of Minnesota

Question: My brothers see the 4th of July as a time for loud (and illegal) fireworks, too much beer and dirty jokes. This is not what we want for our kids, and we're trying to figure out how to make it a special time without falling into these old family patterns that have made holidays unpleasant for us in the past.
 
Answer: You've taken an important step just by recognizing that you don't want to repeat some of your family's patterns and that you want to create some new traditions for you and your children. You didn't mention your children's ages. But, as you think about holiday plans, keep in mind that kids of any age value time when their parents step out of their workday roles and join them in play.
 
One of my own fondest childhood memories is of my grandfather taking me to the 4th of July festivities in his tiny hometown in southern Iowa. Every year we'd gather at his house and ride in his pickup truck to the little street carnival around the town square. We’d eat foods that I never ate on ordinary days. He would proudly introduce me to all of his buddies in front of the courthouse, and -- best of all -- he would go with me on every ride, from the pokey old merry-go-round to the thrilling tilt-a-whirl. Year after year I'd end the day sitting on the same worn old blanket, snuggled in my grandpa's arms, oohing and aahing together over the fireworks. Two things are especially important to me as I look back on those holidays: the fact that my grandpa really played with me, and the fact that we did the same things year after year -- a real tradition.
 
When I grew up and had children of my own, their grandparents were many miles away and there was no street carnival to seduce us with its wild rides. But, in our urban neighborhood filled with young families, we created our own silly and wonderful 4th of July tradition. With balloons and crepe paper we decorated every bike and stroller on the block. Then we blasted marching music from a boom box and had a great parade. My kids and I will always remember the uninhibited dad who showed up each year in a raincoat, flippers, and a goofy hat, banging two garbage can lids as huge cymbals.
 
So, on this 4th of July, try to see it through your children's eyes. Look for the wholesome fun in the ordinary things around you, and see where that takes you. If possible, join with other families who are looking to create new traditions. And, while you're at it, bring out the flag and teach your children the special meaning of this holiday. Celebrate together the precious liberties that are yours and mine.