Caregiving For All: Del Larson, Certified Lay Minister
Happy summer, everyone. If you are experiencing summer where you live, please let all of us know and send an invitation to everyone so we can join you. Here in Moorhead, it is either high 90s or 60s. We are coming up on the big week of July 4th. My children are hosting our annual Kohler-Larson reunion the weekend before at our family cabin. I figure this reunion has been going on for around 65 years. I still remember the first one, when my older cousins locked me up in a shed deep in the woods. I admit I was being a little disruptive with fireworks. The reason for the double name is that I have double cousins, and our parents and grandparents were born and raised in Audubon, MN, 35 miles east of Moorhead. Many fond memories of that town. The week before the 4th, my own family will be at the lake. I hope there will be room for me. It brings back great memories when Luann and I were first married. Our bed was on the foldout couch in the living room. Grand Central Station. I might end up there again. I’m not an owner, as Luann transferred her share to our kids long ago. There are five second cousins and an uncle who also share the cabin.
I survived my charge up Capitol Hill in early June. I talked with senior policy advisors for each of our elected officials and pushed for support for the Older Americans Act that was not renewed in 2024, 25 nor 26. This bill helps caregivers in need of respite, or those that lose wages or careers because of the need to care for a loved one. Hopefully it will help nursing facilities with training and incentives to keep employees. Currently facilities are losing CNAs and others who leave because of too many double shifts. This bill also provides financial assistance for remodeling of homes to accommodate those trying to stay in their homes, and tax credits for family caregivers. Each of the political advisors asked me to send more information privately to them, so I sent the Caregiving For All May 28th newsletter, and the story I shared verbally with them. I will keep sending newsletters to them until the bill is renewed. As I told my younger children, you don’t want to see what I’ll do next. I intend to continue to help Lutheran Social Services, who organized the trip. I was quite surprised they had to send three women to handle me in D.C. Two were leaders out of the state office. They were always checking on me, making sure I made it back to the hotel, offering to carry my umbrella and bag, as well as offering taxis. The local LSS representative wants to help me set up a website. I have enough to handle. I’m on Module 2 for my Grief Coach class and still working at it.
Three of you ask for the links for the University of Minnesota conference on dementia that I attended online the end of May. These are of the speakers who shared that day, and also the slides they shared on dementia. It was well worth my day learning.
This Newsletter is a smorgasbord of articles. Don’t hesitate to ask me for certain topics or checkout the websites.
I had a surprise putting this newsletter together. I was putting away my May folder and transferring unused files to June folder when my caregiving files scattered into multiple folders. I always find ways to keep my life interesting.
I welcome your feedback, whether it’s positive or negative. You can reach me at the email address below. I hope you find something helpful.
Del Larson,
Certified Lay Minister
Email: larsondel@gmail.com
Please forgive any unedited mistakes.
TODAY’S NUGGET:
