Adult Day: A Caregiving Double Header
Carol Ashwood, MSW, LICSW
by Greg DeMarco, CSA
Adult Day services allow one to both give care to a recipient and provide respite to family caregivers at the same time. Such services are a significant support in helping older adults and their caregivers to maintain independence while managing either physical and or cognitive declines. It can also be a transition between home and senior living when that is wanted or needed.
A Joyful Journey
In 2007 after nearly 19 years providing music therapy to older adults at Martin Luther Campus, Carol Ashwood wanted to work more with caregivers. She saw that opportunity in the adult day services setting. It allowed her to serve both individual caregivers and families while still supporting older adults themselves.
In 2010 Carol found the perfect home for her new ambitions with her new master’s degree in social work at Open Circle Hopkins. It gave her the caregiver opportunities she wanted while still serving seniors. In fact, she brought her music therapy along and started the Open Circle Choir to boot. With regular practices the group has for years traveled to senior centers and other destinations to perform. To this day they still provide live music activities after lunch.
Carol was adamant in saying “People are transformed in music. They get caught in the rhythm. It brings joy and most importantly brings their abilities forth, getting the focus off what they are lacking!”
Carol also gigs with her music mates nights and weekends. More on that later.
A New Need And A New Service Opportunity
2011 saw the addition of caregiver support groups. Additionally, Carol clearly saw that caregiver needs far exceeded simple respite. In time, and with her clinical license, she initiated the Support Services offerings. Eventually this included earning her Caregiver Consultant certification from the Minnesota Board on Aging in 2017.
Consulting On Caregiving Complexities
While caregiving comes at some costs, “It is not to be pathologized. It is not a disorder.” Carol clearly stated. “There is fulfillment and reward in all the giving!” she added. That said, seeking qualified help to preserve the fulfillment and avoid the burnout is a wise minded approach.
Good caregiver consulting addresses many layers. It involves a thorough assessment of the caregiver’s overall involvement. This is followed by identifying problems to be addressed, planning to work at what can be improved, and seeking out resources and services to uphold the efforts. Additionally, family consults can help identify and navigate the dynamics involved.
Rewards And Giving Back
Without revealing identities and personal anecdotes Carol summarized the lighter sides of the work by saying “The joy is in remembering the moments of laughter at all the little silly things that happen often.”
Outside the realm of Open Circle Carol values giving back. Since 2014 she has been an Adjunct Faculty at the University of St. Thomas School of Social Work. Her work there has been, and is, in both undergraduate and graduate studies. She instructs on both foundational principles of theory and practice as well as courses specific to aging and older adult services.
The topics Carol’s courses cover include: agism, ambiguous loss, supporting and educating caregivers and families, grieving, even mental health awareness and referral practices for caregivers. Mentoring social work interns is another of her endeavors. She enjoys working with master’s level interns and expanding their views towards older adult services.
Keep On Keeping On
Carol has no interest in slowing down. She is very content in her work and always looking for room to grow. Her latest interest is in expanding caregiver consultations including building a larger referral network of therapists skilled in serving older adults and their caregivers.
Carol will certainly continue leading the way as we continue seeing more of this clinical minded approach and supports being offered around aging services.
Getting back to the music. It is always part of Carol’s story. On her own time, she plays in a group called Rosewood. The group is comprised of Carol, her husband, and the program director at Open Circle, Mark Rosen. They play at Farmer’s Markets, senior communities, and for special events. Sounds like great summer fun if you’re looking for an outing.