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Marklund Respite Care Expert Offers Presentation at National Lifespan Respite Coalition in Boston

PRESS RELEASE –

MARKLUND RESPITE CARE EXPERT OFFERS PRESENTATION AT

NATIONAL LIFESPAN RESPITE COALITION IN BOSTON

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(Oct. 15, 2013)            Lois Sheaffer-Kramer, Marklund’s Director of Government Relations and Community Support, will participate as a speaker at the 2013 National Lifespan Respite Coalition Conference held this week in Boston.

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Sheaffer Kramer, who is also a member of the Illinois Respite Coalition board of directors, and a master trainer for the REST (Respite Education and Support Tools) program of Marklund, presented a program on “Emergency Respite as a Service Delivery Option: The Illinois Respite Coalition Model for Illinois.”

 

Held Oct. 15-17, the National Lifespan Respite Conference is the only conference in the country which specifically focuses on the issue of respite care. 

“I am very pleased to present at this year’s conference and to connect with people from across the country who are dedicated to providing respite care to the very many caregivers and care-recipients who so desperately need it,” said Sheaffer Kramer.

This conference is intended for everyone who supports family members and family caregivers of individuals across all ages throughout the lifespan. Anyone of any age or race who is affected by Alzheimer’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, ALS, Autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD, HIV, AIDS, intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental illness and behavioral health issues, or any other disabling or chronic condition has a stake in this significant issue.

Respite care for family caregivers is an issue that crosses the lifespan. An estimated 65.7 people in the U.S. serve as unpaid family caregivers to an adult or child. Currently more than half of care recipients (56%) are under age 75, and almost one-third (28%) are under age 50. In addition, many family caregivers are in the sandwich generation—46% of women who are caregivers of an aging family member and 40% of men also have children under the age of 18 at home.

Marklund is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization that makes everyday life possible for individuals with profound disabilities. Marklund annually serves nearly 200 families throughout the greater Chicagoland area. The organization features three sites: the Marklund at Mill Creek campus in Geneva, Marklund Philip Center for Children and the Marklund Day School in Bloomingdale, as well as the Marklund Resale Store in Wood Dale. 

The REST program is a nationally recognized train-the-trainer program that equips volunteers with the skills needed to support caregivers in their community. The originally designed 2-day training program is dedicated to developing quality respite care trainers. Those who complete the course receive ongoing support from the REST team as they extend the network of respite care workers by training volunteers to provide respite care to adults and children. Information can be found at www.restprogram.org.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Dawn Lassiter-Brueske

Director of Marketing, Communications & PR

dlassiter@marklund.org

630-429-8461





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