A Tribute to Dr. Ruth Westheimer and her work as an Alzheimer's Caregiving Authority

By Lisa Thomson

"Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty... I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.” -Theodore Roosevelt

Dr. Ruth Westheimer passed away at 96 years old on July 12, 2024, having lived a rich and diversified life. Born in Germany, Dr. Ruth lost her family in the Holocaust, and she emigrated to British Controlled Mandatory Palestine after the war, becoming a sniper in the Haganah. Severely wounded in action, she began her educational journey and eventually earned her doctorate at Columbia University as a Behavioral Therapist. A pop icon, media star and best-selling author, Dr. Ruth was well known for being a ‘Sexpert’, and in her later years, as an Alzheimer’s Caregiving Authority.

In October 2021, JFSC virtually hosted Dr. Ruth Westheimer in “Coping Through Challenging Times”, as part of a Speaker Series. Together with moderator Dave Kelly, Dr. Ruth entertained and inspired as she spoke about her lived experiences and talked about building resilience to cope during challenging times. She also provided health-guided coping and self care strategies and advice for caregivers looking after loved ones with dementia.

Dr. Ruth’s work on supporting caregivers will live on through her book “Dr Ruth's Guide for the Alzheimer's Caregiver: How to Care for your Loved One without Getting Overwhelmed…and without Doing It All Yourself.” A description of this book and other books available for loan through JFSC’s Library for Caregivers.

As our demographic ages, the number of individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia is growing. Aging in place is a priority for many seniors, and there is a growing number of family/unpaid caregivers of seniors needing support as needs and care requirements grow. With one in six Albertans currently aged 65+, stress and caregiver burnout are becoming more prevalent in caregivers without support.

Have you found yourself in a caregiving role and are feeling alone, struggling to cope? JFSC’s Caregiver Support Programs assist caregivers with resource navigation, coping strategies and self care through education, group sessions and individual counselling.

JFSC’s Memory Care Program is another resource for both caregivers and their loved ones with memory issues. In-home visits can provide some caregiver respite while trained volunteers build relationships and offer individually designed activities for cognitive, physical, social, and emotional support.

For more information on JFSC’s Caregiver Support Programs, Memory Care Programs and Library for Caregivers, contact Samantha at samanthap@jfsc.org or call the JFSC intake line 403-287-3510.

"There are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers." Rosalynn Carter (American writer, activist, humanitarian, and former First Lady)

This article was first published on page 13 of the September 18, 2024 issue of the Alberta Jewish News

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