Compassion Fatigue and Burnout in Family Caregivers

The goal for this workshop will be able to better understand how the stress of caregiving impacts:

• activities of daily living for both the caregiver and person

• mental health and emotional pain

• health and sleep problems

• socialization and isolation

• relationships

Participants will:

• be able to differentiate compassion fatigue from burnout

• gain a better understanding of their individual coping skills

• learn how to improve communication with their person

• identify self-care practices

• create an action plan for managing their stress

Joyce M. Brimhall, LMSW, ACSW is a Licensed Psychotherapist and Aging Specialist

for Integrated Mental Health Associates of Scottsdale, AZ. Her focus is mental health

and aging for older adults. Ms. Brimhall is academically trained in the field of

gerontology with a Masters of Social Work degree and Specialist in Aging Certificate

from the University of Michigan.

In addition to being a psychotherapist, Ms. Brimhall has developed community and

health education/wellness programs for seniors:

• Care Management Program for the Area Agency on Aging in St. Joseph, MI.
•  Mental Health and Aging psychotherapist and program development for Borgess
• Behavioral Health and Medical Center in Kalamazoo, MI.
• Senior Services Health Education Program for St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ.
•  Director of Program Development for Campus Healthcare Group in Scottsdale, AZ. who developed and managed assisted living and memory care facilities.
• Director of Senior Services, Sacred Heart Health System, Pensacola, FL.
• Consultant with St. Francis Hospital, Columbus, GA. for development of Senior Health and Wellness Program.

Ms. Brimhall has presented workshops on issues on aging at the state and national

levels. From 1993 to 1998 she was a Faculty Associate at Arizona State University,

teaching courses on aging for the Gerontology Department. Currently, her clinical

experience is in private practice with Integrated Mental Health Associates where her

focus is on dealing with older adults experiencing depression, anxiety, adjusting to

retirement, and other age-related issues. Her primary focus is connecting with clients

who are experiencing grief and loss with a special emphasis on working with family

caregivers who are dealing with the care of their aging partners.