Feeling Stretched Caring For An Older Adult?
Balance Your Life: Powerful Tools for Caregivers.
Pioneer Memorial Hospital will offer a new course: Powerful Tools for Caregivers beginning October 7. Powerful Tools for Caregivers is an educational series designed to provide caregivers with the tools they need to take care of themselves.
The series was developed by Portland-based Legacy Health System’s Care Giver Services as a six week education program to provide family caregivers with tools to increase their self care and confidence. What began as a three year demonstration project with initial funding Meyer Memorial and Robert Wood Foundation is today a national program reaching over 15,000 family caregivers in over 20 states. In a September 9, 2007 Parade Magazine article by Gail Sheehy entitled “How Can We Help Our Nation’s Caregivers,” Powerful Tools for Caregivers was identified as a pioneering educational program for family members caring for older adults.
The six week program is for any family caregiver who is dealing with the demands of caring for someone with a chronic condition. The class teaches caregivers self-care techniques and tools to help reduce the feelings of stress, guilt, anger and depression that often accompany care giving.
Previous participants in the class have stated the following:
“I am grateful for having participated in this course. I now have the tools to handle my situation in caring for both my husband and brother.“
And:
“There was a common bound. We were all dealing with some of the same issues. We shared our stories and learned ways to cope. I learned that it was important to take care of me.”
Registered nurse Jane Aggers leads this class, held in the Community Room next to Clinic Pharmacy at Pioneer Memorial Hospital.
The two and one half hour class begins October 7 at 2:30 p.m. and continues for six sessions. Respite care is available on a pre-arranged basis. Call Sharon Vail at 447-6254, extension 380 for respite and class information and registration.