Education, Information, and Training

As people age, the likelihood of increased health problems and frailty increases. This means that some older people may have to turn to others for assistance in everyday living. Family members, friends and community agency workers who provide this help are called CAREGIVERS.

The need for caregiving often brings changes that are stressful both for the person needing care and for other family members. Making decisions regarding caregiving that are appropriate and comfortable for everyone can be very difficult. The best decisions are made when the older person and all family members work together to understand everyone’s feelings, abilities, and needs. It also requires a full understanding of the community services that are available.

Knowledge and increased understanding can lessen the stress of this stage of life. Area IV offers a 6-module training program for caregivers developed by Della Willmann, M.S. & Elizabeth Schneider, MSW, ACSW. It is the intent of this series of workshops on caregiving to provide information to caregivers facing these caregiving challenges. It is hoped that with this knowledge they are able to negotiate this stage of life with increased confidence and a decreased sense of burden.

The 6 modules of this training include:

• Defining the concept of caregiving, feelings and stress and defining the emotional needs and feelings of the care recipient.
• The aging process – physical and emotional; and changing family dynamics
• Community Resources – accessing the system
• Communication and Legal and Financial Issues
• The Continuum of Care and the Nursing Home Decision
• End of Life Issues and Managing Stress

For more information on this training program or other programs that may be offered, contact Jan Fay at Area IV. ([ email ]) 765-447-7683 or 800-382-7556.

Another educational program Area IV offers is “Taking Care of You: Powerful Tools for Caregivers.” This is a program based on the needs and concerns of caregivers designed to teach caregivers how to care for themselves as they care for others. It meets once a week for 2-1/2 hrs. for 6 weeks. The underlying assumptions of the program are that 1) when a caregiver practices self-care, the care receiver also benefits, and 2) an optimistic attitude is one of the most important tools a caregiver can have. A pessimistic attitude makes the job of caregiving even harder. What a caregiver thinks and says to him/herself affects how he/she feels and reacts to situations. The program includes the following tools:

• for reducing personal stress,
• for changing negative self-talk,
• to help a caregiver best communicate his or her feelings and needs to others,
• to help a caregiver set limits and ask for help,
• for dealing with emotions such as anger, guilt, and depression,
• for making tough caregiving decisions,
• for dealing with difficult situations, such as when a family member is having problems managing money, can no longer live alone, or is exhibiting unsafe driving.

Area IV acknowledges that we can’t necessarily take away your caregiving problems, but we can help you to manage them better and to seek and find solutions. If you are interested in this program, please contact Jan Fay at 765-447-7683 or 800-382-7556.

Printed with permission from the book, “Green Winter”, by Elise Maclay