The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following peer support meetings in August. This month’s topic is “Immunizations for Older Adults.”
Aug. 5, Caregiver support meeting at Sterling Senior Center, 1 p.m.
Aug. 12, Caregiver support meeting at Soldotna Senior Center, 1 p.m.
Aug. 19, Caregiver support meeting at Kenai Senior Center, 1 p.m.
Aug. 26, Caregiver support meeting at Soldotna Senior Center, 1 p.m.
Please join and share your experiences as a caregiver, or support someone who is a caregiver. If you are helping a family member of friend by being a caregiver, learn what kind of help is available. There is no charge for these services and everyone is invited to attend.
For more information, call (907) 262-1280.
Southeast
The Juneau Family Caregiver Support Group meets the second Wednesday of each month (Aug. 13) in the conference room of KTOO’s studio, 360 Egan Drive, noon to 1:30 p.m.
The Ketchikan Family Caregiver Support Group meets the second Friday of each month (Aug. 15), upstairs at the Ketchikan Senior Center at noon.
The Sitka Family Caregiver Support Group meets the third Wednesday of each month (Aug. 20). For more information, call Brave Heart Volunteers, 747-4600.
Other locations
Kodiak Senior Center will host a Family Caregiver Exchange on Aug. 21 in the lounge, 12:30 p.m. This will be a meet-and-greet to network with other family caregivers. Email Andrea Bates at scokfscp@ak.net for additional details.
For information on caregiver support group meetings around the state:
Anchorage, 561-3313
Fairbanks, 452-2277
Homer, 235-2295
Juneau, 463-6164 or 463-6198
Ketchikan, 225-8080
Kodiak, 486-6181
Nome, 443-4507
Palmer/Wasilla, 746-3413
Sitka, 747-4600
Family caregiver tip of the month
Life is about change and we all know that the only one that likes change is a wet baby. There are the changes that you yourself make and others that come into your life because of circumstance, wanted or not. This is what caregiving is all about, how well you can adapt to the circumstance of change that has been dealt to you.
Family caregiving is becoming more and more important in our society as our “Silver Tsunami” advances and the ever growing shortage of healthcare workers is a reality. Add to this the ever increasing price of long term care costs and we are back to families and friends helping families. One important thing to remember when you find yourself in this position is that family caregiver support groups are here to help you.
– Judy Warren, Kenai Peninsula National Family Caregiver Support Program
