The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following peer support meetings in November. This month’s training focus is “Holidays or Holy Cow Days? Destressing the Holiday Season”.
Nov. 6, Caregiver support meeting at Sterling Senior Center, 1 p.m.
Nov. 13, Caregiver support meeting at Soldotna Senior Center, 1 p.m.
Nov. 20, Caregiver support meeting at Kenai Senior Center, 1 p.m.
Nov. 27, open house and workshop at Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program office in Soldotna, Blazy Mall, Suite #209, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Check out the lending library, durable goods loan closet, ask questions or just enjoy some company. Or attend the 11 a.m. workshop on Adult Coloring. Psychologists believe coloring stimulates brain areas related to motor skills, the senses and creativity. It is even prescribed as a relaxation and de-stressing technique for people with dementia.
Support meetings allow you to 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 Sharon or Judy at (907) 262-1280.
The Homer Family Caregiver meetings take place on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month (Nov. 8 only; Nov. 22 is Thanksgiving holiday) at Homer Senior Center, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Hosted by Pam Hooker. Call for more information, 235-4555.
Southeast
The Senior and Caregiver Resource Center at Southeast Senior Services in Juneau offers a call-in support group for residents of Southeast Alaska. Call for more information, toll free 866-746-6177.
The Ketchikan Family Caregiver Support Group meets the second Friday of each month (Nov. 9), upstairs at the Ketchikan-Saxman Senior Center, 2 to 3 p.m.
The Sitka Family Caregiver Support Group meets the fourth Friday of each month (Nov. 23). For more information, call Brave Heart Volunteers, 747-4600.
Other locations
For information on caregiver support group meetings around the state:
Anchorage, 561-3313
Fairbanks, 452-2277
Homer, 235-4555
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
November is dedicated to recognizing the importance of family caregivers, National Family Caregivers Month. The theme for this year is “Supercharge Your Caregiving.” Just how does supercharging work? In automobile terms, supercharging is a forced induction system that results in more power to the automobile and creates as much as 50 percent more power that can make the engine “roar like a lion” as opposed to “purring like a kitten”. In caregiving terms, the tools you use are your forced induction system. Use online medical records to track your loved one’s care—monitor medications, appointments and outcome, helping to improve care. There are also a lot of apps and tools for downloading that can help caregivers, such as GPS for wandering, get healthy meal planning, check and track vital signs, and a lot more. For the times when you are away from home there are sensors and ways to be connected to your loved one through the use of apps. Technology is amazing and by forcing yourself to tap into technology it can give you that 50 percent needed to make you “roar like a lion”. Have a supercharged caregiving month!
- Judy Warren, Kenai Peninsula National Family Caregiver Support Program
