The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following peer support meetings in May. This month’s topic is Caregiving and Depression. During Mental Health Month, discussion will focus on how caregiving puts people at risk for depression. Please join to share your experiences as a caregiver or to support someone who is a caregiver.
May 7, Caregiver support meeting at Sterling Senior Center, 1 p.m.
May 14, Caregiver support meeting at Soldotna Senior Center, 1 p.m.
May 21, Caregiver support meeting at Kenai Senior Center, 1 p.m.
May 28, Open house at Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program in Blazy Mall, Soldotna, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Check out the lending library, durable medical equipment loan closet and more while enjoying a cup of coffee and friendly conversation. Be sure to attend the workshop presentation at 1 p.m. with Sandy Kerns, from Grace Guidance Center, who will discuss elements of wellness from nature, animals, financial self-care and therapeutic art and journaling.
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 (May 9 and 23) at Homer Senior Center, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Hosted by Pam Hooker. Call for more information, 235-4555.
Palmer caregiver support group meets at Palmer Senior Center (aka Mat-Su Senior Services) the first Friday of each month (May 3), 10 to 11:30 a.m. Contact Janice Downing, Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska, 746-3413.
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, 463-6177 or 463-6181.
The Ketchikan Family Caregiver Support Group meets the second Friday of each month (May 10), 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 (May 24). 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
Ketchikan, 225-8080
Kodiak, 486-6181
Nome, 443-4507
Palmer/Wasilla, 746-3413
Family caregiver tip of the month
Does your caregiving role leave you with feelings of ambiguity? Ambiguous means puzzled, confused, vague, indefinite, unclear, causing confusion and more. This can definitely give the caregiving role a lot of challenge, both physical and mental. Patience and flexibility are key strategies in meeting the challenges of this feeling. First, start with the problem you are facing and break it into small parts. Then do research with those you trust, ask a lot of questions about what can happen and how you can best handle it. Try to build the skills needed to help who you are caring for. Use patience, experiment and limit your expectations. Keep in mind that preparation is the key to solving your caregiving challenge. By adapting to change it can allow you to increase your caregiving capacity to build the resilience needed to pass through those feelings of ambiguity. By using patience, flexibility, and limiting expectations in your caregiving role, you are “taking care to give care”.
- Judy Warren, Kenai Peninsula National Family Caregiver Support Program
