MONROE — Providing care for a friend or family member can be a rewarding experience, but it often provides challenges too. Over 65 million family caregivers in America provide a vast array of emotional, financial, nursing, homemaking and other services on a daily or on an intermittent basis and often find themselves struggling to meet the needs of both their loved one and themselves.
Caregiving has always been a rewarding yet difficult job before COVID-19. Now with the constant changes and new norms, in-person meetings have been put on hold. In hopes to still get the support, education, and resources out to everyone, many people have relied heavily on technology and virtual communication. They are not able to offer an in-person workshop at this time, but will be offering a Virtual Powerful Tools for Caregivers workshop.
Powerful Tools for Caregivers is an educational workshop series designed to provide tools caregivers need to better care for themselves. Participants will learn how to reduce stress, improve self-confidence, better communicate feelings, find life balance, increase their ability to make tough decisions and locate helpful resources, all in the comfort of their own homes.
Southwest Wisconsin Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) Green County Office is sponsoring Powerful Tools for Caregivers Workshop online starting the beginning of March. This program was adapted from a model from Stanford University, and has been test and evaluated.
Classes consist of six, 1 ½ hour sessions held once a week. Two experienced leaders conduct each class. Interactive lessons, discussions and brainstorming help viewers take the “tools” they choose and put them into action for their life. Viewers also receive a free copy of The Caregiver Helpbook — a helpful resource guide used in Powerful Tools for Caregivers. To be able to participate, interested participants must have access to a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or computer with internet access.
Everyone has different levels and understandings of technology and they understand the frustration associated with this. They are here to work with viewers on being able to take and participate in this class. They will be offering a Zoom Practice Session from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 22. If this practice time and date do not work for interested participants, they will work with the viewer individually. Sessions are scheduled every Monday for six weeks, beginning on March 1 and running until April 5. Classes will be held virtually from 1:30 to 3 p.m. This program is free of charge.
For more information or to register, contact Southwest Wisconsin ADRC — Green County Office by phone at 608-328-9385 or by email at resourcecenter@gchsd.org. Viewers do not have to be a Green County resident; all counties are welcome to sign up and participate in this workshop.
