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 kept some people away due to fear, sickness, etc. In hopes to still get the support, education, and resources out to everyone, many people have relied heavily on technology and virtual communication, and still do. We are here to offer a caregiver focused workshop virtually, to make it easier and more accessible for you.
Powerful Tools for Caregivers is an educational workshop series designed to provide tools caregivers need to better care for themselves, which reflects the increase in quality of care to the care recipient. Through taking Powerful Tools for Caregivers, participants will learn how to reduce stress, improve self-confidence, better communicate feelings, find life balance, increase their ability to make tough decisions, locate helpful resources, and much more, all in the comfort of your own home.
Starting in early October, the Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Southwest Wisconsin Green County Office and UW Extension Iowa County Office are partnering together to hold a Virtual Powerful Tools for Caregivers workshop to serve the region of Southwest Wisconsin and any other caregivers from across the country.
Classes consist of six, 1 ½ hour sessions held once a week. Two experienced and trained leaders conduct each class. Interactive lessons, discussions, and brainstorming help you take the “tools” you choose to focus on that are applicable to your situation, and put them into action for your life. Also, you will receive a free copy of, ‘The Caregiver Helpbook’ — a helpful resource guide used in Powerful Tools for Caregivers. To be able to participate, you must have access to a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or computer with internet access or strong mobile data connection.
We all have different understandings and are at different levels of technology. The leaders of this Powerful Tools for Caregivers series understand any frustration associated with this. We are here to work with you on being able to take and participate in this class. We will be offering a Zoom Practice Session on Friday, Sept. 30 from 1-2 p.m. If this practice time and date does not work for you, we will work with you individually, if extra help is needed, in running the Zoom program and preparing you to feel comfortable enough to participate in the workshop. Sessions are scheduled every Friday for six consecutive weeks, beginning on October 7 and running through November 11, 2022. Classes will be held virtually, via Zoom, from 1 p.m. — 2:30 p.m. This program is free of charge.
For more information or to register, please contact the ADRC — Green County Office by phone at 608-328-9499 or by email at resourcecenter@gchsd.org. Note: Interested persons do not have to be a Wisconsin resident to participate in this workshop.
