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 late July, the Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Southwest Wisconsin Green County Office and UW Extension Iowa County Office are partnering to hold a Virtual Powerful Tools for Caregivers workshop, via zoom, to serve the region of Southwest Wisconsin and any other surrounding areas.
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. If this is an issue, please let us know and we will work with you as best as we can to find a way for you to participate.
Everyone has different levels and understandings of technology and we understand the 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 Wednesday, July 20th from 5:30pm-6:30pm. If this practice time and date do 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 Wednesday for six weeks, beginning on July 27th and running through August 31st, 2022. Classes will be held virtually from 5:30pm — 7:00pm CS. This program is free of charge. For more information or to register, please contact Southwest Wisconsin ADRC — Green County Office by phone at 608-328-9385 or by email at resourcecenter@gchsd.org. (Please note you do NOT have to be a Green County or Iowa County resident; everyone is welcome to sign up and participate in this workshop. This also includes people living outside of Wisconsin as well.)
