Program For Women

Caring For Frail Mothers

WATERBURY — According to the North Central Area Agency on Aging, Inc, 34 million adults (16 percent of the national population) are taking care of family or friends aged 50-plus. There are more than 300,000 family caregivers in Connecticut, and half of all caregivers provide care with no outside assistance whatsoever.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Connecticut in Waterbury, 99 East Main Street, will be offering a free creative movement program (mind-body connection) for women who are caring for their elderly mothers. The program will be held eight consecutive Fridays, from January 11 to February 29, from noon to 1 pm.

The program is co-sponsored by Department of Human development and Family Studies. Advance registration for the program must be made by January 4, by calling 203-236-9924 or emailing osher@uconn.edu.

The program is seeking volunteer participants who are adult daughters who are providing informal care to frail mothers, such as emotional support, hands-on assistance, transportation, management of finances, errands, housework, etc. The program is designed to be relaxing and fun. It does not require strenuous activity.

The program will be led by Marina Vracevic, as part of an intervention study on the effectiveness of creative movement in relieving stress of the women who are caring for frail mothers.

Creative movement improvisation is an expression of thoughts and feelings through physical bodily movement. In the first two sessions, participants will be taught basic elements of movement, and in the following classes, participants will subsequently engage in the creative movement process while exploring emotions and feelings related to their caregiving experiences.

Ms Vracevic is a graduate student of the UConn Adult Development and Aging Program in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in psychology. Her research interests surround family caregiving to elderly individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and interventions for family caregivers.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UConn is an academic cooperative that provides mature adults with opportunities for intellectual development, cultural stimulation, and social interaction. This is the only Osher Institute in Connecticut, one of about 115 across the United States. There are currently more than 275 Osher Lifelong Learning members representing more than 38 cities and towns in Connecticut and one town in a neighboring state.

For additional information call 203-236-9924, e-mail Rita.Quinn@UConn.edu or visit Waterbury.UConn.edu/osher. For more information about resources available to assist caregivers, contact the Area Agency on Aging at 800-994-9422.