Area Agency On Aging Offers Family Caregiver Classes
Area Agency On Aging Offers Family Caregiver Classes
WOODBURY â The Western Connecticut Area Agency on Aging will offer a new course for family caregivers beginning this fall. Powerful Tools for Caregivers (PTC) is an educational program designed to help family caregivers take care of themselves while caring for a relative or friend.
Caregivers will benefit from this class whether they are helping a parent, spouse, friend, someone who lives at home, in a nursing home, or across the country. PTC is offered at the following locations beginning September 2012:
*Woodbury Senior Center, 265 Main Street South in Woodbury on Thursdays, September 27 through November 1, from 5:30 to 8 pm.
*Elmwood Hall, Danbury Senior Center, 10 Elmwood Place in Danbury on Wednesday, October 3 through November 14 (except October 31), from 1 to 3:30 pm; and Wednesday, January 9 through February 13 from 1 to 3:30 pm.
PTC is based on the highly successful chronic disease self-management program known as âLive Well,â and was developed over three years of testing and research to assess its effectiveness. Since the programâs inception in 1998, PTC materials have reached more than 70,000 caregivers nationwide.
Over the six weeks, caregivers develop self-care strategies to help them reduce stress, improve self-confidence, communicate their feelings, balance their lives, increase their ability to make tough decisions, and locate helpful resources.
Interactive lessons, discussions, and brainstorming will help participants identify the âtoolsâ needed for successful caregiving and put them into action in daily life.
Participants receive a copy of The Caregiver Helpbook, developed specifically for the class. The cost of the manual is covered by the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation Quality of Life grant and other local grantors.
A donation of $25 will be accepted, but is not required to attend the class.
To register or for more information, contact Livia Fiordelisi at WCAAA, 203-757-5449 or 1-800-994-9422 or e-mail LFiordelisi@wcaaa.org. Class size is limited and preregistration is required.