November Family Caregiver Series a Success

12/3/2012 9:50am

The Caregiver Resource Network’s Family Caregiver Series was a “great success,” says Anne Ellermets, Contract Coordinator at Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan and staff liaison to the group.  The Caregiver Resource Network (CRN) provided a month long list of complimentary activities geared towards family caregivers. Events included everything from a pie contest to local experts, authors and family portraits. Topics included financial and legal concerns, end of life issues as well as caregiver stress and Alzheimer ’s disease. Most of all the CRN feels they were able to reach a variety of family caregivers through the series.

“Caregivers often have hectic schedules and may not feel they have the time to get additional information or take time for themselves,” says Ellermets. “The fact that we had nearly 500 people attend events over the month speaks not only to the volume of family caregivers, but to the fact that information like this is needed and wanted. The organizations involved did a great job of providing interesting, engaging and entertaining events for the caregivers to attend.”   

The CRN is a collaboration of over 110 community organizations helping serve caregivers throughout West Michigan. For more information on their programs and resources, visits www.caregiverresource.net.

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Family Caregiver Series Starts November 1

10/30/2012 1:05pm

The Caregiver Resource Network's November Family Caregiver Series starts November 1^st and lasts all month long. The series, consisting of 22 events, is targeted to family caregivers and includes a wide variety of topics and event types.

Some are more educational, including authors and local experts; while other events are more interactive such as family portraits or baking demonstrations.  All events are complimentary and open to the public.

Event times range throughout the day with locations throughout Kent County.

For more information, including a complete list of all the events, visit www.caregiverresource.net.

The Caregiver Resource Network is a collaboration of over 100 West Michigan organizations dedicated to helping family and professional caregivers.

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November Family Caregiver Series

8/31/2012 1:00pm

The Caregiver Resource Network's Family Caregiver Series features 22 complimentary events throughout Kent County in November. The series includes holiday baking demonstrations, family portraits, financial and legal topics, stress relief and more. The series, presented by the Caregiver Resource Network, also gives family caregivers the opportunity to meet other individuals in similar circumstances and offer resources to help individuals along their caregiving journey.

To find out more details, including how to register for the events, visit the Caregiver Resource Network at www.caregiverresource.net

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Male Caregiver Cooking Class

5/24/2012 10:15am

A new class for male caregivers will start in Kent County in July. The class will help male caregivers brush up on their kitchen skills, or help them develop new ones.

Participants will also learn how to plan a menu, ways to make meal time less stressful and how to follow a recipe. Additional community resources will also be presented.

"What we have seen in recent male caregiver classes is that many men were not as involved in meal planning or cooking in the past. Now they are taking care of their spouses and trying to learn how to do all of these tasks and it can be overwhelming," says Staci Shell, Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Contract Coordinator at AAAWM and instructor for the class. "Our hope is that by helping them conquer the kitchen, we will relieve some of their stress, make meal time a much smoother process and help them meet other male caregivers going through the same struggles."

Respite is available and the class lasts four weeks. A second session is planned in Kent County for September. The goal is to eventually offer more classes and expand into other counties.

For more information on the classes, including how to register, click here.

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Author to Speak to Caregivers

9/26/2011 11:30am

“Caregivers: Who’s Caring For You” will be entertaining as Michigan author, Lynn Alexander, teaches caregivers how to take care of yourself, reduce stress and find strategies to get you through, even if you are in the “Sandwich Generation.”

The event will take place on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at the Grand Rapids Public Library’s Ryerson Auditorium, Level 3 (111 Library Street) from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Registration is encouraged at registration@aaawm.orgor (616) 456-5664

Click here for more information.

This event is sponsored by the Caregiver Resource Network, Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan and the Grand Rapids Public Library.

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Learn Safe Medical Transfers

9/12/2011 11:00am

Many caregivers also help their loved ones get out of the bathtub, get into chairs or walk throughout the home. On Thursday September 22, 2011, Easter Seals will teach the proper techniques to make medical transfers a safer and easier process.  The training will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Easter Seals (4065 Saladin Drive SE, Grand Rapids), lunch will be provided.

Registration is required and complimentary respite is available upon request. To qualify for this training, either the caregiver or the care recipient must be age 60 or older.

Email your name and the class title (Safe Medical Transfers) to registration@aaawm.orgor call the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan at (616 ) 456-5664. Registration is not complete until you receive confirmation.

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Technology Help for Caregivers

8/15/2011 2:10pm

The next summer caregiver class will help individuals with their specific technology questions. Teenagers in the WSC Reverse Mentoring program will work one-on-one with caregivers to help with technology concerns. Class will be held Thursday August 25, 2011 from 10:00 until 11:30 at the Wyoming Senior Center (WSC), 2380 DeHoop Ave SW, Wyoming, MI 49509.

Registration is required. Email your name and title of class to registration@aaawm.org or call the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan at (616) 456-5664. 

Either the caregiver or the care recipient must be age 60 or older.  Complimentary Respite is available upon request.

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Summer Classes for Caregivers

7/29/2011 11:00am

Are you caring for an older adult or are you an older adult taking care of someone else? Attend one (or all) of the complimentary trainings in the Summer 2011 Caregiver Classes to help you become a better caregiver; you don’t have to walk the caregiver path alone.

The Caregiver Resource Network, is sponsoring three classes this summer to help family caregivers. Topics include organization, technology and medical transfers.

The first class is August 9, 2011 from 1:00 until 2:30.  Experts from The Organizing Specialists will give you tips and tricks to get started and get organized.

Click Here for more information on any of the classes

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Caregiver Training

3/10/2011 4:45am

A new series of the Creating Confident Caregivers training starts March 16 in Grand Rapids. If you, or someone you know, is caring for someone with memory loss, this program may be a good fit.

During the sessions individuals will learn about resources for caregivers, ways to be a better caregiver and much more. Caregivers will also meet those in similar situations and will have the opportunity to learn from their experiences.

Respite care is available during the sessions.  For more information, contact Anne at  (616) 222-7014 or anne@aaawm.org

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Male Caregivers Needed!

3/3/2011 9:30am

Know a male providing care to someone with Dementia or memory loss?

Please click here to access survey. Survey results will help identify and develop programs to meet needs. Paper copies available by calling (616) 456-5664.

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