College of the Canyons to Offer Assistance to Family Caregivers

 Beginning in May 2017, College of the Canyons, in partnership with the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center, began offering a series of workshops for Family Caregivers. Workshops included Family Caregiver Essentials, Coping with Caregiving – Essentials of Self-Care for Caregivers and Empowering the Advocate, and the ABCs of Long Term Care Options. The workshops featured experts in Alzheimer’s and dementia care, palliative and hospice care, long term health care insurance, mindfulness, elder law, and personal caregivers’ services. This workshop series will resume in January and continue throughout 2018.
The next workshop will take place on Saturday, January 27th at the SCV Senior Center. The workshop will focus on reintegration for the senior caregiver. As one deals with the loss of the person he or she has cared for, how does this individual transition back into life as a post-caregiver? The workshop will offer different perspectives from those who have made this transition successfully and provide participants with resources they may need to assist in this transition.
“Taking on the role of a caregiver can be overwhelming for many individuals,” said Paul Wickline, dean of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the college. “Nearly 25% of Americans are currently impacted by caregiving responsibilities. We see a tremendous need in our valley to better serve those who need caregiving services and those who are placed into the role of a caregiver. We hope this series of workshops provide community members with the tools and information they need to care for their loved ones in a way that best befits their unique circumstances.”
The workshop on Saturday, January 27th is scheduled from 9 to 11:30am. Pre-registration is recommended.
For more information or to pre-register, call (661) 362-3118 or visit www.scvcaregivers.eventbrite.com . Myles McNamara is the owner of Comfort Keepers In-Home Care and can be reached at 661-287-4200.