Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Rachel Brauner, 979-845-1553, rbrauner@ag.tamu.edu
COLLEGE STATION – A six-week “Powerful Tools for Caregivers” educational program designed to help family caregivers take care of themselves while caring for a relative or friend will be offered by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service each Monday from Oct. 1 through Nov. 5.
“You will benefit from this class whether you are helping a parent, spouse, friend, someone who lives at home, in a nursing home, or across the country,” said Rachel Brauner, AgriLife Extension program specialist, College Station.
The series is free and open to the public. It will meet once a week from 9:30-11 a.m. at the AgriLife Extension South Campus Building, Room 136, 1470 William D. Fitch Parkway in College Station.
Class size is limited, and registration is required. To register, call the AgriLife Extension office for Brazos County at 979-823-0129. The registration deadline is Sept. 21.
“Caring for a family member or friend with a chronic condition can be physically, emotionally and financially draining,” Brauner said. “This highly effective, evidence-based, self-care educational program for family caregivers builds the skills caregivers need to take better care of themselves as they provide care for others.”
Instructors for the six weekly classes will be Brauner and Andy Crocker, AgriLife Extension program specialist in gerontology and health in Amarillo.
In the six weekly classes, caregivers develop a wealth of self-care tools to: reduce personal stress; change negative self-talk; communicate their needs to family members and healthcare or service providers; communicate effectively in challenging situations; recognize the messages in their emotions, deal with difficult feelings; and make tough caregiving decisions.
Class participants also receive a copy of The Caregiver Helpbook, developed specifically for the class.
For a full description of the classes and more information about the program, go to www.powerfultoolsforcaregivers.org.
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