Free Training for Alabama Caregivers

March 12, 2008

Do you provide care for an aging parent? Or maybe you help out a disabled neighbor? Research shows that 60 percent of caregivers in Alabama work, and more than 50 percent are forced to miss work or alter their schedules to accommodate caregiving responsibilities.

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn University’s School of Nursing, Cullman Regional Medical Center (CRMC), and Wallace State Community College are partnering to provide a series of free, hands-on training sessions for caregivers.

On consecutive Fridays -- April 18 (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.), April 25 (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and May 2 ( 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.), local and state experts will discuss issues involved in caregiving in a workshop entitled Caring for Caregivers. Sessions will include the role of a caregiver, dealing with financial management issues, caring for yourself while caring for others and effective communication techniques both with your ailing loved one and medical professionals. For example, the personal care session will cover basic needs, reactions to illness, general care procedures, handwashing and infection control. The hope is that after attending the training, caregivers’ knowledge and skills will improve, thereby decreasing the mental and physical burden that caring for a loved one brings.

Although registration doesn’t begin until March 15 through Wallace State Community College’s Community Education number at (256) 352-8243, caregivers should put the dates on their calendar and plan to attend.

If you would like additional information please contact Wallace State or the Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s Cullman office at (256) 737-9386. The sessions are open to anyone including residents in surrounding counties, such as Walker, Winston, Lawrence, Marshall, Morgan and Blount.

The April 18 and 25 sessions will be at the Cullman Regional Medical Center’s Depot Room, while the May 2 session will be at the Colonel Cullman room. Local caregiving services will have informational booths at the May 2 session. The CRMC is located on 1912 AL Highway 157 in Cullman, Ala. Refreshments and lunch will be provided at all the sessions.

Posted by dreynold on March 12, 2008 11:37 AM
Grassroots - News from around Alabama - RSS Feed