November was National Family Caregivers month! Larimer County Office on Aging (LCOA) hosted the 6th annual Toast to Caregivers celebration at the MacKenzie Lodge, Fort Collins. Over 75 people attended the annual event, celebrating the local caregivers who successfully attended the Powerful Tools for Caregivers (PTC) classes this year. MacKenzie Lodge provided the appetizers and desserts.
Alan Heileman, a PTC class instructor, gave the introduction followed by Stuart Feinhor, assistant to Congressman Jared Polis, who gave a personal story as a caregiver and a proclamation signed by Congressman Polis to recognize family caregivers in Colorado.
Lynette McGowan, LCOA Family Caregiver coordinator, introduced this year’s class instructors followed by many of the caregiver class attendees, who gave many heartwarming stories of their daily caregiving with family members. PTC Instructor Lani Hickman presided during the testimonials.
One unique caregiver used technology with the popular Amazon’s Alexa interactive and intelligent online service to help her relative with a daily reminder of taking the required medications or other important information. Other stories included many caregivers telling how the PTC classes helped them cope with stress or making their daily chores easier in dealing with their relatives.
At the end of the program, many door prizes were raffled provided by many sponsors. Thanks to LCOA and their class facilitators for making many caregivers lives easier and more effective!
Photo: LCOA Powerful Tools for Caregivers 2017 Class Instructors, Sponsors, & Dignitaries