by Emily Cooper
Training courses for family caregivers are well worth taking—they teach essential skills that can help caregivers feel greater confidence and less stress. Boulder County Area Agency on Aging offers two of these courses throughout the year, and both will start next in October.
The National Caregiver Training Program is a 21-hour course (meets once a week for 3 hours) that helps family caregivers acquire the skills needed to provide excellent home care for older loved ones. Taught by a nurse, the course provides detailed instruction, demonstration, and hands-on practice in a fun setting. Topics include caring for someone on bedrest, providing personal care, using a wheelchair safely, managing medications, taking vital signs, lifting and transferring, reducing caregiver stress, using local resources, and more. The course is on Wednesdays, October 8 – November 19, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m., in Boulder.
Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a 15-hour course (meets once a week for 2 1⁄2 hours) that gives family caregivers “tools” to ensure they take care of themselves while caring for others. Taught by trained leaders (and former caregivers), the course helps caregivers reduce stress, improve self-confidence, communicate their needs, balance their lives, increase their ability to make tough decisions, and locate helpful resources. The course will be held on Thursdays, October 16 – November 20, 1:30 – 4 p.m., in Boulder.
Each course is open to Boulder County residents providing local or long-distance care—of any kind—for a relative, partner, or friend who is 60 or over, or of any age if the person has dementia. There is no charge, but donations are appreciated. Financial assistance for respite care during class periods is available.
To register or for more information, please contact me at 303-678-6116 or InfoCaregiver@bouldercounty.org . Pre-registration is required.
~ Emily Cooper is Information and Assistance Specialist for Caregiver Programs with Boulder County Area Agency on Aging. For information on BCAAA caregiver services, call 303-678-6116 or email InfoCaregiver@ bouldercounty.org .