by Emily Cooper, Boulder County Area Agency on Aging
Thousands of Boulder County residents share time, energy and love with older relatives, partners and friends who need part or full-time support. Whether caring for a parent with dementia, a partner with cancer, an aging friend with Parkinson’s—or for any other older loved one—“family” caregivers contribute greatly to the care recipient and to their communities. It is for these caregivers, and for anyone else who’s interested in caregiving issues, that Boulder County Area Agency on Aging sponsors the annual Caregiving Symposium, which this year is on Tuesday, May 12, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., at the Plaza Convention Center, 1850 Industrial Circle, Longmont.
The Caregiving Symposium, now in its 10th year, helps family caregivers learn about useful resources, brings them information from local professionals on important caregiving topics, and gives them the opportunity to spend time learning and visiting with their fellow caregivers. The event features a resource fair of 100 or more local service providers, educational handouts, giveaway of caregiving books, complimentary lunch, for registered guests, and fifteen 1 hour workshops on key caregiving topics: Alzheimer’s/dementia care, advocating for self and others in today’s healthcare system, illness and caregiving for younger couples, caregiver self-care, legal and financial issues, assistive technology, facilitation and mediation for resolving families’ tough caregiving issues, respite tips and resources, transitioning to assisted living or nursing home care, the caregiver’s role in healing the soul wounds of veterans, navigating local resources, and more.
General admission for the Caregiving Symposium is free, but preregistration is required by May 5, at 303-441-1685 or www.caregivingsymposium2015.eventbrite.com/ (see the full agenda there). Walk-in registration—without lunch—is permissible. Caregivers are welcome to attend all or only part of the event. To help them attend, free on-site elder care is offered by reservation; call 303-441-1543 to learn more.
The 2015 Caregiving Symposium is co-sponsored by Aging Services Foundation of Boulder County, Meals on Wheels Boulder, Always Best Care, Boulder County CareConnect, 50 Plus Marketplace News, Shield HealthCare, Synergy HomeCare, Accent Care, Friends of Longmont Senior Center, Hallmark Homecare, HomeCare of the Rockies, Homewatch CareGivers of Boulder County, HomeWell Senior Care, Vincent, Romeo & Rodriguez, LLC, and Visiting Angels of Boulder County. Their support is appreciated!