This is the time of year that we set goals for ourselves. While polls show that fewer than one-half of Americans make New Year’s resolutions, most of us seek to live better after the holidays by exercising more, eating less, and demonstrating willpower. We strive to not be the person standing at the kitchen counter, spoon in hand, polishing off the half-gallon of ice cream!
Willpower, however, doesn’t help us create or sustain long-lasting change. According to the website Statistic Brain, only a fraction of those who make resolutions — 9.2 percent — report success keeping them.
Sometimes, perhaps, what’s needed more to improve our lives is a meaningful connection with other people. So, as we start the New Year, let’s look beyond ourselves (and our inevitable shortcomings) for some inspiration. And, maybe success!
One of the strengths of Community Caregivers is that we create a sense of community for those we serve and those who serve. We connect people who want to help with those who need a helping hand.
While our service area encompasses five Albany County Towns (Guilderland, Bethlehem, New Scotland, Berne, and Knox) and the city of Albany, we assign volunteers near where they live or work. And we serve as a trusted resource for family caregivers.
We invite you to join our community.
If you are an adult who finds it harder of late to keep your home and daily life in good order, maybe we can help. Our volunteers are kind, caring, and respectful.
A Community Caregivers’ volunteer might be able to offer you a ride, grocery shopping help, a visit, or a regular friendly telephone call. Depending on what you need, a volunteer might put away your groceries, help you sort the mail, read aloud, or simply swap stories and share a laugh with you.
We know that people are sometimes reluctant to ask for help, but remember, this is not a one-way street. Our volunteers are eager to serve and will also benefit from meeting you.
If you are a family caregiver who helps a loved one stay in the community and delay a move to assisted living, we offer support; education; and, importantly, a few hours off. Our respite volunteers may be able to give you a break by coming to your home and spending time with your loved one.
And, through education programs and a support group, we create a community for caregivers, so you know that you’re not alone.
If you would like to make a difference in the lives of others, volunteer with us. We always need volunteer drivers; our drivers use their own cars and start from home, not the office.
In 2018, we are creating care teams that might be a good fit for you; we always offer volunteers flexible schedules. If you have a cell phone and a few minutes, you can volunteer to make regular calls this winter to an elderly person who is homebound during the snowy months.
So, in the days ahead, maybe think outside the box for a New Year’s resolution. Sign up to help in your community; we offer two volunteer information/orientation sessions monthly. In January, the first is Thursday, Jan. 4, at noon; the second is Tuesday, Jan. 16, at 1 p.m. We ask that you register: online at or by calling (518) 456-2898.
Call us if you might need a little help for yourself or a loved one and join us for caregiver education programs. We announce our programs in Caregivers’ Corner, on our website, and on our Community Caregivers’ Facebook page.
From all of us, we wish you a Happy New Year!
Community Caregivers Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that provides non-medical services, including transportation and caregiver support at no charge to residents of Guilderland, Bethlehem, Altamont, New Scotland, Berne, Knox, and the city of Albany through a strong volunteer pool of dedicated individuals with a desire to assist their neighbors.
Our funding is derived in part from the Albany County Department for Aging, the New York State Office for the Aging, and the United States Administration on Aging. To find out more about our services, as well as volunteer opportunities, please visit www.communitycaregivers.org or call us at (518) 456-2898.
Editor’s note: Linda Miller is the Outreach and Education coordinator for Community Caregivers.
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Caregivers who struggle to balance their jobs while caring for older or ill family members or newborns, or have added responsibilities due to a family member’s military deployment will have added security and financial support with New York State’s Paid Family Leave, which takes effect on Jan. 1, 2018.
Most private-sector workers in the state will be able to take up to eight weeks of paid leave and will receive half of their average annual earnings up to a cap. By 2021, when the benefit is fully phased in, workers will be allowed to take up to 12 weeks of leave at two-thirds of their wage up to the statewide cap. An employee does not have to use earned vacation and sick time prior to taking paid family leave.
If possible, an employee should provide advance notice to an employer of the need for paid family leave such as when a family is expecting a baby. However, as caregivers for older and sick persons know, a family health emergency can strike and there is an immediate need for time off.
This law is of particular benefit to older persons and their caregivers since some employers have given time off for maternity and paternity leave, but not for caring for sick or elderly relatives. Traditionally, women have been the ones at home providing care for newborns and also for older parents or relatives; with paid leave, supporters believe that more men will be able to provide care in the future.
The program is paid through small weekly deductions from employee paychecks (0.126 percent per week up to a maximum of $1.65 per week). The paid-family-leave insurance program pays for the leave benefit, not the employer. The employee’s health insurance is not affected. The employer is also free to use the leave worker’s wages to cover overtime costs or for temporary help.
For more details about the rules of the program, regarding which relatives are covered for leave time, what documentation is needed from doctors, etc., you can visit the program’s website at www.ny.gov/paidfamilyleave. Locally, Community Caregivers’ staff can offer information and assistance to those who may be interested in learning more about the law and how it possibly can work for their families.
Community Caregivers Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that provides non-medical services including transportation and caregiver support at no charge to residents of Guilderland, Bethlehem, Altamont, New Scotland, Berne, Knox, and the city of Albany through a strong volunteer pool of dedicated individuals with a desire to assist their neighbors.
Our funding is derived in part from the Albany County Department for Aging, the New York State Office for the Aging, and the United States Administration on Aging. To find out more about our services, as well as volunteer opportunities, please visit www.communitycaregivers.org or call us at (518) 456-2898.
Editor’s note: Michael Burgess is a health policy consultant for Community Caregivers Inc.
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As we celebrate Thanksgiving, we come together to give thanks for the abundance and goodness in our lives and for each other — the family and friends who sustain us. November is also National Caregivers Month.
We assist one another in many ways as we grow and age. Parents raise children often with the help of grandparents and extended family. That natural occurrence is accepted and celebrated by our society.
For the eldest members in our families, not only can there be a stigma in accepting help, there’s less recognition of the one providing care. Caregiving for our elders also needs to be acknowledged and supported.
Family members who help the older members of their family often do not realize that they are considered “family caregivers.” It’s simply what we do for one another. However, it can be exhausting to struggle alone — or nearly alone — with the multiple needs of an ailing spouse or aging parents. Yet, it’s a nearly universal struggle.
Former First Lady and caregiver advocate, Rosalynn Carter, observed: “There are only four kinds of people in the world — those who have been caregivers, those who are caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers.”
At Community Caregivers Inc. we are grateful this holiday season for the dedication of family caregivers. Without them, services provided through the public and not-for-profit health and human services sectors would buckle and collapse. There simply are not enough programs, services, and facilities to replace what families do for their loved ones — and with little fanfare.
In 2010, Kathy Greenlee, former United States Assistant Secretary for Aging, said: “Families are the core of the system. They always have been. They are both the center and the soul of the system. We need family caregivers — we need them because there is no replacement. You can’t make this a commodity. But we also need them economically as a nation, because we can’t afford to buy this care from strangers.”
As crucial as they are, families need a lot more support than they usually get. The saying goes that family caregiving is a marathon, not a sprint.
It’s important for caregivers to reserve strength for the long haul. One of the strategies for the long haul is to enlist a team of helpers.
Community Caregivers has as its mission support for family caregivers. So, if you are helping a loved one who needs support to live at home, we hope to be on your team. Despite our desire to “do it all ourselves,” forming a team of support and care — around your loved one and you — can make a positive difference on your journey.
Through our volunteer network of “neighbors helping neighbors,” Community Caregivers can provide rides, friendly visits, and help with shopping or errands. We also offer support groups, information, caregiver education, and referrals. All of this is provided without charge. Call us at (518) 456-2898 to find out if we can be of assistance to your family.
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Community Caregivers Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that provides non-medical services including transportation and caregiver support at no charge to residents of Guilderland, Bethlehem, Altamont, New Scotland, Berne, Knox, and the city of Albany through a strong volunteer pool of dedicated individuals with a desire to assist their neighbors.
Our funding is derived in part from the Albany County Department for Aging, the New York State Office for the Aging, and the United States Administration on Aging. To find out more about our services, as well as volunteer opportunities, please visit www.communitycaregivers.org or call us at (518) 456-2898.
Editor’s note: Linda Miller is the Outreach and Education coordinator for Community Caregivers.
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There are 10,000 Baby Boomers retiring every day. Like every other phase in our lives, we Baby Boomers will change what retirement is.
Previous notions were a period of leisure and travel as a reward for a long career, perhaps with the same employer. However, 42 percent of new retirees said in a recent survey that they plan a phased retirement where they will continue to work part-time or work in a completely different field; 82 percent expect to continue working in some capacity.
With a longer lifespan of perhaps an additional 20 to 30 years after retiring, this phase of life has been called “the third age,” which offers opportunities for creativity and new endeavors after the responsibilities of career and parenting. Some people who want to keep working actually start that business of their dreams they always wanted.
Though these possibilities exist, there are some retirees, especially men, who find themselves having trouble adjusting to this new phase of life after the initial euphoria. Often, men have defined their lives by their careers and suddenly that whole lifestyle and schedule are gone.
For men whose wives are younger and still working, they find themselves alone in the house all day. That is why retirement planners are available not just for financial advice but for coaching. They can help retirees look at life options that could include leisure as well as continued part-time work, volunteerism, and other community activities.
It is important to think it through and have a plan for this next phase. The plan can include not just activities to keep busy but thinking about inner peace and personal and spiritual development. The plan should also get into the nitty gritty of sketching out a schedule for the week when you will be golfing, working, volunteering, grandparenting, and having social contact to balance all the hours of private time.
At Community Caregivers, we see many recent retirees who are looking for a rewarding volunteer opportunity, helping their neighbors by offering rides to medical appointments or friendly visiting, shopping, and chores.
We offer volunteer orientation sessions, with no obligation to sign up, twice monthly. The next session is Nov. 16 at noon in our office. Please let us know if you would like to attend by calling (518) 456-2898.
Earlier this year, we participated in a workshop on “meaningful retirement.” If we can help you with volunteer placement or referral to other resources regarding retirement options, please feel free to contact our office.
Community Caregivers Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that provides non-medical services, including transportation and caregiver support at no charge to residents of Guilderland, Bethlehem, Altamont, New Scotland, Berne, Knox, and the city of Albany through a strong volunteer pool of dedicated individuals with a desire to assist their neighbors.
Our funding is derived in part from the Albany County Department for Aging, the New York State Office for the Aging, and the United States Administration on Aging. To find out more about our services, as well as volunteer opportunities, please visit www.communitycaregivers.org or call us at (518) 456-2898.
Editor’s note: Michael Burgess is a policy consultant for Community Caregivers Inc.
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“There’s no place like home.”
While that saying is probably best known as a line from the movie “The Wizard of Oz,” it also expresses Community Caregivers most basic goal — to help people remain in their homes. Fittingly, the organization has chosen “There’s No Place Like Home” as the theme for its 23rd Annual Gala, which will be held on Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Colonie Golf & Country Club in Voorheesville.
Greg Floyd, news anchor at WRGB Channel 6, will be the gala emcee again this year. Cocktails begin at 6 p.m., followed by dinner and the presentation of awards. Dancing to the music of the Bluz House Rockers will begin at 9 p.m.
In keeping with the theme, the Joseph A. Bosco Community Service Award will be presented to Susan Hennessy and Mark Hopper, co-directors of the Guilderland Food Pantry. Prior to marrying, both Sue and Mark had spent decades volunteering for various causes — local, national, and international.
Clearly, community service is very important to each of them. So, when they retired from their careers as teachers, they looked for a ministry they could share. They chose the Guilderland Food Pantry. Under their direction, the GFP, which was formed in 1979, incorporated in 2015.
Last year, the gala featured a “wine pull.” This year, there’s a new twist. Great bottles of wine will be paired with restaurant gift cards — a “wine and dine pull!”
There will be a silent auction featuring art, jewelry, and other items as well as gift cards to local businesses. There will also be a live auction, featuring auctioneer Ralph F. Passonno Jr., president of Uncle Sam Auctions & Realty.
This year’s live auction includes such items as a Disney World package (including Park Hopper tickets and a week at an Orlando timeshare), two season tickets to the Siena Saints 2017-18 basketball season (includes several premiums), and a two-night stay at the Mirror Lake Inn in Lake Placid (with breakfast and a gift certificate toward dinner at the inn).
Sponsors are important partners in the success of the gala. We are extremely grateful for the support of this year’s sponsors: Adirondack Environmental Services, Albany Medical Center, The AYCO Foundation, GCOM Software Inc., The New York Business Development Corporation, American Association of Retired Persons, Capital district Physicians’ Health Plan, Glenmont Abbey Village, and an anonymous donation honoring all caregivers and volunteers.
The gala is one of two annual fundraising events held by Community Caregivers. All proceeds go to support the programs and services it provides to caregivers and their families. Tickets are $125 per person.
For more information please call Community Caregivers office at (518) 456-2898. The deadline for reserving your ticket is Nov. 9. Tickets will not be sold at the door.
Community Caregivers Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that provides non-medical services including transportation and caregiver support at no charge to residents of Guilderland, Bethlehem, Altamont, New Scotland, Berne, Knox, and the city of Albany through a strong volunteer pool of dedicated individuals with a desire to assist their neighbors.
Our funding is derived in part from the Albany County Department for Aging, the New York State Office for the Aging, and the United States Administration on Aging. To find out more about our services, as well as volunteer opportunities, please visit www.communitycaregivers.org or call us at (518) 456-2898.
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Our area farm stands and farmers’ markets seem to burst with abundance in October. The pyramids of pumpkins, apples, and squash remind us that it’s harvest season. And each autumn the leaves inevitably fall from the trees. It’s a reminder to me that this season once again is an opportunity to highlight fall prevention strategies for older adults.
The National Institute on Aging offers common sense ideas which apply to people of all ages — except, I might add, for toddlers, who seem to tip over, giggle, get up and do it all again!
The statistics for those of us who are six or more decades older than toddlers are more serious: one in four adults age 65 and older will have a fall during the year. And falls can result in injury; every 11 seconds an older adult is seen in a hospital emergency department for fall-related reasons.
And yet, falls are not an inevitable occurrence in aging. So what can we do? Here are six tips that may prevent you or a loved one from falling.
— Have your eyes and hearing tested often. Always wear your glasses when you need them. If you have a hearing aid, be sure it fits well and remember that it does not help if you do not wear it;
— Find out about the side effects of any medicine you take. If a drug makes you sleepy or dizzy, tell your doctor or pharmacist;
— Try to get enough sleep. When you are sleepy, you are more likely to fall. And, if you get up during the night, use nightlights along the path to the bathroom;
— Limit the amount of alcohol you drink. Even a small amount can affect both balance and reflexes;
— You might not have thought about this tip. Stand up slowly after eating, lying down, or sitting. Getting up too quickly can cause your blood pressure to drop, which can make you feel faint and lead to a fall;
— Wear rubber-soled, low-heeled shoes that fully support your feet. Wearing only socks, slides or slippers with smooth soles on the stairs or floors without carpet present a hazard; and
In our office, we also have a Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults, “Check for Safety.” Please call (518) 456-2898 for more information on how to receive a copy.
Community Caregivers, Inc. is a not for profit organization that provides non-medical services including transportation and caregiver support at no charge to residents of Guilderland, Bethlehem, Altamont, New Scotland, Berne, Knox and the City of Albany through a strong volunteer pool of dedicated individuals with a desire to assist their neighbors.
Our funding is derived in part from the Albany County Department for Aging, the New York State Office for the Aging and the U.S. Administration on Aging. To find out more about our services, as well as volunteer opportunities, please visit www.communitycaregivers.org or call us at (518) 456-2898.
Editor’s note: Linda Miller is the Outreach and Education coordinator for Community Caregivers.
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Neighbors helping neighbors. Friends helping friends. Even strangers helping strangers. We’ve heard these phrases in the last two months too many times in the aftermath of hurricanes and earthquakes and tornadoes and shootings. The generosity of people helping each other in these catastrophic episodes has touched us all.
It’s not uncommon for people far removed from these events to reach out to local helping agencies. Community Caregivers would welcome you. Let me tell you exactly what’s involved to help you decide. In June I sat through an orientation session, which is required of all volunteers.
Linda Miller, Outreach and Education coordinator, had four new recruits. She began by asking them why they were considering volunteering for Community Caregivers.
One said she had the summer off and wanted to help. She was also nearing retirement and thought she would explore the organization for possible retirement activities.
A gentleman said he wanted to drive for a food pantry. We drive for two.
Another woman said, “I want to give back. CC helps me. I can help them.”
The last woman said she was new to the area and, since she had volunteered where she lived before, she wanted to continue here. Her daughter, she added, went online to see what volunteering opportunities were available in the Guilderland area. She chose CC.
After the introductions, Linda proceeded to give some history of the organization. She told the group what Caregivers does, the services it provides, the area we serve, how clients reach out, what volunteers do, and how our staff connects client and volunteer.
You fill out some papers. You give some references and indicate what services you’re interested in providing and when you’re available. It’s emphasized that you can change the day or days you volunteer. You can change the service or services you provide. You can say, “No, I can’t today.” We’ll call again.
Once you’ve had your orientation, and your references and Department of Motor Vehicles checks are made — this takes about two weeks — Mary Morrison, the client/volunteer coordinator, will call with an assignment.
Mary says a volunteer has an average of two to three assignments a month. “We don’t want to burn them out,” she says.
Once assignments are made, confirming emails with the client and appointment information are sent via email so the volunteer has all the relevant data. Lastly, the volunteer is asked to give a report to the office regarding time and mileage. Forms are available online. The staff also requests that volunteers inform Caregivers of any change they observe with the client.
Caregivers is very strict about 10-day notifications/requests from clients. The purpose is to insure the request can be filled. Mary emphasized that she tries to keep the location of client and volunteer near each other to keep mileage down.
Why do we always need new volunteers? Mary says there are many reasons for people to drop out. Their lives change. They move. They get sick. They go on vacation. Family issues come up.
Right now, we have 160 active volunteers and 200 active clients. Since 1996, we have had 1,200 to 1,300 volunteers in the database. Mary said, “That means all the volunteers who have ever ‘passed through the portals’.”
The more volunteers you have, the more leeway you have so you don’t have to overload anyone. That’s it. Think it over. If you have the time, others, your neighbors, would appreciate your help. Call the office at (518) 456-2898 to find out the next orientation date. You’ll make a great addition to the team.
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Community Caregivers Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that provides non-medical services including transportation and caregiver support at no charge to residents of Guilderland, Bethlehem, Altamont, New Scotland, Berne, Knox, and the city of Albany through a strong volunteer pool of dedicated individuals with a desire to assist their neighbors. Our funding is derived in part from the Albany County Department for Aging, the New York State Office for the Aging, and the United States Administration on Aging. To find out more about our services, as well as volunteer opportunities, please visit www.communitycaregivers.org or call us at (518) 456-2898.
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In our community and all across the country, older Americans form the backbone of the volunteer corps that keeps our civic, social, health, veterans, community, and faith-based organizations going. Being retired, many are eager to offer their time for programs and causes that they are interested in.
While many retirees volunteer informally when time permits, there are other structured volunteer opportunities like the federally-funded Retired Senior Volunteer Program. Community Caregivers is one of a number of volunteer-based programs that participates in this region’s RSVP.
In recent years, there has been a growing focus on the importance of the “social capital” of older volunteers, that is, the valuable resource that their volunteerism provides in the community. More and more, there are examples of the importance of using volunteers and peers to address social needs.
New organizations have sprung up like ReServe (www.reserveinc.org), which is now in many larger cities, where older persons with professional skills earn a stipend for working in a community agency. Using this social capital is increasingly becoming a strategy for organizations working with ReServe, such as a dementia coaching project that has several ReServe volunteers working with a health provider in the New York City area.
Community Caregivers, which started in Altamont as a not-for-profit community organization, has approximately 150 volunteers actively helping their neighbors live independently in the community. For many, volunteering with our organization is not only a service to their neighbors but a personally rewarding and gratifying experience.
And, volunteering also impacts health and wellness. A lot of research shows that volunteering is good for your health and can lead to better health and even perhaps a longer lifespan.
It is important to recognize, support, and honor our volunteers. Like other volunteer organizations, Community Caregivers does so at volunteer recognition events during the year. It is an honor well deserved.
We continue to seek more volunteers and more ways that volunteers can help both their neighbors individually and also further improve the quality of life in the community.
Please consider joining us for a new volunteer session this fall. Adults of all ages and teens with their parents are welcome:
— Volunteer orientations are scheduled at the office of Community Caregivers the first Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. and third Thursdays at noon, or upon request.
— To register or to request more information, please call (518) 456-2898 or contact us by email: .
You also may contact the RSVP Coordinator, Susan Napierski, to learn of diverse area volunteer opportunities for volunteers 55 years of age and older. Her number is (518) 459-2857 X308.
Community Caregivers Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that provides non-medical services including transportation and caregiver support at no charge to residents of Guilderland, Bethlehem, Altamont, New Scotland, Berne, Knox, and the city of Albany through a strong volunteer pool of dedicated individuals with a desire to assist their neighbors.
Our funding is derived in part from the Albany County Department for Aging, the New York State Office for the Aging, and the United States Administration on Aging. To find out more about our services, as well as volunteer opportunities, please visit www.communitycaregivers.org or call us at (518) 456-2898.
Editor’s note: Michael Burgess is a health policy consultant for Community Caregivers Inc.
Community Caregivers began in 1994 in the village of Altamont. The co-founders — Dr. Joel Edwards, Victor Ross, and Mary Therriault — were ahead of their time by creating an organization dedicated to “neighbors helping neighbors.”
With lots of caring and generous individuals, we have grown and flourished for the last 23 years. We like to say that Community Caregivers represents a “village” of caring neighbors. However, credit for starting the “Village Movement” nationally goes to Beacon Hill Village in Boston.
In case you are not familiar with the term, “villages” are membership-driven, grassroots not-for-profit organizations run by volunteers and/or paid staff that coordinate access to a variety of programs and services to help older adults stay in their own homes for as long as possible. The “Village Movement” began in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston in 2001 with Beacon Hill Village.
On Thursday, Sept. 14, the Albany Guardian Society will be hosting a daylong community forum entitled “Aging in Community: The Village Movement” at the Hearst Media Center in Albany. The forum includes national speakers on the Village Movement, including Susan McWhinney-Morse, co-founder of Beacon Hill Village.
The forum will include an overview of the future of aging in community, the origins of the Village Movement, the components of operating and developing a Village and presentations by six Villages on the unique programs and services they offer. The goals of the forum will be to provide information on incorporating and operating a Village, to review best practices, and to allow for networking opportunities.
The Sept. 14 forum will also serve to introduce the Capital Region Villages Collaborative, which is comprised of individuals, agencies, organizations, and Villages interested in forming, operating, and supporting Villages in the New York State Capital Region. Community Caregivers is an active partner with the Albany Guardian Society in launching the Capital Region Villages Collaborative.
Anyone who is interested may attend the forum, but space is limited and registration is required no later than Sept. 7. The time is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; registration begins at 8:15 a.m. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. The location is the Hearst Media Center, 645 Albany-Shaker Road, Albany, New York 12211, which is at the north end of Wolf Road in a new conference venue at the Times Union building.
You may register either by calling Albany Guardian Society’s registration phone line at (518) 269-3976 or by sending an email to the Albany Guardian Society at with your name, phone number, and email address. Please note “September 14 Village Forum” in the subject line.
Albany Guardian Society is one of the Capital District’s oldest not-for-profit charitable foundations. Founded in 1852, its mission is to engage in a wide range of endeavors including education, research, information, and community engagement that will improve the quality of life for seniors, family members, and their caregivers.
Community Caregivers Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that provides non-medical services including transportation and caregiver support at no charge to residents of Guilderland, Bethlehem, Altamont, New Scotland, Berne, Knox, and the city of Albany through a strong volunteer pool of dedicated individuals with a desire to assist their neighbors. Our funding is derived in part from the Albany County Department for Aging, the New York State Office for the Aging, and the United States Administration on Aging. To find out more about our services, as well as volunteer opportunities, please visit www.communitycaregivers.org or call us at (518) 456-2898.
Editor’s note: Linda Miller is the Outreach and Education coordinator for Community Caregivers Inc.
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On three consecutive Tuesday evenings this August, anyone who is interested in understanding memory loss, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease can attend a free workshop series.
The Alzheimer’s Association, in partnership with Community Caregivers, Bright Horizons Adult Day Services, and the Guilderland YMCA, is presenting a workshop series that offers valuable and practical information.
All sessions will be held at the Guilderland YMCA at 250 Winding Brook Drive in Guilderland from 6 to 7 p.m. on the following Tuesdays: Aug. 15, Aug. 22, and Aug. 29. Please register for one or more sessions by calling Tonya at (518) 967-4999, ext. 200.
Here is the schedule:
— Week One, Aug. 15, The Basics of Memory Loss, Dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease: This program is designed to provide basic information that everyone needs to know about memory-loss issues and what they mean for all of us. It explores the difference between memory loss brought about by normal aging versus Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The appropriate audience for this session is anyone interested in learning more about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia;
—Week Two, Aug. 22, Understanding and Responding to Dementia-Related Behavior: Behavior is a powerful form of communication and is one of the primary ways for people with dementia to communicate their needs and feelings as the ability to use language is lost. However, some behaviors can present real challenges for caregivers to manage. Attendees will learn to decode behavioral messages, identify common behavior triggers, and learn strategies to help intervene with some of the most common behavioral challenges of Alzheimer’s disease;
— Week Three, Aug. 29, Recognizing and Coping with Caregiver Stress: This program discusses what causes stress for individuals who care for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Topics covered include how to handle the stress of caregivers effectively. The appropriate audience for this session is anyone who is actively caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia or knows someone who is a caregiver.
Community Caregivers Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that provides non-medical services, including transportation and caregiver support, at no charge to residents of Guilderland, Bethlehem, Altamont, New Scotland, Berne, Knox, and the city of Albany through a strong volunteer pool of dedicated individuals with a desire to help their neighbors.
Our funding is derived in part from the Albany County Department for Aging, the New York State Office for the Aging, and the United States Administration on Aging. To find out more about our services, as well as volunteer opportunities, please visit www.communitycaregivers.org or call us at (518) 456-2898.
Editor’s note: Linda Miller is the Outreach and Education coordinator for Community Caregivers.