United Way funds RSVP and Alzheimer’s care giving training sessions
Submitted by Karel on Mon, 07/16/2012 - 2:26pm
“The NV Rural Counties Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Inc.(RSVP)has partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association to provide state of the art training for family caregivers and respite volunteers on how to more effectively assist persons suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers” said Janice R. Ayres, executive director and chief financial officer of RSVP. The training has been made possible by a grant from the United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierras.
The Respite Care Program is part of RSVP’s Independent Living Programs with a mission to assist low-income homebound seniors to remain independent and in their own homes as long as possible with dignity. Respite(time off)for family caregivers is an essential program which provides several hours of free time a couple of times per week to the stressed out, overwhelmed family caregivers who provide 24/7 care to their loved ones. Respite also provides the one being cared for with someone new to spend time with and share stories and thoughts that stimulate their minds and bodies and assures them they are worthwhile people and connected to the community.
The curriculum for the first workshop will cover BASIC education on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The opening will be a short film on “the tour of the brain” with the provision of some basic vocabulary. This will set the scene for helping the volunteers and caregivers to understand the underlying causes of dementia and the associated breakdown of the brain. It will also set the scene for the basic philosophy and approach of caregiving for someone with dementia—that is, that people with dementia do not have control over their behaviors once they develop the disease, and the caregiver must realize that the behaviors exhibited are not intentional, but are manifestations of “the disease talking.”
Therefore, attempts to reason, argue, or try to be logical with someone with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias accomplish nothing and only add to that persons’ frustration.
The first session of training also includes presentations on the BASICS of Alzheimer’s and related dementias along with some practical tips and interactive sections about how to approach persons with Alzheimer’s and related dementias using some aspects of SNOEZELEN, an effective Dutch philosophy and approach to caregiving for persons with dementia.
Family caregivers are encouraged to attend this important and informative free series of training. Remember caregivers, you can’t shoulder all the responsibility alone or you will be putting your own health in jeopardy and leave your loved one at risk for institutionalization. Alzheimer’s can be a long drawn out journey for all concerned and affect the family physically, mentally and financially. Alzheimer’s is often referred to as the “marathon” and not the “sprint” disease.
The training will be comprised of three sessions. The first one will be held on July 19, 2012 at WNC in Carson City, Reynolds Hall, Room #102 and will be broadcasted to local University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Offices in Elko, Winnemucca, Caliente, Ely, Lovelock, Pahrump, and Tonopah.
The training will run from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with lunch provided. As each session will build on information given previously, each participant will be asked to attend two future trainings scheduled for October 18, 2012 and March 21, 2013.
There will be time for family caregivers and volunteer caregivers to interact and share experiences and talk about what works. To register or for more information about the location of trainings in your area, please contact Tannis Causey, RSVP’s Program Director at (775) 687-4680 ext. 7. Seating is limited so don’t delay!
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