AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons) states that, “Today, one in five Americans (21.3 percent) are caregivers, having provided care to an adult or child with special needs some time in the past 12 months.”
In fact, most Americans will either be a caregiver or need one in their lifetime. Unfortunately, most caregivers are chosen during a medical crisis and are seriously unprepared for such a demanding role.
The Continuing Education Department of Western Nevada College is offering a unique course called Mapping Out Caregiving on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Carson City campus to support new and seasoned family and friend caregivers.
“Caregiving is a responsibility that many of us will encounter at some point in our lives, often with little time to prepare for the challenges that come with it,” said WNC President Dr. J. Kyle Dalpe. “This course provides an important opportunity for caregivers and families to gain practical knowledge, ask questions and better understand the medical and legal considerations they may face. We are proud to offer a resource that can help people approach their caregiving journey with greater confidence, compassion and preparation.”
To register for this course, call the Continuing Education department at 775-445-4210 or visit https://wnc.edu/continuing-education/personal-interest.
Dr. Deb Cash is the instructor and has led caregiver support groups for 17 years at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Carson City. She was also a professor of Health and Human Services at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, Calif.
Caregivers and family members cannot predict the future, but attending this course covering all the medical and legal stages of caregiving can equip any student to handle the demanding next step in their caregiving journey.
