Caregiver Academy
The Caregiver Academy features Powerful Tools for Caregivers. This self-care education program for family caregivers provides you with tools and strategies to better handle the unique caregiver challenges you face. The Caregiver Academy begins on Wednesday January 10 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and runs for the next 5 Wednesdays at that same time. The sessions are held at …
Lynn Templeton Announces Retirement from The Center for Volunteer Caregiving
After 12 years of service, Executive Director Lynn Templeton will retire effective December 31, 2017. “Lynn has overseen many accomplishments for The Center including doubling the budget, strengthening infrastructure and growing the number of volunteers serving,” said Charles Crutchfield, Chairman of The Center’s Board of Directors. Lynn said one of her most important accomplishments was being awarded the GSK Community …
Caregiver feature: Nick and Adele
Nick and Adele were enjoying life as parents of teenage girls when they started noticing changes. Adele was teaching school and Nick worked at IBM. Nick was only 53 years old when doctors diagnosed him with a form of dementia that strikes early and causes progressive changes in personality, language and judgment. Family could see that the Nick they knew …
Prelude Respite
Prelude Group Respite is held the third Tuesday of the month from 1 – 4:30 p.m. This free service is offered to Caregivers of seniors with dementia and makes it possible for them to take a break while their family member participates in meaningful activities with their peers. Participants enjoy playing games, music, crafts and some holiday-inspired activities. Caregivers tell us it’s …
Friday Feature: Emily’s Story
The fear of falling keeps many older adults from experiencing life to its fullest. Many seniors need to use a cane or walker to steady their steps. Unfortunately, a walker can feel like a barrier between the frail, elderly and their loved ones. Emily hopes that knee surgery will make it possible to walk across the room without a walker. …
Communication Tips for Caregivers
Caregiving involves many challenges, some of these require learning new skills. Being flexible and trying new things can help. Caregivers may need to develop new ways to relate to a family member if his or her ability to communicate or remember things is impaired by an illness such as dementia or Alzheimer’s. During a recent Caregiver Academy retreat, Lou Paules, …
Reducing Risk of Falls, One Home at a Time
The Center for Volunteer Caregiving and Meredith College students are teaming up to reduce older adults’ risk of falls through safety modifications and in-home exercise programs. Funded through a Council of Independent Colleges grant, the students will have the opportunity to form meaningful connections with seniors. “CIC hopes that this pilot project will serve as a first step toward the …
The Two Sides of Volunteering
Life often takes us on a roller-coaster. I was caring for my father in 2006, while working, plus going to school full-time. I had no idea how physically taxing all this would be. It took a toll on my emotional and mental health. I was alone in caring for my Dad, as family did not live in the area. Although …