Silver City, New Mexico, January 27, 2015: Professional and family caregivers have a chance to brush up on their skills at a seven-week training program held Mondays starting on February 16, 2015. The program is free, and respite care is available upon request.
This is the second year the training is being offered through a partnership between Western New Mexico University's School of Nursing and the Senior Life Cycle of the Grant County Community Health Council.
Agency Director Addus Home Health, Rose Ortiz participated in last year's training. Ortiz praised the program, "The training was well organized and the presenters excellent. It was useful for the caregivers out there trying to give right care to keep the people they love at home safe, and be sure they receive proper care."
Ortiz especially enjoyed the one-to-one teams meeting and the excellent handouts she received, which she utilizes for in-service training for her agency's caregivers.
According to the National Alliance of Caregiving, more than 65 million people, 29 percent of the U.S. population, provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend and spend an average of 20 hours per week providing care for their loved one. A majority of caregivers report they need help identifying resources and communicating to physicians their loved one's medical needs.
WNMU Assistant Professor, Krista Wood says the training is an excellent opportunity for caregivers to get "up to date on new techniques and expand their knowledge of local resources while networking with other caregivers." Professor Wood oversees the Certified Nursing Assistant program at WNMU's School of Nursing. The trainings will be facilitated by WNMU nursing faculty, community experts and appropriate certified professionals.
Wood says she has cared for family members and knows how daunting the task can be, "Most caregivers get thrown into the role and wing it, but there is a whole community of other caregivers with resources and knowledge to share."
Senior Concerns Coordinator for the Health Council, Connie Hostetler, says, "We are so excited to offer our local valuable caregivers opportunities to improve their skills. This issue has been a major concern of the Senior Life Cycle for over a decade, and we are so happy with the extraordinary reception the training is receiving from the community."
The training topics include: basic home care; procedures related to activities of daily living; ethics and role-modeling; chronic health problems and related medications; nutritional support and exercise; Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia; end of life and hospice care, and personal business management.
The training will be held every Monday starting on February 16 until April 6, 2015, from 4:30 - 7 p.m. Respite care is available upon request, and a light dinner will be served to participants. Registration is required for participation in the program and the deadline to register is Friday, February 6, 2015. For more information or to register contact Jean Smith at (575) 538-6960 or email: Jean.Smith@wnmu.edu