The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following meetings and trainings in December:

Dec. 3, Caregiver training at Sterling Senior Center, 1 to 2 p.m., “Living Old: Modern Realities of Aging”.

Dec. 10, Peer support meeting at Soldotna Senior Center, 1 to 3 p.m.

Dec. 11, Peer support meeting at Seward Senior Center, 1 to 3 p.m

Dec. 23, Caregiver training at Kenai Senior Center, 1 to 3 p.m. “The Power of Forgiveness.”

Dec. 31, Peer support meeting at Soldotna Senior Center, 1 to 3 p.m.

Note: the Homer Support Group will not meet in December.

There is no charge for these services and everyone is invited to attend. Training sessions provide 2 hours of Continuing Education Units for people with CNAs. For more information, call (907) 262-1280.

Southeast

 The Juneau Family Caregiver Support Group meets the second Wednesday of each month (Dec. 11) in the conference room of KTOO’s studio, 360 Egan Drive, noon to 1:30 p.m.

The Ketchikan Family Caregiver Support Group meets the second Friday of each month (Dec. 13), upstairs at the Ketchikan Senior Center at noon.

The Sitka Family Caregiver Support Group meets the third Wednesday of each month (Dec. 18). For more information, call Brave Heart Volunteers, 747-4600.

Other locations

For information on caregiver support group meetings around the state:

Anchorage, 561-3313

Fairbanks, 452-2277

Homer, 235-2295

Juneau, 463-6164 or 463-6198

Ketchikan, 225-8080

Kodiak, 486-6181

Nome, 443-4507

Palmer/Wasilla, 746-3413

Sitka, 747-4600

Family caregiver tip of the month

Are you short of Vitamin F? Dr. Oz calls friends “Vitamin F,” and counts the benefits of friends as essential to our well-being. The old adage that an “ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” can be applied to friendships. Enjoy Vitamin F constantly and you can be up to 30 years younger than your real age. The warmth of friendship helps stop stress and even in the most intense situations may decrease your odds of a cardiac arrest or stroke by 50 percent.

When you are a family caregiver one way to form lasting friendships is to attend the caregiver support groups in your area. This group interaction provides a circle of protection where you can share your thoughts, feelings, frustrations and can be serious and share a laugh or two. These are folks you can call when you feel in crisis mode.

By sharing our burdens we lighten them and enjoy the healthful benefits of knowing we are not alone. Value your friends and keep in touch, get your stock of Vitamin F. Another benefit – it’s free.

– Judy Warren, Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program