Senior Voice -

The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following peer support meetings in May. This month’s focus: Home safety for people with dementia.

May 3, Caregiver support meeting at Sterling Senior Center, 1 p.m.

May 10, Caregiver support meeting at Soldotna Senior Center, 1 p.m.

May 17, Caregiver support meeting at Kenai Senior Center, 1 p.m.

May 17, Caregiver support meeting at Anchor Point Senior Center, 3 p.m.

May 31, Caregiver support meeting at Soldotna Senior Center, 1 p.m.

Support meetings allow you to share your experiences as a caregiver, or support someone who is a caregiver. If you are helping a family member of friend by being a caregiver, learn what kind of help is available. There is no charge for these services and everyone is invited to attend.

For more information, call Shelley or Judy at (907) 262-1280.

The Homer Family Caregiver meetings take place on the second and fourth Thursday of each month (May 12 and 26) at Homer Senior Center, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Call for more information, 235-4555.

Southeast

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

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

Sitka Family Caregiver Support Group meets the third Wednesday of each month (May 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, 235-4555

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

Spring is in the air and the grass is getting green and we will soon have leaves on the trees. Now is the time to plan for those summer caregiving days with your loved one by doing some outdoor activities.

If your loved one has dementia, the benefits of being active has been proven through studies that it can actually slow down progression of symptoms. Walking and gardening may help maintain strength and mobility. Regular exercise helps improve sleep patterns and appetite and can even improve memory. Light, wind, different sounds and smells all help to occupy the mind of a dementia person and access to nature may lift their spirits.

Being outdoors may also have memory recall benefits.

Whatever the reason for being outdoors and enjoying summer, make your caregiving one of them and plan to enjoy this time together.

– Judy Warren, Kenai Peninsula National Family Caregiver Support Program