The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will hold the following peer support meetings in April. This month’s theme is senior drivers and distracted driving.
April 7, Caregiver support meeting at Sterling Senior Center, 1 p.m.
April 14, Caregiver support meeting at Soldotna Senior Center, 1 p.m.
April 16, Caregiver support meeting at Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program in the Blazy Mall, 5 p.m.
April 21, Caregiver support meeting at Kenai Senior Center, 1 p.m.
April 21, Caregiver support meeting at Anchor Point Senior Center, 3 p.m. Hosted by Paula Koch
April 28, Caregiver support meeting at Soldotna Senior Center, 1 p.m.
Please join and 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 (907) 262-1280.
The Homer Family Caregiver meetings take place on the second and fourth Thursday of each month (April 9 and 23) 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 (April 8) in the conference room of KTOO studio, 360 Egan Drive, noon to 1:30 p.m.
The Ketchikan Family Caregiver Support Group meets the second Friday of each month (April 10), upstairs at the Ketchikan Senior Center at noon.
The Sitka Family Caregiver Support Group meets the third Wednesday of each month (April 15). 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
Are you a procrastinator?
When it comes to taking care of loved ones who are elderly and facing illness of any kind, it is critical to face the issues as soon as possible and not procrastinate. You want your loved one to stay in their home environment as long as possible and have the right kind of care for what they are facing.
If you are the caregiver, be a fully informed caregiver by finding out all available options in your community and surrounding communities. The most important area you may be faced with is financial – how the care is going to be paid for if no family member or friends are available to help. You need to investigate your loved one’s personal affairs and if necessary involve an attorney versed in long term care issues to help with this planning early in the process.
Don’t wait for a crisis to start planning, be informed. Call your local National Family Caregiver Support Program, they can help you get started.
– Judy Warren, Kenai Peninsula National Family Caregiver Support Program
