Senior Voice -

The Kenai Peninsula Famiy Caregiver Support Program will hold the following peer support meetings in July. This month’s meetings will feature presentations on and by the local Independent Living Center and Aging and Disability Resource Center.

July 4, no meeting due to Independence Day holiday

July 11, Caregiver support meeting at Soldotna Senior Center, 1 p.m.

July 18, Caregiver support meeting at Kenai Senior Center,1 p.m.

July 19, Caregiver support meeting at Anchor Point Senior Center, hosted by Paula Koch, 3 p.m.

July 25, 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 Sharon or Judy at (907) 262-1280.

The Homer Family Caregiver meetings take place on the second and fourth Thursday of each month (July 13 and 27) at Homer Senior Center, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Hosted by Pam Hooker. Call for more information, 235-4555.

Southeast

The Senior and Caregiver Resource Center at Southeast Senior Services in Juneau offers a call-in support group for residents of Southeast Alaska. The meeting time is the second Thursday of each month (July 13) at noon. Call for more information, toll free 866-746-6177.

The Ketchikan Family Caregiver Support Group meets the second Friday of each month (July 14), upstairs at the Ketchikan Senior Center at noon.

The Sitka Family Caregiver Support Group meets the third Wednesday of each month (July 19). 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

There is a saying that the only one that likes change is a wet baby. Think about your caregiving role and how life may have changed for you. Illness and disability affect everyone differently, there are things the affected person can no longer do. It takes over and there is sometimes no way left to achieve balance. Aging parents become children depending on others for the very services they used to provide.

Here are a few hints to help maintain good relationships between caregivers and their loved ones:

• Keep the lines of communication open

• Keep your sense of humor

• Keep talking and communicating

• Think about what you can change and let go of what you can’t, those things over which you have no control

• Do not let the illness become the sole focus of your life

• Use a support group

• Take care of yourself.

Have a safe, comfortable Fourth of July.

– Judy Warren, Kenai Peninsula National Family Caregiver Support Program