Senior Voice -

The Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program will not hold any regularly scheduled meetings in December. They will host a Christmas party at the Soldotna Senior Center on Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 1 to 3 p.m. The event is a potluck, so bring your favorite holiday dish. Also bring something you’d like to get rid of, as there will be a “recycle gift exchange.” Be sure your recycle gift is wrapped.

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

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

Palmer caregiver support group meets at Palmer Senior Center (aka Mat-Su Senior Services) the first Friday of each month (Dec. 6), 10 to 11:30 a.m. Contact Janice Downing, Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska, 746-3413.

In Wasilla, Alzheimer’s Resource of Alaska hosts a caregiver support group meeting at Primrose Retirement Community, 889 Elkhorn Drive, 10 to 11:30 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month (Dec. 19).

Southeast

 The Senior and Caregiver Resource Center at Southeast Senior Services in Juneau offers a call-in support group for residents of Southeast Alaska. Call for more information, 463-6177 or 463-6181.

The Ketchikan Family Caregiver Support Group meets the second Friday of each month (Dec. 13), upstairs at the Ketchikan-Saxman Senior Center, 2 to 3 p.m.

The Sitka Family Caregiver Support Group meets the fourth Friday of each month (Dec. 27). 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

Ketchikan, 225-8080

Kodiak, 486-6181

Nome, 443-4507

Palmer/Wasilla, 746-3413

Family caregiver tip of the month

As a caregiver, your life can become overwhelming. Big life changes that come with suddenly having to care for someone that was formerly self-sufficient and now needs help with so many things becomes overwhelming. That person now depends on you as the person to help with all of their needs. In addition to caring for them, what can you do to keep yourself in the right frame of mind? If worry is your biggest hurdle, give yourself time each day to put worry in its place. Set aside time each day to deal only with what you are worrying about and then work on solutions and take steps toward action. In addition to setting aside time for worry, attend a support group meeting in your area. Sharing cares and concerns can help to avoid the overwhelming feelings that come with caregiving.

“Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same.” — Louis L Mann

Have a worry-free Christmas and New Year.

- Judy Warren, Kenai Peninsula National Family Caregiver Support Program