Caregiving Programs at Lee County Council on Aging (100 W 2nd St, Dixon, IL 61021). All sessions will be held 12:30- 1:30pm (participants can attend any or all of the sessions). Registration not required but recommended- call LCCOA 815-288-9236 to sign up. Call Kara at 815-632-3611 with any questions or for reasonable accommodations.  

8/5: Caregiver Self-Care- We all know someone who is providing care for someone else.  It is a rewarding experience for most, but caregivers experience many difficult emotions and losses along their journey. This workshop will focus on coping with the challenges of caregiving and how to lessen caregiver stress and burnout with self-care techniques.

9/30: Making a Meaningful Nursing Home Visit- Visiting a loved one in a nursing home can be very difficult even though many long-term care facilities today are more home-like. There are many reasons for the reluctance to visit someone in a nursing facility, and many emotions involved, yet doing so is so helpful in making a resident’s stay easier. This program is designed to help participants identify with nursing home residents, and to recognize the emotions that may be preventing quality visits. Practical ideas for making visits more valuable and enjoyable will also be shared.

11/4: Communication Challenges and Strategies for Helping People with Dementia- When a relative or friend has dementia, communication can be very difficult as the disease advances. Learn about common communication problems caused by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias and identify strategies for better interactions and visits.