URBANA, Ill. — The number of older adults in the U.S. continues to rise, and the need for more caregivers comes with that. This demographic shift underscores the importance of initiatives to support caregivers and provide them with the necessary resources and assistance.

University of Illinois Extension offers the Thinking, Learning, Caring research-based webinar series that will provide useful information to help caregivers provide quality service to their clients, support personal resilience, gain knowledge, and develop strategies to help meet the needs of older adults in long-term care settings.

“Helping caregivers understand ageism, social isolation, and age-related life changes can help them better understand their clients and improve their care. Caregivers and clients will benefit greatly from the knowledge and strategies gained by attending these free online seminars,” says Cheri Burcham, Extension educator. “Helping caregivers identify compassion fatigue and strategies to prevent it helps them keep their jobs and improve their well-being.”
 

Event details

All sessions are presented from 2 to 3 p.m., and topics include:

• Addressing Ageism and Promoting Inclusivity on April 11.
• Don't Go It Alone: Improving Your Social Connections on May 9.
• Navigating Changes as We Age on June 13.
• Compassion Fatigue: The Cost of Caring for Others on July 11.
   

Register for free at go.illinois.edu/TLCWebinars2024. Continuing education units (CEUs) are available.

For more information or if you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, contact Cheri Burcham at cburcham@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet access needs.

SOURCE: Cheri Burcham, family life educator, Illinois Extension.

WRITER: Herbert Chavez, media communications coordinator, Illinois Extension.