AMERICUS — The Dealing with Dementia Workshop, provided by the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving, will be offered at Union Tabernacle Baptist Church and Central Baptist Church this month. The free workshop introduces area caregivers of people living with dementia to a new resource: The Dealing with Dementia Guide. During the four-hour workshop, caregivers will become acquainted with the information available in the guide and learn specific strategies for responding to dementia behaviors and finding time for self-care and renewal.
Gayle Alston, the workshop facilitator, has a personal interest in providing the guide to caregivers. “I had the privilege of caring for my Mama who had dementia,” she said. “There is so much information in this guide that I wish I had during those years. It is my mission to get this book in the hands of as many caregivers as possible. I know it can make their caregiving journey easier, and I hope it will help increase their joyful moments and decrease their regrets.”
The Dealing with Dementia Guide is a large book with over 350 pages of information. Topics include understanding dementia, best practices in creating a dementia-friendly life, strategies for understanding and addressing dementia behaviors, caregiver self-care, stress management, and tools for finding and assessing resources.
“It is a big book; sometimes caregivers feel overwhelmed when they see it. That is why we have the workshop,” explains Alston. “We use the time together with the caregivers to be sure they know what information is in the book so they can find it as they need it. We also highlight topics we think can be of immediate use to them, such as problem solving for behavior management and stress reduction exercises.”
The Dealing with Dementia Workshops and the guides are free to all those who attend. The workshops are scheduled at 10 a.m. July 15 at Union Tabernacle Baptist Church and at 9:30 a.m. July 22 at Central Baptist Church. Registration is required and easy, just call Gayle Alston or Elizabeth Blount at 229-928-1234 or email Gayle.Alston@gsw.edu. You may also contact Eddye Coley (924-0421) at Union Tabernacle for July 15 or Steven Wright (924-0492) at Central Baptist for July 22.