Guest Post by Far East Senior Hub
Care-giving is demanding work wherever you are, and if you’re on the Eastside, where resources are scarce, expensive, or both, it’s an even bigger challenge.
Three Eastside senior centers —Issaquah, Mt. Si, and Sno-Valley —in a collaboration called the Far East Senior Hub, want to help local caregivers with that challenge. They are co-hosting a free half-day conference for caregivers, offering resources, tools, and inspiration.
The Caregiver Connection Conference will be Saturday, Nov. 15, 8:30 am to 1 pm, at Issaquah Senior Center, 75 NE Creek Way, Issaquah, WA, 98027 and will include free on-site respite care for those who register by Nov. 10.
Among the events planned for the day are a talk on resilience by author, speaker, and experienced caregiver Dori Gillam. In her opening address, Gillam will discuss Resilience for Caregivers as an emotional muscle and an essential strength, and will offer a model for gaining resilience.
Breakout sessions will include:
Art therapy with licensed mental health counselor Tina Hayes, exploring the foundational components of mindfulness while creating watercolor works of art;
Recreational therapy with therapist Kelsey Ellis, learning about ways to reduce stress, improve well-being, and restore balance and joy to daily life, through meaningful leisure activities, community connection, and self-care practices;
Meditation techniques with Mallory Mixdorf, Era Living programs director, who starts with the science of meditation benefits, plus how you can incorporate this valuable tool into your daily life;
Respite care information from Nadine Zygaj, Carina, and Blythe Miller, CDWA, discussing how respite care providers are qualified, how non-spouse family caregivers can become paid care providers, and one way to find respite care.
A resource fair will include information from respite care and memory care providers, as well as representatives from the state Department of Social and Health Services, on caregiver recruitment and qualification. For participants who register by Nov. 10, on-site respite care will be provided by Visiting Angels.
The event begins at 8:30 am with a Continental breakfast, followed by the opening address at 9 am.
To register or for more information, visit this link.
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/797775982648562/
[Featured Image: Author Dori Gillam]
