Caregivers Need Care, Too!

Every single day, families are struggling to cope. Many people are raising children, working demanding jobs, and caring for a spouse or parent. Due to the advances in medicine and healthier lifestyles, people are living longer and are leading more productive lives. But behind this is another story. More and more children and spouses need to help care for loved ones as they age. Women, especially, are caught between balancing a family and a full-time job along with managing their daily lives. These family caregivers eventually run out of hours in the day; the stress becomes too great and the delicate balance can be broken.

Schoolcraft College can help. On Thursday, June 24, 2010 ,the college in partnership with AARP is offering a a free seminar, “Taking Care of the Caregiver.” The seminar will be held in the college’s VisTaTech Center, Haggerty Road between Six and Seven Mile Roads, from 9 a.m – 11 a.m. Schoolcraft and AARP recognize the important role that training and education play for those who care for elderly family members. Attendees of the seminar will gain knowledge, discover valuable resources and tools, and meet people in similar situations.
Registration for “Taking Care of the Caregiver” is required. Refreshments will be provided. More information about the program can be found at www.schoolcraft.edu/cepd or by calling 734-462-4448.

“Millions of people who manage the care of ailing family members and friends find themselves at particular risk for a host of physical, emotional and economic issues,” according to Lauren Murphy, promotions coordinator for Continuing Education and Professional Development at Schoolcraft College. “Many of these problems are rooted in stress, exhaustion, and self-neglect. This seminar will provide caregivers with lots of resources for taking care of themselves while they are taking care of their loved ones.” Caring for seniors is a labor of love and Schoolcraft College and AARP can help enhance those care giving skills by restoring balance, order and peace to the caregiver’s lives and help their loved ones remain at home.

Schoolcraft College is a public two-year college, offering classes at the Livonia campus, at the Radcliff Center in Garden City and online at schoolcraft.edu.