I did. It was sponsored by the local Jewish Welfare Federation, or Jewish Federation of Detroit (I don't recall which). The course was provided in conjunction with the AAA, staffed by a psychologist with excellent insights and experience.
Our group was small, only about 8 if I remember correctly. The texts and study material were thorough, insightful, and professionally prepared, and the class was conducted in the same manner. It could actually be called a study group, as it was just as professional as any college course.
Some cites for this program:
Creating Confident Caregivers : NEMCSA
Creating Confident Caregivers - Detroit Area Agency on Aging serving Detroit, MI | findhelp.org
Region 9 Area Agency on Aging | Northeast Michigan CSA (nemcsa.org) (for similar programs) - perhaps your AAA might have some.
There used to be a more detailed description available on the AAA site, but searching today, I was unable to find it.
There were some situation scenarios, i.e., how various situations could be handled. There also was an opportunity for us to describe specific situations and get input from the instructor as well as other classmates on options of handling/addressing the issues, including ones we individually were experiencing.
It also was emotional, particularly a movie shown to demonstrate the progression of Alzheimers. A group of women in a care facility were awaiting lunch. One woman in particular was shown to demonstrate making a peanut butter sandwich, over a period of time.
She had no difficulty in the first section, some difficulty in the second when it was difficult for her to determine which silverware to use, and by the end of the movie, she was unable to discern the difference between the silverware and the food. That was when most of us were in tears; it was painstakingly dramatic, and real.
But we also had to create our own scenarios, which helped apply what we were learning to actual life.
You could contact your closest AAA to see if they're still hosting it, or are affiliating with another organization, as was the case in the SE Michigan Metro area.
GardenArtist - Thank you for taking the time to provide all the information. This sounds like it was an amazing program. I will definitely look into these items and the AAA. Thank you again, for your support.
My city offers occasionally a 6 week course for caregivers and it's sponsored by our Senior Services. So you may want to check with them. I would also recommend that you look into finding a local caregiver support group. Senior Services can help you with that, but I found mine by just googling what was in my area. They saved my life when I was at my wits end while caring for my husband. We meet in person every Wednesday, along with folks on Zoom, and every Friday on Zoom. You will learn more from those who are in the throes of caregiving or those that have been there done that, than from any course you may take that's for sure. Because who better to learn from than from those who are actually doing it, or have done it right?
funkygrandma59 - thank you for this information. I appreciate your support and how things went for you. I am open to anything. I have looked for groups, but here there are groups for diagnosed Alz. family members but nothing else that I have found, yet. My parent has dementia and it is sounding more and more like it is vascular dementia. I will keep looking!
Sadly, unless you're in a program to become a certified caregiver, I doubt there are many -- if any -- courses in it for the average person. It reminds me of when I moved from Southern California to Colorado in the middle of the winter and I asked the Auto Club if they offered any how-to-drive-in-snow. Their response: No, you just kind of figure it out.
You could contact your local senior center to see if they have anything, but your best bet is probably to find a support group of people in similar circumstances. This forum here is an excellent place to start.
MJ, I'm kind of surprised that AAA didn't have appropriate courses for winter driving. Are you getting their monthly (now apparently tri-monthly) magazine? I've found some good articles and suggestions in it, although I don't recall specifically which they were. I do recall reading some "guidance" on winter driving though.
And if I remember correctly, they also offered courses for older people to test their own driving and learn corrective measures (if available and possible).
Any caregiver course should include danger signs of caregiver burnout. It should also reinforce the importance of the mental and physical wellbeing of the caregiver (beyond blithely suggesting to "take some time for yourself!).
I truly know how you feel. How long have you stayed with your parent? It gets lonely. Good luck know that you can talk to me don’t feel alone. It’s hard I’m 60 years old not in the best of health and caring for my 80 year old mother
Check with your local hospital or senior center for a caregiver course. Online training is great, but having a support group with real, live people who are going through the same experience - and having an excuse to get away from the situation for 2 hrs every week - is priceless.
Our group was small, only about 8 if I remember correctly. The texts and study material were thorough, insightful, and professionally prepared, and the class was conducted in the same manner. It could actually be called a study group, as it was just as professional as any college course.
Some cites for this program:
Creating Confident Caregivers : NEMCSA
Creating Confident Caregivers - Detroit Area Agency on Aging serving Detroit, MI | findhelp.org
Region 9 Area Agency on Aging | Northeast Michigan CSA (nemcsa.org) (for similar programs) - perhaps your AAA might have some.
There used to be a more detailed description available on the AAA site, but searching today, I was unable to find it.
There were some situation scenarios, i.e., how various situations could be handled. There also was an opportunity for us to describe specific situations and get input from the instructor as well as other classmates on options of handling/addressing the issues, including ones we individually were experiencing.
It also was emotional, particularly a movie shown to demonstrate the progression of Alzheimers. A group of women in a care facility were awaiting lunch. One woman in particular was shown to demonstrate making a peanut butter sandwich, over a period of time.
She had no difficulty in the first section, some difficulty in the second when it was difficult for her to determine which silverware to use, and by the end of the movie, she was unable to discern the difference between the silverware and the food. That was when most of us were in tears; it was painstakingly dramatic, and real.
But we also had to create our own scenarios, which helped apply what we were learning to actual life.
You could contact your closest AAA to see if they're still hosting it, or are affiliating with another organization, as was the case in the SE Michigan Metro area.
I would also recommend that you look into finding a local caregiver support group. Senior Services can help you with that, but I found mine by just googling what was in my area. They saved my life when I was at my wits end while caring for my husband. We meet in person every Wednesday, along with folks on Zoom, and every Friday on Zoom.
You will learn more from those who are in the throes of caregiving or those that have been there done that, than from any course you may take that's for sure. Because who better to learn from than from those who are actually doing it, or have done it right?
You could contact your local senior center to see if they have anything, but your best bet is probably to find a support group of people in similar circumstances. This forum here is an excellent place to start.
And if I remember correctly, they also offered courses for older people to test their own driving and learn corrective measures (if available and possible).
offers free intro course on caregiving. Maybe good start?
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