First Lesson: You Are Not Alone
Upcoming "Caring & Coping" Workshops for Caregivers
(October – 2017) We stay home instead of going to Sunday school or a church luncheon. We stay home to “protect” our loved ones from embarrassment. But learning how to better cope with memory issues and care for our loved ones should really begin with reaching out.
“Throughout my years of ministry, I have seen husbands who don’t want their wives to be embarrassed, or wives who want to shelter their husbands from uncomfortable moments related to memory loss,” explained Rev. Catherine Nance, Senior Pastor at 1st United Methodist Church of Maryville. “The sooner we share, the sooner we ask for help, the better off all of us will be.”
Rev. Nance knows the importance of the upcoming Alzheimer’s Tennessee caregiver classes, which offer support and strategies for family and professional caregivers. She has attended the sessions held at her church before and made copies of the registration form and shared it with members of her congregation for the Alzheimer’s Tennessee “Caring & Coping” Caregiver Workshop in Blount County on Tuesday, October 10, at 1st United Methodist Church, 804 Montvale Station Rd, Maryville.
The First United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge is hosting an Alzheimer’s Tennessee “Caring & Coping” Workshop on Thursday, October 19. The Putnam County workshop is being offered on Tuesday, October 17, 2017 at Trinity Assembly Church in Algood. There is also a session on Wednesday, November 1 at Towering Oaks Baptist Church in Greeneville for Tri-Cities area residents.
“Sometimes spouses don’t even know to call themselves caregivers yet, but help is here for both of you,” Rev. Nance shared. “If I could share one thing, I would say, you are not alone with this. Your family is not the only one going through this.”
Alzheimer’s Tennessee, a locally-based not-for-profit organization, works with families daily who have questions and need guidance. Yet caregivers for those with Alzheimer’s and related dementias can often feel overwhelmed and alone.
“Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease can be exhausting,” says Cheryl Blanchard, a Licensed Social Worker and educator presenting at the upcoming Alzheimer’s Tennessee Workshop. “Too often we Tennesseans have a lot of southern pride and just won’t ask for help. We think we can do it all and that needing help is a sign of weakness. However, there comes a time when you need to ask for help – for your own sake – and for the sake of the loved one in your care. Knowing when you need help and how to get it are among the practical tips Alzheimer’s caregivers will learn at the Caring and Coping Workshop.”
Blanchard will also share insight on how to interpret the often confusing and challenging behaviors associated with Alzheimer’s disease and provide caregivers practical strategies for managing them.
The October 10th workshop also features an overview of the medical aspects of Alzheimer’s disease from Dr. O.H. Oliveira, Ph.D, Clinical and Medical Psychologist and a look at the legal issues facing families and caregivers of those with dementia from Amelia Crotwell, Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA)
“Alzheimer’s disease takes a heavy toll on many Tennessee families,” says Janice Wade-Whitehead, President and CEO of Alzheimer’s Tennessee. “More than 70% of all care given to those touched by the disease is provided by family caregivers. The Caring and Coping Workshops are an opportunity for caregivers to get the practical information they need. We hope families will be led to have conversations and make decisions before they get into a crisis.”
The Alzheimer’s Tennessee “Caring & Coping” Workshops provide valuable practical training for family care partners, volunteers and professional care providers facing Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. The day-long session will give participants a better understanding of the disease, its process and available treatments. Participants also will learn practical tips for caring for those touched by dementia while maintaining their own health, happiness and spirituality during the course of the disease.
Advance registration is required for the events that begin at 8 a.m. and conclude around 4 p.m. Cost is $25 for family caregivers and $45 for healthcare professionals (CEU credits will be available). The fee includes workshop materials, lunch and refreshments. Scholarships are available for those in need of financial assistance. For more information or to register, please call Alzheimer’s Tennessee at (865) 544-6288 or visit www.alzTennessee.org.
Dates & Locations:
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
First United Methodist Church | 804 Montvale Station Rd | Maryville, TN 37803
To sign up, call Alzheimer’s Tennessee at (865) 544-6288 or visit http://alztnevents.org/campaignpage.asp?campaignid=200
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Trinity Assembly Church | 205 West Wall Street | Algood TN 38506
To sign up, call Alzheimer’s Tennessee at (931) 526-8010 or visit http://alztnevents.org/campaignpage.asp?campaignid=197
Thursday, October 19, 2017
First United Methodist Church | 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike | Oak Ridge TN 3783
To sign up, call Alzheimer’s Tennessee at (865) 544-6288 or visit http://alztnevents.org/campaignpage.asp?campaignid=201
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Towering Oaks Baptist Church | 1985 Buckingham Rd. | Greeneville, TN 37745
To sign up, call Alzheimer’s Tennessee at (423) 232-8993 or visit http://alztnevents.org/campaignpage.asp?campaignid=204
About Alzheimer’s Tennessee:
Alzheimer’s Tennessee is a non-profit organization founded by Tennessee families and professionals in 1983. The 501c3 organization’s mission is to serve those facing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, to promote brain health through education, and to champion global research, prevention and treatment efforts.
