Registration now open for caregiver support classes

Registration is now open for the Stillaguamish Senior Center’s six-week class to help caregivers that begins in April.

The ‘Powerful Tools for Caregivers’ program is meant to help those taking long-term care of their loved ones.

“This is intended for caregivers that are taking care of their family member,” said Angela Vesely, family caregiver coordinator.

“Sometimes they get so engrossed in taking care of their loved one that they don’t take care of themselves,” she said.

Classes are every Tuesday from April 21 to May 26, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, at the Stillaguamish Senior Center at 18308 Smokey Point Boulevard in Arlington.

As space is limited, registration is required to attend the class. For more information or to register contact Angela Vesely at [email protected] or Jeanne Karr at [email protected].

There is a $25 fee for the class to obtain the book used, but there are no other charges associated with the program.

Vesely said taking care of others is a big responsibility and people can lose sight of keeping care of themselves.

“Sometimes they don’t realize that they have some issues themselves, and they don’t realize that until it is too late,” she said.

She recalls a caregiver at her center who was taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s. “He felt some pain in his chest but he brushed it off at the time,” said Vesely.

Later that caregiver collapsed at the center. “After two to three hours in the ER he passed,” she said.

There are many areas in terms of health and emotional support that the classes help caregivers go through.

“It’s okay to cry. If you need some time just go in a room and let it out,” said Vesely, and the classes help provide that sort of emotional wellbeing.

“We want to teach them how to help themselves,” she said.

Each class will cover a specific topic around health and looking after yourself.

The program will go through ways to manage personal stress, how to improve communication and being in touch with one’s own emotions.

“How do you identify that you’re stressed out,” said Vesely. “You will be able to distinguish ‘oh, this is what I need’ or ‘this is what I’m going through."

The class also serves as a mini “support group” for caregivers who have a variety of challenges that may not be apparent to those who haven’t looked after someone.

“This is a space where you can talk to other caregivers and they can understand what you’re going through,” said Vesely.

More information about the Stillaguamish Senior Center is available at stillycenter.org.