Free training for Alzheimer’s, dementia caregivers

The Alzheimer’s Association Northern California and Northern Nevada Chapter is offering a Savvy Caregiver class starting Aug. 23 at the Carson City Senior Center.

This six-week course is designed to provide clinical-level training for family caregivers to help improve their knowledge, approach, skills and outlook, gain the confidence to set and achieve caregiving roles and learn strategies to manage stress and make decisions. The training is free to caregivers through grant funding from the Administration on Community Living and a partnership with the Neighbor Network of Northern Nevada.

The Savvy Caregiver program helps family caregivers better understand the changes their loved ones are experiencing and how to best provide individualized care for a family member along their continued decline associated with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Worldwide, more than 55 million people are living with dementia. In the United States, there are more than 6 million Americans who have Alzheimer’s and more than 11 million people providing unpaid care for those living with the disease. In Nevada, more than 49,000 people aged 65 and older are currently living with Alzheimer’s and an estimated 84,000 are providing unpaid care for them.

Caring for someone living with Alzheimer’s or dementia can take many forms: help with transportation, administering medications, bathing, dressing and feeding.

The Alzheimer's Association “2023 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures” report reveals that caregivers face significant emotional, physical and health-related challenges as result of caregiving as well, including higher rates of chronic conditions, such as stroke, heart disease, diabetes and cancer compared to caregivers of people without dementia or non-caregivers. In Nevada, 54.2% of caregivers reported at least one chronic condition. The prevalence of depression also is higher among dementia caregivers with 31.1% of Nevada’s caregivers reporting depression.

George Eglinger is caring for his wife, Bellissima, who is living with Alzheimer’s disease. Eglinger enrolled in the Savvy Caregiver training that took place in June in Reno.

“I need ideas, techniques and to learn some ways to help my wife,” Eglinger said.

His goal was to develop new strategies to address the differing behaviors his wife was displaying, and to learn about self-care techniques. After he completed the training, he was relieved and spoke highly of the course. He also made new friends with other caregivers in the class and has joined an Alzheimer’s Association dementia caregiver support group so he can in turn help others.

For information, call 775-254-0329 or e-mail cpmarcos@alz.org. For resources, call the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900.