CaregiverU is a collaboration of more than 20 Central Texas non-profit agencies and community organizations, joining together with AGE of Central Texas to bring support and resources to families that are caring for an older loved one.
Classes are offered at no cost to participants.
The courses are offered multiple times throughout the year at various locations in Travis, Williamson, Hays, and Bastrop counties, and online through virtual classes throughout the year. Class days and times vary depending on which agency is hosting the course. Class schedules and more information is available at www.CaregiverUcentx.org.
Currently, CaregiverU has the following course offerings:
Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions
Offered in partnership with Area Agency on Aging of the Capital Area
Approximately 80% of adults over the age of 65 live with at least one chronic disease or condition, while 50% deal with two or more. These can include heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, respiratory or kidney diseases, among others. This 6-week series helps participants to establish healthy lifestyle practices designed to manage symptoms and improve their overall quality of life.
Participants will learn:
- ideas for supporting nutrition and movement
- tools for communicating with medical professionals and for making informed decisions about treatment plans
- strategies to cope with pain, difficult emotions, and sources of stress
Powerful Tools for Caregivers
(offered in person and virtually)
This series of six classes is designed to empower family caregivers of older adults to take better care of themselves. The tools learned from Powerful Tools for Caregivers benefit caregivers by developing a wealth of self-care strategies to better handle the unique challenges faced by family caregivers.
The evidence-based curriculum of Powerful Tools for Caregivers was developed by Dr. Kate Lorig and her colleagues at Stanford University and has benefited more than 80,000 caregivers nation-wide.
Participants will learn to:
- Identify and reduce personal stress
- Communicate feelings, needs, and concerns
- Take care of you
- Learn from emotions
- Communicate more effectively during challenging situations
- Master caregiving decisions
A Matter of Balance
(currently only offered in-person)
According to the Centers for Disease Control, one out of three older adults experience a fall each year. And falls are the leading cause of both nonfatal and fatal injuries in older adults. The good news is that falls are not a normal or inevitable part of aging – there are simple steps you can take today to reduce your risk.
A Matter of Balance is a fun and dynamic course that emphasizes practical strategies to manage falls and maintain an active, healthy lifestyle. Classes are led by certified class leaders, offering practical strategies that will work for you.
Participants will learn to:
- Set goals for increasing activity
- Make changes to reduce fall risks
- Exercise for strength and balance
- View falls as controllable
Savvy Caregiver
(offered in-person and virtually)
Caring for a person with dementia is a role like no other, and that role requires training. Savvy Caregiver classes are led by a pair of trained facilitators to provide proven professional-level training for non-professional, family caregivers.
The small group discussion classes address the progressive impact of the illness and the skills needed to manage daily caregiver responsibilities with your loved one. The six class sessions will help develop good care management tools through group discussions, skill building, problem solving, assertiveness training, and brainstorming.
Participants will learn how to:
- Understand dementia and its effect on behavior
- Develop strategies to build contented involvement in the care recipient
- Develop effective strategies for caregiving and decision making
- Adopt a more strategic outlook on caregiving and work
Virtual Classes:
Empowering YOU to Be a Smart and Healthy Caregiver
Virtual Caregiving Course for Individuals Caring for an Older Adult:
Being smart and healthy is important, because caring for an older adult can be both rewarding and overwhelming, both frustrating and fulfilling. Learning new tools can increase the rewards and ease the frustrations, and equips you to care for yourself as you care for another person.
Click here for the current schedule.
Empowering YOU to Prevent Falls
Virtual Falls Prevention Course for Older Adults:
Falls are both common and costly with billions of dollars spent to treat the injuries of the one in four older adults who will suffer a fall each year. The good news is that most falls can be prevented! Learning ways to prevent falls and putting that learning into action can empower you to keep yourself safe. This two-part fall prevention course uses information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with information from other reputable sources, to give valuable guidance on ways that older adults can prevent falls.
Click here for the current schedule.
Empowering YOU to Be a Strategic Dementia Caregiver
Virtual Caregiving Course for Individuals Caring for an Older Adult Living with Dementia:
Being strategic is important, because caring for an older adult with dementia can be both rewarding and overwhelming, both frustrating and fulfilling. Learning about the disease causing the dementia – and learning new tools to manage daily life – can increase the rewards and ease the frustrations. Being strategic can also equip you to care for yourself as you care for another person.
Session 1:
– Understand dementia causing diseases
– Understand how dementia can affect daily life
Session 2:
– Understand the effect of confusion
– Learn how to plan daily activities
Session 3:
– Learn practical principles for healthy caregiving
– Build a toolbox of coping skills
About CaregiverU:
CaregiverU was initiated by AGE of Central Texas, who serves as the host organization that facilitates the collaboration. For more information, contact Dianne Preston, CaregiverU Program Director, at (512) 600-9279 or DPreston@AGEofCentralTX.org.
CaregiverU is brought to the community by generous funding by the St. David’s Foundation. St. David’s Foundation invests in a healthy community through funding, hard work, and initiatives to better care for the underserved and uninsured. Learn more about the St. David’s Foundation at www.stdavidsfoundation.org.
CaregiverU is also supported in the Georgetown area by generous funding from the Georgetown Health Foundation. The Foundation works collaboratively with its community to improve the health of Georgetown residents through partnerships, experience, knowledge, and funding. Learn more about the Georgetown Health Foundation at www.gthf.org.