If you are one of the four Americans now giving care to a seriously ill or disabled family member, or if you are on the receiving end of that family caregiving, you may be balancing a heavy physical, medical and emotional load in life.
A free seminar will be presented at 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday in the rectory of St. Peter's Episcopal Church for anyone in need of support or more information on help available to caregivers. Those who may not be in this situation themselves are encouraged to invite someone who is but who may not seek help.
The presenter is Carson City therapist Linda Bellegray, who has been working to help patients and caregivers for seven years at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center.
She reminds everyone that we are all probably going to be involved in some type of care giving, and emotional tools are needed to keep us from losing our own health in this critical situation.
"As many as 40 percent of all caregivers predecease the people that they are caring for," said Susan Haas, program manager of RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program), which offers help to caregivers.
RSVP's Respite Care Program matches active senior volunteers from different local counties to help caregivers and their families.
It is one of the resources the caregivers support group at St. Peter's has found to help those who need help to caregivers and recipients.
For more information on the seminar or the caregiver group, call Deb Cash at 887-8846 or St. Peter's church at 882-1534.