St. Peter's group offers support for caregivers

People diagnosed with serious brain illnesses or disabilities continue to experience a shortage in community services, said Deb Cash, St. Peter's Caregiver Support Group leader, working with the Travelers Support Group for the Brain Injury Association of Nevada.

"The challenge to organizations serving the needs of the public is to partner with others to maintain the volume and quality of service," Cash said.

"This partnering strategy has worked well for the Caregivers Support Group at St. Peter's Episcopal Church and the local Travelers Support Group for the Brain Injury Association of Nevada," she said.

Cash works with newly appointed Travelers Support Group leader Nora McGinley to provide up-to-date and reliable local resource information to caregivers who help their loved ones suffering from illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease, dementia, cancer or traumatic brain injury.

American caregivers providing constant care for a severely ill or disabled family member or friends are estimated to be as many as 45 million. Yet, this population of caregivers has few community support resources.

"Few caregivers have time to plan. They are thrust into the role after their loved one receives a serious diagnosis or has a near-fatal fall," Cash said. "The caregiver has little or no notice that their lives will change so drastically, and that they will need to make immediate medical and legal decisions for the person in their care. Their health is also at great risk due to the stress of this demanding role."

The next Caregiver Support Group meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 314 N. Division St. All are welcome to attend.

For more information, call Cash at 775-887-8846.