Care for Caregivers Series Kicks Off In Four Communities Around Wyoming

CHEYENNE - AARP Wyoming’s Caregiver Workshop Series has kicked off with events in Newcastle, Sheridan, Casper, and Cheyenne in September and will run each Monday through most of the fall.

The series is called, “Empowering Your Caregiving Journey,” and is free to the public. Each Monday session starts with a free dinner, a short testimonial from a current or former caregiver before a presentation by a subject matter expert takes the stage.

This year presentations will be offered on areas of law, financial planning, Medicare, and Veterans Rights that relate specifically to caregiving and their loved ones.

AARP Wyoming’s Sheridan Community Action Team developed the template for the series last year, using an AARP Community Challenge Grant to fund a six-week series that routinely saw 30 or more attendees. After Sheridan’s success, Catholic Charities of Wyoming applied for and received AARP Community Challenge Grant grant funds to expand the program to four communities around the state.

“I hope we are able to find that person that has come to the realization that they can’t continue to be caregivers without support and resources. That is what we are here to offer,” said co-organizer of the first Care for Caregiver Series in Sheridan, Stella Montano.

Registration is not required, but strongly encouraged to help organizers get a good headcount as they order dinner. To register for the Cheyenne series, visit: events.aarp.org/caregivingcheyenne or call 1-877-926-8300. For all other sites, contact the church directly to sign-up or get more information.

There is no need to be a member of the Catholic Church or AARP to attend the caregiver series and caregivers are encouraged to attend as many or as few evenings as they care to. For more information, contact Emilie Quinlivan at equinlivan@aarp.org or 307-432-5810.

Cheyenne
All held at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 1808 Hot Springs Ave. All dinners will be held at 5:30 p.m. and workshops start at 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 - Nursing homes
Sept. 30 - Legal considerations for caregivers
Oct. 7 - Financial planning
Oct. 14 - Home healthcare/safety and mobility
Oct. 21 - Veterans rights and benefits
Oct. 28 - Medicare and Medicaid

Sheridan
All events held at the Holy Name Catholic Church, 9 South Connor Street All dinners will be held at 5:30 p.m. and workshops start at 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 - Nursing home and other options
Sept. 30 - Legal considerations and Veterans rights
Oct. 7 - Safety and Mobility
Oct. 14 - Financial planning
Oct. 21 - Medicare and Medicaid
Oct. 28 - Home healthcare and home care
Nov. 4 - Caregiver brain health
Nov. 11 - Funeral planning
Nov. 18 - End of life decisions
Nov. 25 - Access to VA benefits

Casper
All events are held at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Casper, 400 Country Club Road. All events start with a light dinner at 5:30 p.m. and activities starting at 6:15 p.m.
Sept. 23 - Financial planning
Sept. 30 - Medicare and Medicaid insurance programs
Oct. 7 - Safety and Mobility
Oct. 14 - End of life decisions and funeral planning

Newcastle
All events will be held at Corpus Christi Catholic Church.All dinners will be held at 5:30 p.m. and workshops start at 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 - Medicaid, Medicare, nursing homes and options
Sept. 30 - Home healthcare and end of life decisions
Oct. 7 - Legal considerations and Veterans rights and benefits