Penn Memory Center's Psychoeducational Class for Caregivers	Print Issue
December 21, 2010, Volume 57, No. 16

The Penn Memory Center will again offer our six-week psychoeducational class for those caring for a family member or other loved one with dementia, led by Felicia Greenfield, starting January 19, 2011.

The group is open to anyone caring for someone with dementia of any stage, though much of the content of the program is geared toward individuals caring for someone who, while still living in the community, has had dementia for a few years and needs support managing their money, medicines, cooking, or driving, and who may be showing changes in their personality and behavior.

Unlike an on-going support group, this course runs for just six sessions, on consecutive Wednesdays from January 19, 2011, through February 23, 2011. All sessions run from 5:30–7:30 p.m.

You will learn specific techniques to better care for your loved one and ways of coping with the personal and emotional challenges you face.

Each session includes a relaxation exercise known to be helpful in managing stress, and other techniques geared toward helping you deal with your many and often conflicting thoughts and feelings as a caregiver. Key topics include improving communication, not only with the person you are caring for, but with friends, family members and professionals involved in his or her care, and learning to evaluate and modify behaviors (your own, as well as your loved one’s) to better handle distressing and difficult behaviors.

Previous participants tell us that the tips and tools they learned here are very helpful. They also indicate that the opportunity to interact with others going through experiences similar to their own was a more valuable outcome than they had anticipated before joining the class.

 The course will meet at Ralston House, where free parking is available. Cost for participation is $120. To register for the class, or if you have any questions, please call (215) 614-1828 or e-mail felicia.greenfield@uphs.upenn.edu.

—Felicia Greenfield,
Associate Director, Penn Memory Center