The Mruk Family Education Center on Aging of Baxter Regional Medical Center has launched two new caregiver support groups for 2018.

Alzheimer’s Dementia Family Caregiver Support
A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia for a family member is often overwhelming and confusing. Questions asked may range from what does a diagnosis mean, to how should I plan? Caregivers wonder what questions to ask, what to expect, what resources are available and how to communicate with a loved one.

The MFECOA Alzheimer’s Dementia Family Caregiver Support offers open and topic-driven discussion with other caregivers and healthcare professionals. The group meets the fourth Thursday of each month at 2:00 p.m. The first meeting will be Thursday, January 25, and the topic will be understanding Alzheimer's disease and its different stages.

Creative Solutions for Family Caregivers
Family members, friends, or partners caring for a loved one living with a chronic or disabling health condition are invited to join the new Creative Solutions for Family Caregivers group at the MFECOA. Every third Thursday at 4 p.m., the group gathers to share experiences, recharge, and learn from each other ways to take better care of themselves as well as our loved one.

The first meeting will be Thursday, January 18 at 4 p.m. Special guest Lorri Strider, RN, Baxter Regional Home Health, will lead a discussion about the universal worries of caregivers and creative solutions to address such concerns.

For more information about these groups or other resources for senior adults available at the MFECOA, call (870) 508-3880 or email Diahanne VanGulick, MFECOA Coordinator, at evangulick@baxterregional.org.