The purpose of the Family Caregiving Program is to help
participants gain an understanding of what is involved in caring for a
loved one and know how to provide that care through 1-hour modules
covering topics such as personal care, nutrition, home safety and
others. This information is of vital importance to those caring for
their loved ones who suffer from chronic illness or disabilities. There
are no prerequisites for enrolling in the Family Caregiving modules.
The purpose of the Family Caregiving: Home Safety module
is in inform caregivers how to provide a safe environment for themselves
and the loved one in their care. After Completing the module,
participants should:
Understand how to check their homes for hazards;
Understand how to keep their homes safe from fire;
Recognize the importance of knowing how to use equipment
such as wheelchairs;
Understand how to protect themselves and their loved one
from infection; and
Understand how to be prepared for emergencies and to
create a first aid kit and disaster supplies kit.
Module 2: General Caregiving Skills
The purpose of the Family Caregiving: General Caregiving
Skills module is to inform caregivers how they can measure their loved
one's vital signs such as pulse, respirations and body temperature and
how to assist with medications. After completing this module,
participants should:
Understand how to measure their loved one's temperature,
pulse and respirations; and
Understand the importance of giving medication properly.
Module 3: Positioning and Helping Your Loved One Move
The purpose of the Family Caregiving: Positioning and
Helping Your Loved One Move module is to inform caregivers how to safely
position and help their loved one move. After completing this module,
participants should:
Understand and apply the principles of good body
mechanics;
Understand the importance of repositioning a loved one
who spends a lot of time in bed;
Recognize how to prevent pressure ulcers; and
Understand how to safely help their loved one move.
Module 4: Assisting with Personal Care
The purpose of the Family Caregiving: Assisting with
Personal Care module is to inform participants how to assist their loved
one with personal care such as bathing, grooming and using the toilet.
After completing this module, participants should:
Recognize the importance of personal care and know when
personal care is needed; and
Understand the caregiving techniques for assisting a
loved one with:
Mouth care;
Grooming;
Dressing and undressing;
Bathing and shampooing; and
Toileting
Module 5: Healthy Eating
The purpose of the Family Caregiving: Healthy Eating
module is to inform caregivers about good nutrition and how to help
their loved one eat. After completing this module, participants should:
Recognize that healthy eating is important for people of
all ages;
Understand basic nutrition; and
Know how to help feed a loved one, if necessary.
Module 6: Caring for the Caregiver
The purpose of this module is to inform caregivers how
to take care of their own health while caring for a loved one. After
completing this module, participants should:
Recognize the signs of caregiver stress;
Identify ways to make time for themselves; and
Understand how to access help from community
organizations such as respite care.
Module 7: Legal and Financial Issues
The purpose of the Family Caregiving: Legal and
Financial Issues module is to inform caregivers about legal and
financial issues that affect them and the loved one for whom they care.
After completing this module, participants should:
Understand the legal issues surrounding caring for
someone and planning his or her health care; and
Understand financial issues such as insurance
information and budgeting.
Module 8: Caring for a Loved One with Alzheimer's
Disease or Dementia
The purpose of the Family Caregiving: Caring for a Loved
One with Alzheimer's Disease or Dementia module is to inform caregivers
how to care for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease or dementia as well
as to handle common behaviors associated with the disease. After
completing this module, participants should:
Understand and know how to deal with the common
behaviors associated with Alzheimer's disease or dementia;
Understand how to provide care for a loved one with
Alzheimer's disease or dementia including daily activities such as
bathing and eating; and
Be able to recognize the signs of depression and
understand that a person who cares for someone with Alzheimer's disease
or dementia is at a risk for depression.
Module 9: Caring for a Loved One with HIV/AIDS
The purpose of the Family Caregiving: Caring for a Loved
One with HIV/AIDS module is to inform caregivers about how to care for a
loved one with HIV/AIDS, the symptoms that may occur and how to provide
emotional support. After completing this module, participants should:
Recognize the symptoms of HIV/AIDS and know how to care
for a loved one with HIV/AIDS;
Understand the facts about HIV/AIDS;
Understand caregiving techniques to help care for a
loved one with HIV/AIDS;
Recognize the risks of infection for a loved one with
HIV/AIDS and know how to reduce those risks; and
Understand the importance of using Universal Precautions
when caring for a loved one with HIV/AIDS.
All
classes will be held at the American Red Cross, Pioneer Valley Chapter,
506 Cottage Street, Springfield MA 01104, unless otherwise noted.
Advance registration is required for all classes.
