Family Caregivers Membership Services

Education/Support Courses
Caregiving 101 - A two-hour class covering the core physical techniques of
caregiving. Learn to safely transfer a care recipient from bed to chair, commode
or shower. Learn practical tools to better deal with the emotional and physical
challenges of caregiving. Taught by qualified medical instructors, this class will
provide hands-on training and provide time to have all your caregiving concerns
addressed .
Understanding a Cancer diagnosis - A forty-five minute class taught by a
qualified medical professional that explores cancer and the probable progression,
treatment and prognosis of the disease. Additional time will be allotted for
questions, discussions, support and learning from the instructor(s) and
caregivers who understand the stresses of your situation.
Understanding a Cardio-Pulmonary diagnosis - A forty-five minute class
taught by a qualified medical professional that explores cardiovascular and
pulmonary diseases and the probable progression, treatment and prognosis of
heart or lung disease. Additional time will be allotted for questions, discussions,
support and learning from the instructor(s) and caregivers who understand the
stresses of your situation.
Understanding a Diabetes diagnosis - A forty-five minute class taught by
a qualified medical professional that explores the probable progression,
treatment and prognosis of diabetes. Ample time will be allotted for questions,
discussions, support and learning from the instructor(s) and caregivers who
understand the stresses of your situation.

Understanding a Dementia diagnosis - A forty-five minute class taught by a

qualified medical professional that explores the probable progression, treatment
and prognosis of dementia or Alzheimers disease. Additional time will be
allotted for questions, discussions, support and learning from the instructor(s)
and caregivers who understand the stresses of your situation.
Understanding a Kidney Disease diagnosis - A forty-five minute class
taught by a qualified medical professional that explores the probable progression,
treatment and prognosis of kidney disease. Additional time will be allotted for
questions, discussions, support and learning from the instructor(s) and
caregivers who understand the stresses of your situation.
Hospice and Palliative Care 101 - So many people are afraid of the H word!
And few understand palliative care. Both provide pain and symptom
management but they are very different medical specialties. This forty-five
minute workshop is designed to clearly outline the differences between the two
and who and how they can help. You will have time to have all your questions
answered as we explain the extraordinary help and support that hospice and
palliative care can provide.
Understanding your Medications Do you sometimes worry about the
medications prescribed? Are there too many? Not enough? Is each doctor
prescribing these medications aware of additional prescriptions from other
physicians? Are these medications working? Are they all necessary? If these are
questions youve asked yourself, then this class, led by a qualified pharmacist will
be of great help to you.

Please know all courses and consultations are intended to be generalized

education, support and resources designed for caregivers. Specific medical
diagnosis and treatments should always be provided by your personal
physician.

Wellness Courses
Nutrition for both Care Recipient and Caregiver - You may wonder what
your day-to-day nutritional choices have to do with being a caregiver. The food
that you eat affects your moods, overall health and immune system. When you
experience the ongoing stress of caregiving, good nutrition becomes critical to
maintain your health and well-being. In addition to nutritional guidance to help
you feel strong and healthy, this one-hour class will address how your loved ones
nutritional needs may change as his or her disease progresses.
Caregiver Stress Relief Schedule some relaxation time just for you! This
one-hour class incorporates basic yoga poses, centering meditation, spiritual care
and support.
Caregiver Support Group - Our drop-in, one-hour support group provides a
safe place to connect with other caregivers who truly understand what you are
going through. Exchange practical information on caregiving problems and
possible solutions; talk through challenges and ways of coping; share feelings,
needs and concerns; and learn about resources available in our community.
Youre not alone.
Life Story - A one-hour class teaching you tools and techniques to record your
loved ones story. Gathered tales can become family heirlooms held close to the
heart. They are a gift to each generation that preserves them by remembering
them and passing them on to future generations. Every life matters and every life
has a story worth keeping. Ample time will be allotted to engage in
communication with other caregivers in attendance and with the presenters.
Advocacy A one-hour advocacy class presented by two experienced caregivers.
It is important to be an advocate for yourself and your care recipient. This class
is designed to assist you with having an active voice in communicating with
health care professionals, employers and others. Ample time will be allotted to
engage in communication with other caregivers in attendance and with the
presenters.
Balancing Work and Caregiving: the Juggling Act - If youre currently
caring for a loved one, chances are you often feel overwhelmed by the difficulty of
balancing these responsibilities, your home, and maintaining your job. This fortyfive minute class will explore how to talk to your employer about your caregiving
responsibilities and help you access community resources and helpful options.
Additional time will be allotted to engage in communication with other caregivers
in attendance and with the presenters.

Legal/Financial Courses
The Conversation Project Ensuring that every persons end of life
wishes are expressed and respected. How do you have that awkward,
uncomfortable, unsettling conversation about what happens when? This fortyfive minute class, led by Dr. Kathleen Benton, Director of Clinical Ethics at St.
Josephs /Candler and Mark Schaeffer, Elder Law Attorney and the creator of the
metro Savannah chapter of The Conversation Project will explain how to set your
priorities, choose an advocate, document your choice and understand the ethical
dilemmas that often surround end of life care for every member of your family.
Additional time will be allotted to engage in communication with other caregivers
in attendance and with the presenters.
Understanding Medicare/Medicaid - A forty- five minute class explaining
the benefits of Medicare and Medicaid as well as the steps necessary to qualify
and or receive benefits. Additional time will be allotted to engage in
communication with other caregivers in attendance and with the presenters.
Caregiving and Finances - Caregiving involves more than just medical issues.
This forty-five minute class helps you understand medical bills, hospital bills,
private insurance and long term care insurance. We will share tips on finding
programs that may help to pay for the costs of prescription drugs, health care,
utilities, and other essential items or services. Additional time will be allotted to
engage in communication with other caregivers in attendance and with the
presenters.

Additional Services available for Edel Family Caregiver Members

Reduced rates for day time respite at local assisted living facilities.
Caregiving 101 skills follow up support.
Resource information and referrals to necessary community services.
Individual consultations for disease specific education with fourth year
medical residents. By appointment.
Social work support.
Discounted rates on local agency sitter services.
In-home respite care scholarships for qualified individuals.

Edel Caregiver Institute Community Services

(Made available at no cost through community sponsorships)
Orientation - If you are overwhelmed trying to care for someone with a serious
diagnosis, you are not alone. Learn how the Edel Caregiver Institute can help care
for you - the caregiver - as well as the care recipient in this thirty-minute
overview of our services. Contact ECI at 629-1331 to schedule a presentation in
your community.
Caregiving 101 - A two-hour class covering the core physical techniques of
caregiving. Learn to safely transfer a care recipient from bed to chair, commode
or shower. Learn practical tools to better deal with the emotional and physical
challenges of caregiving. Taught by qualified clinical instructors this class will
allow you to have hands-on training as well as have any of your caregiving
concerns addressed and questions answered.
Dealing with Dementia Behaviors A guide to empower caregivers-helping
caregivers smile more and scream less. This is a four hour class that will help the
family caregiver gain a better understanding of the impact of dementia on care
recipient behaviors. (Offered through the Rosalyn Carter Institute for Care
Givers)
Powerful Tools for Caregivers The Powerful Tools for Caregivers program
is a once a week for six weeks program that will provide you with tools and
strategies to better handle the unique caregiver challenges you face. (Offered
twice a year through the Area Agency on Aging)
Effective Communication Strategies - Communication is more than just
talking and listening; its also about sending and receiving messages in other
ways. Explore how communication takes place when someone has Alzheimers
disease. (Offered by the Alzheimers Association)

Course calendar subject to change. Please consult website

www.edelcaregiverinstutute.org or call 629-1331 for up to date schedules.
*Please note that membership scholarships are available
ECI staff can provide specific information *