Powerful Tools for Caregivers Class this fall

A class for family caregivers is to be offered in International Falls this autumn. 

Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a six-session course designed to teach skills to enhance caregivers’ own well being as they care for an older family member or friend. The class will be open to all family caregivers and will meet Mondays from 1 to 3:30 p.m. from October 6 to November 10 at the Forestland Annex in International Falls. A $30.00 donation is recommended to cover the cost of a help book. Call Koochiching Aging Options with questions or to register at (218) 283-7030. Registration is due by September 30, 2014.

ACT on Alzheimer's Surveys Community

Volunteers of the Greater International Falls ACT on Alzheimer’s initiative are currently calling on community members to ask them about their knowledge of dementia and the supports available to those who suffer from a loss of cognitive ability due to a dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease.

The goal of the Greater International Falls ACT on Alzheimer’s initiative, part of a statewide volunteer collaborative, is to help the community become more dementia friendly.

Here Pastor Irv Arnquist, a member of the Greater International Falls ACT on Alzheimer’s action team, interviews community member Elaine Beach. Nearly 70 individuals have been interviewed about their knowledge of dementia and the community’s support of those affected by it. Surveys will be used to set priorities of action towards becoming a dementia friendly community.”

The local project, one of 32 participating communities in Minnesota, has been following a community toolkit divided into four stages. First, an action team of interested individuals was convened early this summer. That team is now surveying representatives of various sectors of the community. The results of those surveys will be analyzed later this year to determine priorities for action. Finally, steps will be taken to address one or more of the identified priorities.

 “We are anxious to see what our survey of community members reveals. And we hope to be setting goals for action by the end of the year,” said Meadows. “We invite anyone interested to join the effort.”   Meadows can be reached at 286-5622 or meadows@midco.net.