by Cori Hilsgen
A “Will You be Selected” presentation about caregiving will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, March 14 at the Church of St. Joseph parish center.
Church of St. Joseph health and wellness minister Marjorie Henkemeyer and community educator Kathy Gilbride, from the Central Minnesota Council on Aging, will introduce the concepts of caregiving and ways to assist individuals and others to understand the role of the caregiver.
They will help identify signs and sources of stress and then discuss tools for managing that stress.
Henkemeyer and Gilbride will offer four steps to reducing stress for both the caregiver and the care receiver.
They will also present information about an upcoming workshop “Powerful Tools for Caregivers.”
According to their information, an estimated 736,000 Minnesotans are currently doing some form of caregiving.
One in six people, ages 18 and older, provide regular care or assistance to a friend or family member with health problems, long-term illness, or disability.
People who are caregivers have an even greater chance of developing health issues due to the stress of being a caregiver.
One very important thing caregivers can do, for themselves and for their care receiver, is to take care of themselves.
The event is hosted by the Central Minnesota Council on Aging, Father Werner Council 7057 Knights of Columbus and the Church of St. Joseph Health and Wellness Committee.