People need to laugh 15 times a day to be healthy, but even once a day is difficult when a person is taking care of an aging adult.

If you are one of the many unpaid caregivers who feel tired and exhausted from the daily stresses of caregiving, here's a program for you.

Taking Care of You: Powerful Tools for Caregiving is a free six week class for those providing care for functionally disabled adults still living at home.

From caregivers who have taken this class we hear, "We didn't know how to laugh until we came to this class."   And from another, "About the time class began, I was about at my wits end.  The communication tools will work toward maintaining a better atmosphere and contribute to improved attitudes for both of us...it will never be easy, but it is easier than it was 6 weeks ago."

Each class participant will receive a book to accompany the class content.  This book has 14 chapters including:

    Hiring in-home help
    Helping memory-impaired elders
    Making legal and financial decisions
    Making decisions about care facility placement.
    Understanding depression
    Making decisions about driving

This class will show caregivers how to: control stress, communicate more effectively, make difficult decisions and find support.  Participants in the "Powerful Tools" program learn techniques and are directed to resources that help address those needs.  In addition, they are guided through the process of establishing an action plan to help them take care of themselves.  Powerful Tools classes do not focus on disease process.

TIPS FOR CAREGIVERS DEALING WITH STRESS
How can caregivers better deal with stress, while greatly increasing the quality of care and quality of life for the person with the disease? Here are some steps you might consider:

1. Learn as much about the disease as possible. Every disease has stages of progression, requiring different caregiving skills and capabilities.

2.   Do legal and financial planning. Consult an elder-law attorney on such planning tools as: power of attorney, a will, a living trust and a living will. Financial planning is also essential, since expenses could include long-term care.

3.  Know what resources are available to help you. For example, meals-on-wheels, adult day services, home health agencies, and other respite programs can benefit both you and your loved one by giving you a break.

4. Get help. Trying to do it all by yourself will exhaust you; you might even wind up sick yourself.  

5. Take care of yourself.  It's easy for caregivers to devote themselves totally to their loved ones and neglect their own needs. 

6. Give yourself credit; not guilt. Too often, caregivers focus only on what they have not done. Remind yourself of the things you have done well.

7. Join a caregiver support group and attend Powerful Tools for Caregivers classes.