Caregivers' Practical Help. A Six Session Course for Informal Caregivers = Ayuda Practica para las Personas Que Cuidan a Envejecientes. Curso de Seis Sesiones para las Personas Que Informalmente Cuidan a Envejecientes.

This document is a six-session course designed for those individuals who provide care to their homebound elderly relatives and friends and who need practical information and skills to support their caregiving role. The course helps caregivers identify and use community services. It provides an opportunity to acquire personal care skills and knowledge about the issues related to caregiving. The course is intended to reduce caregivers' stress, enables them to provide better care, and avoid the unnecessary institutionalization of their homebound elderly. It is also for the elderly who want to learn more about themselves, their peers, and the aging process. The course helps participants to: (1) increase their understanding and knowledge of the aging process; (2) understand the psychological and medical problems associated with aging; (3) acquire personal care skills; (4) identify and resolve common problems associated with caregiving; (5) acquire a knowledge of community resources and their function; and (6) develop and express ways to help themselves while helping their elderly relatives maintain active and productive lives. This course is divided into six 2-hour sessions: (1) the psychological aspects of caregiving; (2) medical problems of aging; (3) age-related changes in vision, hearing, and speech; (4) finding and using community resources; (5) personal care skills development for informal caregiver; and (6) assessing the situation--where do you go from here. Five appendices are included: a glossary of new terms; a home safety checklist; a care-receiver information page; a medication list; 17 suggested readings; and 102 resource organizations. (NLA)