From left, Family Consultant Alexis Glidewell and Community Resources Specialist Kathy Johnson. Courtesy photo.

LAKE AND MENDOCINO COUNTIES – Lake and Mendocino County family members who provide direct care to elders, or who are elders caring for adults, don’t have to feel alone in the valuable service they provide.

Redwood Caregiver Resource Center, a program of North Coast Opportunities funded in part by the Area Agency on Aging, helps family members be better care providers while taking care of themselves.

Twice a month, busy men and women caregivers come together in support groups in Clearlake, Lucerne, Upper Lake and Ukiah and discuss their challenges and successes. Tips of the trade, laughter and KIeenex abound.

The agency also offers training workshops, respite,and one-on-one counseling sessions for caregivers who seek guidance outside of a support group setting.

Many individuals first learn about these supports when they call Community Care’s Senior Information & Assistance hotline at 1-800-510-2020.

“A caregiver who is going it alone may call us in times of stress or change to see what supports are out there to help,” said Community Resources Specialist Kathy Johnson.

“We make a point of telling the caller that when a family works with Redwood Caregiver Resource Center, it’s the caregiver who is the ‘client’ – not the care recipient – which can be a surprise to someone whose energies are so devoted to the care needs of another,” she said. “Community Care feels this work is so important that our office is the host site for the Ukiah support group.”

To learn more about available caregiver services, workshops coming in the fall, or to speak to a family consultant contact Redwood Caregiver Resource Center at 1-800-834-1636.

For general information on resources for seniors contact Senior Information & Assistance at 1-800-510-2020 or 707-468-5132.