Elder Care Workshop

CLEVELAND, TN – The community is invited to a free Elder Care Workshop on Saturday, Nov. 4, 8:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in the Humanities Building on the Cleveland State Community College campus. Topics will include care options, safety and physical activity, fall prevention, technology assistance for elder safety, communication strategies, advanced directives information and more.

“Our goal is to provide as many resources as possible to help members of our community better understand how to assist elders, provide protective measures for elders, share helpful caregiver support tips, and prepare ourselves for the next life stage as we age,” stated Melodee Alexander, Cleveland State Associate Professor of Psychology.

Alexander continued, “I first began attending Elder Care educational programs because my heart has always been drawn to the stages of life from the midpoint onward. When we were young, we couldn’t wait to be older. When we became adults, we looked forward to the next stage of life. When we realized we were middle-aged, we chose to stop looking ahead and planning because our attention was drawn toward being part of the lives around us. Then, we began to realize that we age, whether we planned or not, we age. This is not a bad thing, but we do need to prepare in every way possible: psychologically, emotionally, physically and financially. Let’s embrace this later stage with joy and preparedness. If we learn now, we can better prepare younger generations for successful aging.”

Middle-age is an ideal time to prepare for elder care. If you are now beyond “middle-age,” there’s no better time than today to prepare for the future. This workshop is also for those who have a passion for helping elders.

Keynote speakers are Wendy Stewart, Southeast Area Agency on Aging and Disability Information and Assistance Specialist/SNAP Benefits Coordinator, and Alexis Hughes, Death Doula and Alzheimer’s Association Walk Manager. Breakout sessions will be led by Cleveland State faculty.

Cleveland State nursing students will offer biometric and preventative services.

“On behalf of Cleveland State, we are excited to offer what we think will be some very useful information for members of our community again this year,” stated Dr. Ryan Thompson, Dean of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences at Cleveland State.  “As my father-in-law’s health deteriorated several years ago, watching my wife’s family work together to meet his needs was inspiring. But it also gave me plenty to reflect on as I thought about what my parents and grandparents might need as well. The workshops over the last several years have been extremely helpful in providing me with a lot of answers to those questions, and I am looking forward to getting more answers this year.”

For more information or to RSVP for the event, go to https://forms.gle/YqQ344ZrsnW7bx7i7.