As November is National Family Caregivers Month, the Howard County Office on Aging will host its fourth annual workshop for caregivers, “The Caregiving Journey: Strategies, Support, Success,” on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the North Laurel Community Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road in Laurel. The $10 conference fee includes all materials, continental breakfast and lunch.

The workshop will open with “Taking Care of the Caregiver,” a keynote presentation by Barbara Catlin, highlighting the critical importance of caregivers to make time to nurture themselves.

A member of the Howard County Commission on Aging, Catlin holds a Master of Acupuncture degree and is the executive director of Bigger Conversations, a Columbia-based nonprofit where she teaches Caregiver Wellness Circles for family and professional caregivers.

Following the keynote address, attendees can attend a variety of informative workshops, including the following:

  • Caregiving Basics: An overview of the potential impacts that family caregivers might experience during the inset of becoming a care provider.
  • Legal 101: Learn the different types of Powers of Attorney; Advance Directives; Do Not Resuscitate or Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment; and Guardianship.
  • Managing Someone Else’s Money: Understand how to safely manage someone else’s money or property.
  • Managing Challenging Behaviors: Get practical advice on how to deal with challenging behaviors that can increase caregiver stress and reduce quality of life.
  • Relationship Changes Between Caregiver & Care Recipient: Explore how relationship changes can affect the care partner, and learn to balance the relationships.
  • Activities for Individuals With Cognitive Issues: A certified occupational therapy assistant will provide practical exercises for care partners to encourage cognitive stimulation and engagement in loved ones.
  • Alternate Long-Term Care Living Options: Discuss alternatives for long-term living, including hiring in-home help or moving into a nursing home, and the potential costs of each.
  • Palliative Care: An overview of palliative care (which focuses on providing patients with relief from symptoms and stress) and its benefits for caregivers and care recipients.
  • Coping With Loss and Grief: Examine how loss and the accompanying emotions impact the grief process.

On-site respite care for individuals will be provided by the Office on Aging Senior Center Plus staff. To register (which is required), contact Maryland Access Point of Howard County at 410-313-5980 (voice/relay) by Thursday, Nov. 6, to reserve meals and respite care.

For individuals who do not require respite care, call Lisa Chaney at 410-313-5952 (voice/relay) to register by phone or follow the link at www.howardcountyaging.org/caregiver.