Contact: Peggy Evans Phone: (816) 671-8543
Title:      Assistant Administrator/Residential Services Director
Email:    Peggy.Evans@bhshealth.org

CAREGIVER’S FORUM TO SHARE “BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY: GIVNG AND RECEIVING”

May 1, 2004 – St. Joseph, MO -- “Both Sides of the Story: Giving and Receiving” will be the theme of the next Caregiver’s Forum to be held June 5 from 8:30 a.m. to Noon at the 36 Street Restaurant, La Dolce Vita Room, 501 North Belt, St. Joseph, MO. Registration and breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m. The cost is $5 per person, but scholarships are available.

Marilyn Johnston Fitzgerald, Advance Practice Nurse, will address the “Emotional Rollercoaster of Caregiving” while sharing her experience of caring for her loved one. Dennis King will address “The Other Side of the Story: Receiving Care” while sharing his role as care recipient. He will be able to express the feelings he has experience such as love, anger, resentment, frustration, fear, joy, and sorrow. In addition, the audience will be invited to provide feedback for a community needs assessment for the aging population. To close the morning program, Jim Arnold will provide entertainment with music of the 40’s and 50’s. Martha Wakely, of Interfaith Care Teams, will serve as master of ceremony.

The Caregiver’s Forum was developed in the fall of 2002 in an effort to provide validation for the journey of caregiving, and as an opportunity to offer information and education by empowering the caregiver. The program is designed to honor the daily commitments made by caregivers with inspiration, humor and advice.

Sponsors include the Alzheimer’s Association, Faith in Action Interfaith Care Teams, Heartland Hands of Hope Hospice, Heartland Palliative Care, Heartland Senior Health Coordinator, Kendallwood Hospice, Living Community of St. Joseph, Office of Minority Health and Senior Services, Senior Link, and the Vintage Group.

For more information and to register for the Caregiver’s Forum, call (816) 364-4467.