NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Delos V. Smith Senior Center is continuing a support group dealing with caregiving. The group's next meeting is Tuesday, March 14. Caregiver Burnout: Causes, Symptoms & Prevention is the topic this month. This group was prompted by a meeting between Hospice and the Senior Center in 2022.
"They were talking about, kind of meeting the needs of the community," said Tara Dahlstrom with Hospice. "They felt like one opportunity to do that was to host a caregiver support group there. Years ago, probably ten years ago, we hosted a caregiver support group for maybe four or five years, but it's hard for those caregivers to be able to get away to come to the support group, so we needed to do something where the caregiver and the person who they were caring for could also attend. Being at Delos V. Smith Senior Center, there's lots of opportunity to have both of the individuals there at the same time."
As the population ages, more caregiving is being provided by family members in the home. Being a caregiver is a unique job and often full-time or more. The Caregiver Support Group will offer information, resources and strategies for anyone caring for a loved one over age 55. This group is not disability or illness specific.
"The connection that you can make with other caregivers is important," Dahlstrom said. "Just having a little bit of time to sit and process what you're going through, share good times, share bad times, their frustrations. It just gives you a little bit of a community of people who are dealing with very similar things."
The support group will meet at 1 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month and be facilitated by Stacy Goss with Hospice and Homecare of Reno County. All sessions will be held at the Delos V. Smith Senior Center at 101 W. First St. in Hutchinson. Meetings are free of charge, no RSVP is required.
"It's not just mentally, it's physically and emotionally exhausting to be the sole caregiver of some other person and to carry the burden of everything," Dahlstrom said. "People suffer from depression, or things that they used to enjoy, they aren't able to. They are withdrawing. They are tired often. They feel overwhelmed, or they are worried. Am I doing something right or wrong? To be able to reach out and have the support system that you need, to continue to do truly what you want to do. You want to care for those people. You just need to figure out a way to do it and also maintain your own mental health, as well."
For additional information on the meeting, call Jody at 620-662-0111.
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