Education

If you're newly caring for a loved one or have been providing care for many years, our caregiver education classes can help. Our caregiver education classes are specifically designed for unpaid or informal caregivers and will help you learn skills to better care for yourself and your loved one.  These classes include:

Day-to-Day Caregiving
Are you caring for a loved one at home? Would you like to learn some practical skills and tips for helping with day-to-day personal care? In this class, we will talk about activities of daily living, creating routines, incontinence issues, equipment and assistive devices, nutrition, community resources, and more.

Dementia Caregiving
Caring for someone with dementia or Alzheimer's? Join us for some tips related to dementia caregiving. We will talk about what dementia is, ideas for preparing for the road ahead, developing our caregiver toolboxes, communication issues, and creating routines.

Powerful Tools for Caregivers – Six-week workshop
Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a six-week workshop open to spouses, partners, adult children, and friends caring for a loved one at home. Classes provide you with tools and tips to handle the unique challenges your face better. Learn to reduce personal stress, communicate effectively, deal with difficult feelings, and more.      

The general education sessions can help provide resources and information about multiple topics of concern for older adults and their families. These classes include:

Brain Health & Aging 
The brain is our most complex organ. It is also one of the most important. That’s why keeping it healthy is critical now and as we age. Join us as we learn about the basics of brain health, including ways to promote healthy aging and reduce potential threats to brain health.

Legal & Financial Issues
Ever wonder what it means to “Get your affairs in order?” Confused by the different names of financial and healthcare documents? Join us for an overview of legal and financial planning. This class will help you learn how to choose a decision-maker, how to make your choice “official,” and how to share your wishes with others. You will learn about powers of attorney, advance care planning, POLST forms, trusts and wills, and other resources to help you get started.

Staying Well: Emotional Wellness
Developing and maintaining wellness is a lifelong journey. In this workshop, you’ll learn skills to evaluate and improve emotional wellness, understand the connection between your emotions and other aspects of your life, manage your feelings, build a strong support system, and cope with changes and challenges.

Taming the Medicine Cabinet 
Many Americans take at least one medication, and 20% take five or more. Keeping track of your medications can be challenging. Join us as we explore some common causes of medication errors and the challenges most people face. We will also identify practical tips that anyone can use, including how to take back medications that are expired or no longer needed.

ABCs of a Successful Doctor Visit 
Have you ever left your doctor’s office wishing you could have more time? In today’s primary care visit, time is short, with many issues to cover. How can you be effective and respectful of your doctor’s time and get the answers you want? This session explores how to make the most of a doctor's visit.  In this class, we review some of the most important ways people can be prepared by applying common health advocacy skills.

Getting fit just got a lot more fun!

Enhance Fitness is an evidence-based group exercise program. It helps older adults (age 60+) become more active, energized and empowered to sustain independent lives.

All older adults are welcome! Instructors tailor the exercises to ability, from seated to full mobility.

Pre-registration is not currently required, but please arrive 10-15 minutes early for your first session to complete onsite registration. Donations are welcome, but not required.

Class schedule:

• Battle Ground/Brush Prairie
  Wednesday/Friday
  8:30-9:30am
  -or-
  10-11am
  Instructor: Barbara
  Bethel Lutheran Church
  12919 NE 159th Street
  Brush Prairie, WA 98606
• Camas
  Monday/Wednesday/Friday
  10:30-11:30am
  Instructor: Laurie
  Lacamas Lake Lodge
  227 NE Lake Road
  Camas, WA 98607
• Washougal
  Monday/Wednesday/Friday
  8:30-9:30am
  Instructor: Laurie
  Washougal Citizen Center
  1681 C Street
  Washougal, WA 98671

We have hundreds of low-cost ideas that provide unique and easy solutions to common problems that occur while doing everyday activities. These videos help seniors and family caregivers with free, personalized advice to enhance health, independence, and aging-in-place.

These patient education tools were developed to help people learn about common chronic health conditions and support disease self-management. Green flags indicate health, yellow flags indicate warnings, and red flags indicate emergencies.