UC Irvine Extension Offers New Course “Blessings In Time Of Darkness: 10 Crucial Lessons For Caregivers”
Course Designed to Provide Assistance and Relief to Family and Non-Professional Caregivers
IRVINE, Calif. – March 12, 2008 – University of California, Irvine Extension is hosting a new course, “Blessings in Time of Darkness: 10 Crucial Lessons for Caregivers,” to supply family and non-professional caregivers with techniques to better provide support for loved ones and themselves. The five-part class will be held Wednesday evenings beginning April 9 at 7:00 p.m on the UC Irvine campus.
The U. S. Administration on Aging estimates that there are 60 million caregivers nationwide, identified as those who provide assistance for family members facing critical and chronic illness or injuries. The number of caregivers is expected to grow substantially in the coming decades as the population ages. Course instructor Joanne Reynolds will discuss the definition of “caregiver,” the emotional impact of illness and injury, and the physical side effects of caregiving. The course will also provide tips to help caregivers better deal with the stress of assisting of a loved one. Reynolds stresses that those caring for others must look after their health in addition to helping others. She will also talk about her personal experiences providing support for family members.
“I helped five close family members during their illnesses,” said Reynolds. “With each experience I learned a new lesson, which I plan to share with my students. I hope to lead them to the point I am at now without them having to experience the difficulties I went through.”
It is important for the caregiver to be able to advocate on behalf of the patient, which served as the impetus for curriculum behind “10 Crucial Lessons for Caregivers,” which will also teach students how to communicate with medical professionals and interpret medical language. In addition, participants will learn how to create and maintain a medical journal. To register for or learn more about “10 Crucial Lessons for Caregivers,” call (949) 825-5414 or visit http://unex.uci.edu/.
About Joanne Reynolds
Joanne Reynolds, B.A., is the author of “Blessings in Time of Darkness: 10 Crucial Lessons for Caregivers” (2007). Her freelance journalist career in reporting, editing, teaching and nonfiction writing, has spanned a wide range of publications such as the New York Times, to regional and statewide business publications. She has been a caregiver for her mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, father and sister.
About UC Irvine Extension
As the continuing education arm of UCI, UC Irvine Extension is dedicated to providing a university-level learning experience for students, offering thousands of exciting courses and programs to local, regional, and global constituencies. UC Irvine Extension offers a rich array of academic and community programs to support a diverse audience, from a wide selection of academic programs to numerous campus activities. For more information, please visit www.unex.uci.edu.
About the University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Founded in 1965, UCI is among the fastest-growing University of California campuses, with more than 24,000 undergraduate and graduate students and about 1,400 faculty members. The second-largest employer in dynamic Orange County, UCI contributes an annual economic impact of $3.3 billion. For more UCI news, visit www.today.uci.edu.
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