The Catskill Chronicle

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY (July 26, 2015) – Anyone who provides informal care to an elderly family member or friend, enabling them to remain safely at home can join other caregivers at three (3) free, monthly support groups offered in different areas of Sullivan County by Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County (CCESC). All meetings offer educational materials and open discussion for informal caregivers to share concerns, thoughts, and tips on caregiving.

The Caregiver Resource Center of CCESC hosts support group opportunities for caregivers to learn new resources or techniques at three convenient locations.

· Callicoon – Share the Caring: First Wednesday of month, 10:00 am, Lander’s River Café

· Grahamsville – Caring for Caregivers: Second Tuesday of month, 10:00 am, Eureka Market & Café

· Liberty – Caregiver Conversations: Last Wednesday of month, 6:00 pm, Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County Education Center

Walk-ins to meetings are welcome. More information can be obtained by calling CCESC at 845-292-6180 or visiting www.sullivancce.org.

“Nonjudgmental, caring, empathetic, and supportive friendships are fostered with others who are wearing similar ‘hats’,” says Bonnie Lewis, RN, the CCESC dependent care educator. “These support groups rely on problem solving and peer support and aren’t therapy or encounter groups. All members are assured of confidentiality at these free monthly meetings.”

The Caregiver Resource Center is a co-partnered program between Cornell Cooperative Extension and Office for the Aging of Sullivan County and is supported by a grant from the NYS Office for the Aging’s Caregiver Program.