North Dakota State University (NDSU) and South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension will hold a three-part webinar series geared toward anyone who helps a family elder or friend with routine tasks, from errands and chores to complex medical care.

According to Jane Strommen, NDSU Extension gerontology specialist, nearly 150,000 people in North Dakota and South Dakota provide this kind of care. In 2017, these dedicated individuals provided 124 million hours of care and the total economic value of this care was $2.02 million, according to data from American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

All three webinars will be held at noon CST. Dates, topics and speakers for the Caregiver Learning Workshops are as follows:

Jan. 27 — Susan E. Johnson-Drenth, Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA), will present on Estate and Elder Law Planning.

Feb. 24 — Representatives from the Alzheimer’s Association, Parkinson’s Foundation, North Dakota Department of Human Services (DHS) and South Dakota DHS will cover how these support organizations can help caregivers as they assist friends and loved ones affected by Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and other life-changing diagnoses.

March 24 — Heather Fuller, Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Science at NDSU, will discuss planning considerations for adults who are aging without a spouse or family nearby.

Each Caregiver Learning Workshop will be hosted via Zoom. However, anyone without a computer or cell phone can participate as long as they have a phone that is capable of dialing long distance telephone numbers. For assistance with this, please contact Leacey Brown, SDSU Extension gerontology field specialist, at 605-394-172 or Leacey.Brown@sdstate.edu.

“Because each Caregiver Learning Workshop will be hosted via Zoom, organizations that serve older adults and family caregivers are being encouraged to host watch parties for the people they serve,” says Strommen. “Contact your local library, community or senior center to see if they are hosting a watch party in your area.”

Any organization that would like to host a watch party can also reach out to Brown for support.

There is no cost to participate. Please register by visiting the SDSU Extension events page https://extension.sdstate.edu/events

NDSU Agriculture Communication – Jan. 11, 2022

Source: Jane Strommen, 701-430-0672, jane.strommen@ndsu.edu

Editor: Kristin Harner, 701-235-7875, kristin.harner@ndsu.edu