Bernalillo County Probate Judge Cristy Carbon-Gaul is the keynote speaker for Saturday’s Annual Caregiver Day at Santa Fe Community College. Courtesy photo
BY BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
LARSO Executive Director
Caregivers have an opportunity Saturday, April 9, to fill the well and learn about new tips and tools for navigating what can be a difficult journey. ‘Education, Compassion and Empowerment’ is the theme for the 2022 Annual Caregiver Day and registration has never been easier.
The pandemic has seen a large number of people decline without the normal amounts of socialization and the Memory Care Alliance is here to help. They have just what you need, when it comes to information, resources, events and more. This Saturday, you can join them at Santa Fe Community College in Santa Fe for New Mexico Caregiver Day.
“Caregivers should attend, not only to have the opportunity to learn invaluable information, but to experience The Memory Care Alliance community and share with other caregivers.” said Executive Director David Davis. “Knowing that a caregiver is not alone is very empowering.”
A new addition to the line-up is that the event will include an opportunity to receive the second booster shot for COVID -19 for those interested in one. The keynote speaker, Judge Cristy Carbon-Gaul, will highlight the legal and financial needs that every caregiver must know. Judge Carbon-Gaul has practiced estate planning, guardianship and probate for more than 20 years and is the Probate Judge for Bernalillo County.
Davis is over the moon with the ability to offer the opportunity in person.
“On a scale of 1 – 10 my excitement is about a 57,” he said. “Being able to give caregivers in our community this opportunity is one of the most important parts of our mission.”
Davis has engaged family members from across the state throughout the pandemic, providing educational opportunities, a morale boost for caregivers, on-line meetings and some get out and go field trips.
There will be 25 different vendors, sessions on palliative care, grief and loss, why do I have stress and more. Sierra Vista and Vista Hermosa are two of the sponsors and will have staff on hand at the conference. The suggested conference fee of $20 includes all presentations and will include lunch.
“The greatest resource caregivers have that goes mostly untapped is each other,” said Davis. “There is respite care available, on site.”
The event will be held at Santa Fe Community College and runs from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. To volunteer during the day or learn more about the conference, call (505) 310-9752 or check out their website at www.thememorycarealliance.org
The Memory Care Alliance also offers free classes the first and third Tuesday of the month at the Betty Ehart Senior Center in Los Alamos. Call them at (505) 662-8920 for details or a newsletter.