These are the final three modules of the CARES® Activities of Daily Living™ training program. Participants who complete all 10 modules will receive a certificate of completion and will be eligible for CARES® Dementia Certification. 

Everyone is welcome to attend this training opportunity even if they missed the previous modules. Make-up sessions for previous modules will be held in January. 

The December training schedule is as follows:

Module 8 – Mouth Care:

• 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 1 or
• 10 a.m. – noon, Saturday, Dec. 4

Module 9 – Using the Bathroom:

• 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 8 or
• 10 a.m. – noon, Saturday, Dec. 11

Module 10 – Mobility, Transferring, and Positioning:

• 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 15 or
• 10 a.m. – noon, Saturday, Dec. 18

CARES® was created by HealthCare Interactive®, an organization that specializes in online training for caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. All of the CARES® training programs were developed in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association and include evidence-based strategies grounded in the Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Care Practice Recommendations. 

Support group sessions

In addition to the CARES® program, the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program offers additional online support groups for family caregivers of persons with dementia every Wednesday evening and Saturday morning year-round. The sessions are free of charge to partners, family members, and other caregivers of persons with dementia who have ties to Guam and the Micronesian region. 

Additional support group sessions in December:

“Christmas in Guam and Around the World” Virtual Tour

• 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 22

Each participant will be invited to share a story, photo, or video that brings to life how their family celebrated Christmas when they were growing up in Guam or elsewhere. 

Sharing Caregiver Stories and Finding Support:

• 6 p.m. – 8 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 29

What to expect

All support groups are client-centered and confidential. They provide a safe place to share the stresses and challenges, successes, and rewards of caring for a loved one with dementia with others who may be going through similar experiences. They also provide a forum for caregivers to participate in presentations led by health care professionals and other community members with expertise in dementia care. 

The support groups are facilitated by Iain Twaddle from the University of Guam who holds a doctorate in clinical psychology and is a licensed clinical psychologist; Rhoda Orallo, a social worker with Health Services of the Pacific who holds a master’s in social work; and Nikolas Gutierrez, a G/M GWEP counselor who holds a bachelor’s in psychology. 

How to participate

To attend a family caregiver online support group, use the following Zoom links: 

• Wednesday Support Group (6 p.m. – 8 p.m.) https://zoom.us/j/92072878067
• Saturday Support Group (10 a.m. – noon) https://zoom.us/j/91243370958

For more information, contact Iain Twaddle or Nikolas Gutierrez at (671) 735-2883 or gwep.tgss@triton.uog.edu or Rhoda Orallo at (671) 735-3277 or nfcspmgr@teleguam.net. 

This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of an award totaling $757,208 with zero percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. government. Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program Award #: 6 U1QHP33078‐03‐01. 

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