Published: July 01, 2009 04:50 pm      

“Caring in the Cumberlands” 2009 Caregiver Workshop & Home Health Care Expo is “awesome”

The first community forum sponsored by Fairfield Glade Resident Services (FGRS) last October attracted more than 300 attendees and garnered enthusiastic comments. That forum featured an overview of safety and security services available for Glade residents. The four hour Caregiver Workshop and Home Health Care Exposition, held Thursday, June 18, at the Community & Conference Center, was more ambitious. Additional sponsors included the Upper Cumberland Development District Area Agency on Aging & Disability and the Alzheimer’s Association of East TN, with special contributions from the Fairfield Glade Community Club, the Good Samaritan Society-Fairfield Glade, Saint Thomas Health Services, and Cumberland Medical Center and its Wellness Centers. There were 32 exhibitors, including AARP, American Cancer Society, National Stroke Association, and Hospice of Cumberland County, to name a few. The resulting presentations were professional, educational, and entertaining for the 130 attendees from five counties and six cities in our region. If you missed this event, don’t make it a habit. The FGRS forums, workshops, and seminars are targeted for the needs of Fairfield Glade residents and our neighbors. “Caring in the Cumberlands” will be held annually. Please think about the following quote in the program’s guide and schedule:

“There are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers. That pretty much covers all of us…” Rosalyn Carter

This event was definitely worth the price of admission; it was free but invaluable. The schedule included expert presentations on “The Stress Mess/Mind Relaxation; Body Relaxation; Caregiver Coping/Support Groups; and a panel discussion by medical experts that included Q & A with the audience. Joan Fredericks continues to be an excellent organizer and moderator for the events, and Ken Schuning, as president of the FGRS, has provided outstanding, productive leadership.

The evaluation forms turned in by attendees aptly summarized the event. Two thirds rated the event excellent, one third as good; there were no fair or poor ratings. Comments included: “Very helpful, thank you. Well done! Wonderful facility, acoustics were great! Great workshop, fun and educational. Everything was great!” And the verbal comment I overheard, “Awesome!”