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There are some careers you study and train for. Others you tend to learn on the job. Family caregivers tend to fall into the latter category as soon as illness or accident strikes.

The house is a hands-on resource lab for caregivers. They can learn how to upgrade the home to help senior and disabled patients maximize their independence. See the catalog.

The Foundation for Senior Living is offering a series of classes this month to help Valley caregivers — professional or not — learn to better care for their patients and improve their quality of life. All classes will be held at the Foundation for Senior Living’s Caregiver House, 1201 E. Thomas Rd.

The Caregiver House offers a hands-on approach for family and professional caregivers. One side of the house shows a traditional bedroom and bathroom while the other shows the same rooms designed with limited-mobility residents in mind. The adaptive measures patients maintain a degree of independence and dignity and ease the homecare process for the caregiver. The 3,800-square-foot home opened three years ago.

• 12:30-4:30 p.m. March 11 Medic First Aid/CPR — Course presents easy-to-learn emergency techniques so you can immediately and confidently respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies, AED use and basic first aid measures. Students will earn a First Aid/CPR card (Fee: $35)
• 10 a.m.-noon Fruits and Vegetables: The Secret to Better Health — Improve your diet. Increasing fruits and vegetables will reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. It will also reduce the risk of cancer.
• 10 a.m.-3 p.m. March 13 Power Over Pain Conference — A free conference for those experiencing chronic pain, caregivers and other healthcare professionals. You’ll learn about the latest issues. Reserve your spot by calling Barby (480) 502-5818.

Remaining March classes will teach family and professional caregivers about bathing and skin care plus dimentia and support strategies. For more information, call (602) 285-1800 x321.

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  (image from FSL catalog)

  12:30-4 p.m. March 19 Bathing and Skin Care — This session will cover personal care skills such as bathing, skin care, and incontinence management. Class includes a demonstration using a manikin and various medical devices (Fee: $20).

• 8:30-noon March 24 Dementia Overview – Get an overview of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and the various stages and supportive care available for each. (Fee: $20)

If these classes or times don’t work for your schedule, check back for the quarterly schedule. The April-June schedule should be available shortly.