The upcoming 2023 Pierce County Caregiver Conference aims to provide crucial assistance and resources to thousands of caregivers in the area who support loved ones with serious health conditions. Organized by Pierce County Aging and Disability Resources in collaboration with the Health Care Providers Council, this half-day virtual event will take place on Tuesday, June 13th, and is open to both paid and unpaid family caregivers. Advanced registration is mandatory and can be completed by visiting the conference’s registration page.
Running from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the conference will feature a series of 30-minute workshops covering various topics including Specialized Virtual Care, Hospice, Assistive Devices, Legal Planning, and Senior Driving. Attendees will have access to handouts, workshop materials, caregiving tools, and community resources online before and after the conference. Notably, paid in-home caregivers who participate may be eligible to receive up to two hours of continuing education (CE) credits from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).
Aaron Van Valkenburg, Manager of Pierce County Aging and Disability Resources, emphasized the importance of supporting caregivers who play a vital role in enabling their loved ones to remain at home for as long as possible.
“Nearly 900,000 unpaid family caregivers in our state provide 80% of the services their loved ones need to remain in home for as long as possible,” said Van Valkenburg. “These caregivers need support to continue their ongoing caregiver activities and to ensure their own mental and physical health stays intact while coping with related challenges.”
For more information about the conference, including presentations and registration assistance, individuals can visit www.PierceCountyWA.gov/Caregiver. Alternatively, they can contact the Pierce County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 253-798-4600 or 800-562-0332.
