Local organization offers caregiver workshop

“There are many resources in east Mississippi that they can turn to. Its just a matter of knowing who they are.” -Ruth Sanders, New Beginnings Adult Day Care Services of East Mississippi

Now that National Adult Day Care Week is here, the New Beginnings Adult Day Care Services of East Mississippi is hosting workshop at the Meridian Community College Workforce Development Building.

“Number one is they do not like to let anyone know the hardship he or she is encountering. When you actually begin that journey, you think it’s going to be a breeze and you can really handle this, but then once you are in that journey, you really need someone to talk to, to help you navigate that path,” says Sanders.

Before walking around and speaking with various vendors in our area that deal in adult care, the local caregivers are able to sit and listen to various speakers on care giving, while they also get the chance to speak with other caregivers and hear their stories.

Administrator and owner of New Beginnings Michelle McCool says, “They have to deal with the day-to-day situations that go on with their loved one. Being able to have these resources for them, to be able to give them a break, or to be able to allow them to work, to be able to keep their loved one at home—its very important.”

At New Beginnings, caregivers can drop off their loved ones, where they will be fed and do activities such as arts and crafts. They also provide services in which their staff can go into a care giver’s home and do things such as clean.

Sanders says, “We wanted to do this because we know there are many caregivers that are unrecognized, they’re really not talking to anyone about it. We wanted to give back to the community and let them know that we do care and that there is hope.”