Caring for a seriously ill, disabled or demented parent, spouse, child or friend can be a rewarding experience, but also a difficult and draining job, especially for people who are neither trained nor prepared for that role.  

The Edel Caregiver Institute, a community resource for family caregivers, offers a complimentary Caregiving 101 and a caregiver support group on the fourth Monday of each month.  The institute is at 6000 Business Center Drive, just off Chatham Parkway in Savannah.

Caregiving 101 is offered at noon on the fourth Monday of each month. The free, one-hour class is designed to raise awareness of the importance of self-care by exploring the physical, emotional, psychological and social components of caregiving. Attendees will get tips to deal with the many challenges and gain information on community resources. It is led by an experienced clinical professor and seasoned caregiver.

A Caregiver Support Group is offered at 1:15 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month. This drop-in, one-hour support group provides a safe place to connect with other family caregivers who understand each others’ feelings, needs and concerns. Caregivers may exchange information on caregiving problems and possible solutions and learn about resources available in the community.

For more information, go to www.EdelCaregiverInstitute.org or call 912-629-1331. The institute is a program of not-for-profit Hospice Savannah Inc.