Meet the Savvy Caregiver Instructors: Liz Aguilo (left) is a clinical social worker, Executive Director of Paine Senior Services, and Vice President of the Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) Board of Directors. Nathaniel Meyer (right) is a licensed Social Worker with the SCES Adult Family Care program.

By Nathan Lamb

A free training program that provides family caregivers with skills and knowledge about dementia is returning to Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) in May.

Registration is now open for the next round of Savvy Caregiver training, which starts May 9. The six-session program emphasizes practical training that helps family caregivers navigate the many challenges of dementia.

The curriculum includes an overview of dementia and its various stages, along with how its progression can impact daily life.  The training includes a lecture component, but it also highly interactive, with a focus on developing practical tools and strategies that fit the participant’s needs.

“The Savvy Caregivers course helped us focus on the good things we have together as well as provided concrete knowledge and skills to approach the future,” said a participant in the most recent training. “It gave a perspective on the various situations we find ourselves in.”

The next session of Savvy Caregiver will meet from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Thursdays, from May 9 through June 13. The classes are held at the SCES offices, at 61 Medford St. in Somerville.

The classes are open to a limited number of participants, allowing the caregivers to work closely with the facilitators. Subsidized respite options are available to some caregivers.

For more information about Savvy Caregiver or to register call 617-628-2601 ext 3123 or email nmeyer@eldercare.org.

Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (SCES) is a non-profit agency that supports the independence and well-being of older people in Somerville and Cambridge. For more information, visit eldercare.org, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, or contact the SCES Aging Information Center at 617-628-2601 for free advice and guidance.