Savvy Caregiver is a training program for family caregivers of people with disorders causing dementia, like Alzheimer’s disease. Often, these family members take on the role of caregiving without any preparation or training.

The next session will be held at Norway Savings Bank in Bridgton. Classes will be held Thursday, April 30, May 7, 14, 21, 28 and June 4 from 1:30-3:30 p.m.

The State of Maine has been awarded a grant through the United States Administration on Aging to offer this training series, which will be offered locally through the Southern Maine Agency on Aging.

This evidence-based program is designed for people who are assisting a family member or friend with dementia, and helps them develop knowledge, skills, and attitudes to make caregiving easier. As part of the grant, we will be collecting data to add to the research on this program, by asking participants to complete questionnaires.

Savvy Caregiver consists of six two-hour class sessions and encourages participants to try out ideas at home between classes. Participants are asked to plan to attend all six classes in the series. Over the next three years, the series will be held in a variety of locations throughout York and Cumberland Counties.

There is no charge to participate. For more information or to register, please contact Ann O’Sullivan at the Southern Maine Agency on Aging at 1-800-427-7411 x541.