2023 OK Caregiver Conference coming to McAlester, OK

In support of caregivers, the Southeast Expo in McAlester, OK will serve as a host site for the virtual 2023 OK Caregiver Conference, “Caregivers Rock” set for November 2, 2023.

When challenges with completing daily tasks arise for friends and family, they often turn to their families and friends for help. These helpful people become caregivers.

Are you a caregiver? You are a caregiver if you provide care in the home for an older, chronically ill or disabled family member or friend. The time you spend may vary from a few hours a day to many days.

You may be a spouse, son, daughter or other relative. You may be providing care out of love or a sense of obligation. Often, you feel both love and obligation. You may find caregiving to be satisfying and rewarding, or you may find it to be frustrating. You may be providing support alone or arranging the work of others who give direct care. Several people may be involved in caregiving, decisionmaking and financial responsibilities. However, you may have the major responsibility for the well-being of someone.

There are many kinds of caregivers, from long distance caregiving, employed caregivers, caring for a spouse, to the sandwich generation caregivers. No matter the type of caregiver you may be, as a caregiver you will have to manage your time carefully. No matter what kind of caregiving you provide, caregivers need to learn new skills. Your family may have to learn some new ways of doing things also.

To learn more about resources available during your journey of caregiving, plan on attending the 2023 OK Caregiver Conference, “Caregivers Rock” whether in person or virtually. The Southeast Expo in McAlester will be one of five satellite sites streaming the virtual event throughout the state. Other host sites are Enid, Oklahoma City, Lawton and Tulsa.

The Southeast Expo site in McAlester, OK will begin registration at 9:00 a.m. The Conference will begin at 9:30 a.m. and end at 3:00 p.m. The conference is free for caregivers. All host sites will provide lunch, vendors, and door prizes. The conference will include speakers, panels of caregivers of all ages speaking about how they are able to cope with their responsibilities, and more.

The conference is designed for caregivers of all ages, educators, and agencies. Caregivers juggling with finding someone to be with their loved ones so they can attend can also be a part of the conference by attending online. Caregivers may be eligible to receive Lifespan Respite Grant Vouchers for Educational Events. Pre-registration is required whether attending online or inperson. To pre-register and learn more about the Lifespan Respite Vouchers for Educational Events visit http://form.jotform. com/223353301329144 .

Are you a business or part of a non-profit group that would like to set up a booth at the conference to support caregivers? If so, sponsorships are available. For businesses and non-profits to register as a sponsor visit https://form.jotform. com/soonersuccess/202 3CaregiversROCK .

This conference is a collaboration of the Oklahoma Caregiver Coalition (OCC). The OCC was formed at the end of 2016 due to DHS Aging Services receiving Lifespan Respite Grant funding from the Administration for Community Living. The OCC has a collection of over 100 public and private partners striving to develop and sustain various areas of support for primary caregivers. The careful work and planning of the OCC partners have produced a strategic plan to determine goals and objectives in addressing the needs of Oklahoma caregivers. OSU Extension is an integral part of the OCC.

As the conference approaches, more information will be available here: https://okcares. org/event/oklahomafamily- caregiver-conference/ .

Whitney Nelson is the Family Consumer Science and 4-H Youth Development Extension Educator with McIntosh County OSU Cooperative Extension Service. For more information related to this topic or related FCS / 4-H programs contact Whitney at 918-689-7772, email whitney.r.nelson@okstate. edu or on McIntosh County OSU Website http://oces.okstate. edu/mcintosh/ or find McIntosh County OSU Extension or McIntosh Co 4-H on Facebook.

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