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

By Nathan Lamb

Registration is now open for Savvy Caregiver, a free training program that provides family caregivers with skills and knowledge about dementia.

Offered by Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services, in partnership with Mount Auburn Hospital, the program emphasizes practical training that helps family caregivers navigate 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 six-session class will meet on Fridays from 9:00 to 11:30 a.m., starting April 10. The classes are held at Mount Auburn Healthcare – Waltham, 355 Waverley Oaks Road in Waltham.

Savvy Caregiver is open to a limited number of participants, allowing the caregivers to work closely with the facilitators. Subsidized respite options are available to some caregivers. The class is open to residents of Cambridge, Somerville, Waltham and the surrounding communities.

For more information about Savvy Caregiver or to register call 617-628-2601 extension 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, or contact the SCES Aging Information Center at 617-628-2601 for free advice and guidance.