Professional and family caregivers who provide direct care services at home or in long-term care settings are invited to attend the 8th Annual Direct Caregivers Conference from 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 14, in the Northwoods Center on the Nicolet College Campus.

The conference provides an excellent opportunity for caregivers to receive continuing education in a relaxed and comfortable environment. A highlight of the conference will be a special awards luncheon to recognize caregiver excellence. There will also be resources on wellness and stress management, door prizes and giveaways.

“Through the generous contributions of our sponsors and donations from local businesses, we’re able to make this a really fun event while also recognizing the value and dedication of direct care providers in our Northwoods communities,” Sandy Bishop, Nicolet College director of Workforce Development and a member of the Northern Wisconsin Long Term Care Workforce Network, said.

Keynote speakers will be Lynda Markut, author of Dementia Caregivers Share Their Stories: A Support Group in a Book; and Charles Schoenfeld, author of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Dementia Ward–Memoir of a Male CNA.

Markut is a licensed social worker in both Illinois and Wisconsin. For more than 30 years, she has counseled individuals with various mental health diagnoses and/or dementia and provided services to their families. She facilitates Alzheimer’s disease and dementia support groups with a wellness focus.
Schoenfeld was a truck driver for 27 years before changing careers to become a CNA. His book was the top-selling non-fiction title in central Wisconsin for more than half of 2012 and is now required reading at Northcentral Technical College for students considering careers working with the elderly.
Other speakers will include Nancy Rublee, Price County public health hygienist, and Mary Sikora-Petersen, registered dietician and owner of Northwoods Nutrition Consulting.

The conference is hosted by the Northern Wisconsin Long Term Care Workforce Network and Nicolet College. The network is a professional organization of long-term care providers, agencies, and organizations that provide education and support to caregivers in a variety of settings.
Early-bird registration is $59 ($34.56, if age 62 or older) for those enrolled by Thursday, Jan. 31. After Jan. 31, registration is $64 ($39.56, if 62 or older).

Continental breakfast and catered luncheon are included in registration. Those attending will receive up to 4.5 hours of continuing education and certificates of class completion.

For more information about the conference or to register, call Nicolet College at 715-365-4493, 800-544-3039, ext. 4493; TDD 715-365-4448 or by email at [email protected]