Workshops for Caregivers in Kona and Hilo

Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center presents Communicating Needs to Family & Service Providers: A Workshop for Caregivers of Adults (age 60-plus).

Facilitated by Elizabeth Kent, this workshop takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Hilo on Thursday, Aug. 10, and on Friday, Aug. 11, in Kona via West Hawai’i Mediation Center.

Caring for an older adult is all about communication, Kent said. You need to talk with them about the changes in their lives—health, finances, living situation, legal documents and more.

And you need to talk with family members and service providers about changing roles, making decisions and shifting responsibilities.

People can be sensitive and defensive about these issues.

In this interactive workshop, attendees can learn some powerful communication tools that mediators use to promote understanding.

Topics include: careful listening to discover why something is important to another person; the importance of “how” a message is said as well as “what” is said; verbal and nonverbal components of messages; and how to ask effective questions and keep conversations focused.

Suggested contribution is $20.

Register for the Hilo workshop by emailing majidah@hawaiimediation.org.

Register for the Kona workshop by emailing gtumasone@whmediation.org.

For more information, call Majidah at 935-7844, ext. 3, or email majidah@hawaiimediation.org.