Taking care of ailing loved ones can be a health hazard for those who are caregivers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 10,444 informal or unpaid caregiving adults surveyed during Dec. 6–27, 2020, and Feb. 16⁠–March 8, 2021, experienced significantly worse mental health, including five times the odds of any adverse mental-health symptoms, than other non-caregiving adults. The report also concluded those who had support experienced lower odds of developing adverse mental-health symptoms.This is why Mountainland Association of Governments Aging Services, also known as MAG, a nonprofit that helps senior citizens maintain health, independence and quality of life in Utah — including Wasatch and Summit Counties — offers a free, annual conference that provides caregivers tools to not only better care for their loved ones, but also care for themselves.This year’s conference is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8, at doTerra, 389 S. 1300 West in Pleasant Grove.The sessions will be held in person and virtually, said organizer Geri Lehnardt, MAG caregiver program coordinator and case manager.“It’s all free admission, and breakfast and lunch will be provided for in-person attendees,” she said.This year’s theme is “Mind, Body, Heart: Boosting Caregiver Resiliency,” according to Lehnardt.“When we start to organize the conference, we think of what we’ve dealt with caregivers on a regular basis,” she said. “We also think about the support groups and people who I work with in the community, who think differently than we do.”This year, the biggest thing Lenhardt noticed was caregivers desperately saying they couldn’t afford to get sick or injured because they have to be well enough to take care of the people they love.“I shared that with my coworkers and told them I wanted to focus on it,” she said. “Then we all came up with the theme.”Once the theme is in place, Lehnardt starts to put together a program that will be informative as much as it is entertaining and interesting.“We figure out what kinds of presentations we want that will fulfill the need,” she said. “We do make changes every year, but one of the biggest things I have found is the content and presenters of the conference makes a difference.”This year’s workshops include:“Future-Ready Caregiving: Practical Tools and Legal Essentials” by Klea Harris, attorney at Angel Advocates Legal, and Dr. Kara Dassel, from the University of Utah  “Dementia is a Journey and Not a Destination” by Thomas Tervort of Neural Effects “Building Bridges: The Vital Role of Connection in Caregiving” by Linda Cole, MAG Aging & Family Services  “Managing Stress and Challenging Emotions in Caregiving” by Dr. Beth Fauth, Utah State University  “Finding Calm and Focus through Mandala Drawing” by Emily Christensen, Jewish Family Services “We also wanted to keep things more simple so the conference wouldn’t be too overwhelming,” Lehnardt said. “We also wanted to have more breaks so caregivers and attendees could have more time to chat with each other and learn more about the resources that are available.”Lehnardt also likes to provide an experiential, hands-on element during each conference.“That’s why we are doing ‘Finding Calm and Focus through Mandala Drawing,’” she said. “Next year we may bring in music or another creative element.”In addition to the workshops, this year’s conference will feature a keynote address by Jody Moore, life coach and “Better than Happy” podcast host.“We’re a little bit giddy about her,” Lehnardt said. “A few of us follow Jody on her podcast, and one of our co-workers took some of her life-coach courses. And she teaches people a lot about shifting their thoughts about circumstances and asking themselves, ‘Why am I reacting to this?’”Moore will also host her own workshop during the conference as well, according to Lehnardt.“We tried to schedule her last year but couldn’t get her,” she said. “So, we thought we would put it out there again. Tanya Macdonald, community health support specialist, said she would ask to see where we could get to, and Jody said yes. She also gave us half off of her rate. We couldn’t believe we got her.”The conference will end with a final word, “From Exhausted to Energized: Strategies for You, the Caregiver” by Dr. Ray Andrew, MD, Lehnardt said. “I was so excited to find him because I wanted to get a functional medicine person who was more on the preventional side of health,” she said. “I put that out to the coalition, and we got a recommendation.”Andrew didn’t seem to know a lot about caregiving when Lehnardt contacted him.“But he was very interested, and he went out and interviewed several caregivers,” she said. “He wanted to not only learn about caregiving. He also wanted to learn about the different types of caregiving who were going to be there. So he could know who he was going to be talking to.”Lehnardt said the title of Andew’s presentation is the perfect piece to close the conference.“I wanted this conference to be about boosting immune systems and how caregivers can deal with exhaustion when they get home,” she said. “I can’t wait to hear what he’s going to share, and it’s so fitting for this year.”This year marks the 19th annual Caregiver Conference, Lehnardt said.“I started the first caregiver support group in Utah County, and I think we did the first conference in the state,” she said. “It’s been great to see it grow and see the changes in our society’s thinking about caregiving and the importance of supporting that role. I also think doing these conferences have shown caregivers that we recognize them and appreciate them.”Lehnardt is also grateful to doTerra for donating the space for the conferences.“Their facility has boosted this conference up to an amazing level that we would never have achieved,” she said. “The building is beautiful, and I’ve had comments from attendees that say they feel like they’re on a cruise ship, so I can’t thank them enough.” The 19th Annual Caregiver ConferenceWhen: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Friday, Nov. 8 Where: doTerra, 389 S. 1300 West in Pleasant Grove, and online Cost: Free Registration: magutah.org/cg Web: magutah.orgThe post Caregivers learn how to boost resilience during annual conference appeared first on Park Record.