Family Caregivers Center staff and volunteers are often seen wearing an orange nasturtium flower, which represents victory in struggle. Orange also signifies joy and creativity, promoting a sense of wellness and emotional energy that should be shared through compassion, passion and warmth.
During the development of the Family Caregivers Center, Kathy Good purchased a nasturtium pin that happened to be orange — her husband Dave’s favorite color. She wore her pin to every planning meeting thereafter.
Naturally, the nasturtium became the symbol of the Family Caregivers Center.
A family caregiver is anyone who provides assistance to an adult living with chronic conditions or age-related concerns. Here are some examples of things a caregiver might do:
- Call regularly to check in
- Provide companionship
- Buy groceries and/or cook meals
- Set up or administer medications
- Attend medical appointments
- Handle finances or other legal matters
- Clean, do laundry or other household chores
- Provide transportation
- Assist with dressing, showering or mobility
- Spend time handling crises and arranging assistance
- Be responsible or on-call 24/7
- Provide hours of unpaid assistance
If you assist an adult with any of the things listed above, the Family Caregivers Center has relevant resources for you.
1-on-1 Meetings
The Family Caregivers Center offers one-on-one meetings with caregivers. During the meeting, a trained volunteer or staff member:
- Listens to understand your unique caregiving situation
- Offers emotional support and answers questions
- Helps determine your strengths and immediate needs
- Helps determine a plan and potential next steps
- Validates the need for breaks and outlines available options
- Provides education about chronic conditions
- Connects you with community resources when more or different help is needed
- Offers insight to ease transitions
- Shares information about upcoming events and meaningful activities for caregivers and receivers
- Facilitates communication with family members
- Helps determine respite resources
To request a one-on-one meeting, call (319) 221-8866 or email fcgc@mercycare.org.
Support Groups Held at the DeWolf Innovation Center
The Family Caregivers Center offers a variety of free support groups for caregivers. Each group offers a safe, compassionate space to connect and share. Our recurring support groups include:
- Men’s Caregiver Coffee
- Women’s Caregiver Coffee
- Wednesday Afternoon Caregiver Coffee
- Conversations for Couples
- Life After Caregiving Support Group
Educational Events & Sessions Held at the DeWolf Innovation Center
The Center offers supportive learning opportunities and educational events at no cost to caregivers:
- Supportive Learning & Discussion Groups on Topics of Interest to Caregivers
Topics include challenges, communication, spirituality, caring for parents, grief and loss, etc.
- Book studies
- Dementia Education Series
- Question and answer sessions regarding Medicaid and veteran benefits
We also offer events for both caregivers and receivers:
- Together in Song Chorus
- Memory Cafes
- The Good Time Social
- Gardening
- Art
We provide respite for caregivers through our Community Connections program.
For a full list of Family Caregivers Center events, check out our monthly issue of Centered News or visit our events page.
Resource Lists & Lending Library
The DeWolf Innovation Center provides extensive, up-to-date resource lists and a lending library. Caregivers can access these resources upon request or in person at no cost.
Online Community
The Family Caregivers Center of Mercy Online Community provides opportunities for members to collaborate through respectful dialogue and to access and share resources that support family caregivers.
Create an account and join the Online Community.
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Centered News, for updates from the Family Caregivers Center and the DeWolf Innovation Center.
Each edition includes the event calendar, social opportunities, upcoming educational opportunities and resources for family caregivers.
Browse past editions or subscribe to future issues.
