Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving National Summit scheduled for Oct. 25

AMERICUS, GA (10/16/2013)(readMedia)-- The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving's National Summit and Training Institute is set for Friday, Oct. 25 at Georgia Southwestern State University. Former U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole will speak Friday about the critical need to support Military Caregivers. The Summit's theme is "Honoring the Mission: Supporting Caregivers Through Education, Skill-building and Hope."

The Summit provides practical tools to help community leaders, agencies and private citizens work together building support for family caregivers across the lifespan. Attendees will gain insight on how to provide safe, effective care to returning service members and veterans, individuals with disabilities, and those with Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, caregivers will learn resiliency skills to help them take better care of themselves. Agencies who have been successful in bringing evidence-based caregiver programs to their communities will share their best practices, challenges, and rewards.

Two free pre-summit workshops are also scheduled for Thursday: "Dementia Care Training for Family Caregivers," and "Taking Care of Yourself: Stress Management for Professional and Family Caregivers." Other Featured speakers for Friday's Summit are Greg Fricchione, M.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital and Barry Jacobs, Psy.D., author of "The Emotional Survival Guide for Caregivers." Rounding out the program will be Commissioner Frank Berry of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Disabilities.

"The topics addressed in the workshops and the conference will resonate with all caregivers – both family and professional," said Leisa Easom, Ph.D., RCI executive director. "The Summit provides a tremendous learning and networking opportunity for all attending."

A gala awards banquet recognizing the Georgia Caregivers of the Year and winners of the 2013 Rosalynn Carter Leadership in Caregiving Award is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 25. Jim Wallace of WALB-TV in Albany, Ga. will emcee this event.

Johnson & Johnson is the primary sponsor for the Summit. They are dedicated to supporting family caregivers across the nation, particularly through their partnership with RCI which was established in 2001. This valued partnership builds on the work accomplished by RCI as well as on the social responsibility credo of Johnson & Johnson to be "responsible to the communities in which we live and work," and to "encourage...better health and education."

"The needs of caregivers are a growing global concern, and we must enable caring communities to adopt programs to help them," said former First Lady and RCI Board President Rosalynn Carter. "I appreciate the support of Johnson & Johnson and am proud of the leadership of the Rosalynn Carter Institute in addressing challenges in caregiving today. I think this will be one of the best Summits we have hosted."

For more details, visit www.RosalynnCarter.org.

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ABOUT THE RCI: Located in Americus, Ga., the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving is a division of Georgia Southwestern State University. The RCI was established in 1987 in honor of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, a GSW alumna who serves as president of the Institute's Board of Directors, to enhance her longstanding commitments to family caregiving and mental health.