November is National Family Caregivers Month and the John J. Pershing VA Medical Center (VAMC) announced it will host a very special Holiday Cooking Demo to celebrate. The virtual event will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17, and will include a question/answer session and other activities.
“This year, for our annual Caregiver Appreciation Month we wanted to share our brand-new teaching kitchen with our caregivers,” said Caregiver Support Program Coordinator Vicki Burns. “The demonstration will be hosted by registered dietician BriAnne Riggins via virtual video presentation, but caregivers of veterans are welcome to dial in by phone and listen, too.”
Staff at the VA medical center were so excited about the event, they invited Dr. Colleen Richardson, executive director of VA’s national Caregiver Support Program to join them and were delighted when she accepted the invitation.
“This is a huge honor,” Burns said. “Caregivers of veterans in southern and northeastern Arkansas will have the opportunity to hear about what is going on at the national level – we are pleased Dr. Richardson can join us.”
Richardson is a clinical psychologist and a Navy veteran who served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“Caregivers of veterans provide so much for our local heroes, and they serve their country in a special way, so this month and this event are all about honoring and appreciating them,” Burns continued. “We will have some very nice cooking-themed door prizes for participants, and we will also have a #Caregiver and round table discussion.
“We know caregivers have other hobbies, skills, relationships, and interests that help define them, in addition to the love and support they provide our veterans. We hope participants will email photographs of themselves engaged in those activities, as part of their event registration.”
Burns explained that caregivers of Veterans may call 573-778-4476 to register for the event. Participants will receive the link and telephone number to join the session when they register.