Workshops to Help Those Who Care for Us

Caregivers, workshop facilitators, and organizations share their experiences.

“Caregivers oftentimes feel invisible, and Contigo Cuidador is a powerful tool to promote communication and learning,” Glamaris Valentín, a communications expert, said. She began her path as a caregiver in the middle of Hurricane Maria’s devastation, when her father’s health came to a crisis.

Glamaris, who shares her experiences and learning as facilitator for Contigo Cuidador and founder of Mi Gente Grande, recalled the confusion and lack of knowledge when she took on the role of caregiver. “My father was diabetic, and I didn’t even know how to administer insulin,” she told of this forced learning process in matters relating to health, never-ending medical visits to manage getting a diagnosis, and taking on such a big responsibility.

Caregivers at the Center

Contigo Cuidador is a virtual workshops initiative developed by Triple-S Advantage to offer support and important information to caregivers of family members or loved ones.

The workshops look to broaden the knowledge and resources of the caregiver in terms of their self-care, care of the patient, use of technology, legal and financial matters, and anxiety and bereavement management, among others.

A Warm and Virtual Space

“I don’t have apprehension with these virtual platforms. In fact, they can offer intimacy and prompt other people to dare to talk, when they would have been embarrassed to in an in-person format,” Glamaris assured.

Annie Ortiz Figueroa, a caregiver, assured that the workshops have helped her serve as her mother’s guide and to handle her objections to her interventions as a caregiver. “I’m interested in continually educating myself, so I am signing up for all the workshops they offer. Mom can be very intense, and I have to take her through little by little, since she sometimes clings to the past,” she kindly affirmed. The workshops, she assured, also the needs of caregivers of the patients with that condition, assured that initiatives such as the workshops are valuable for its clientele.    

“Caring  for a patient with Alzheimer is a 24-hour job. Normally, there isn’t time to go to a center to get educated,” she said of the convenience that the workshops are virtual. She assured that there is great need for education, as when there is a diagnosis such as Alzheimer’s, the caregiver’s reaction is “What am I going to do now?”

Among the resources that participate in the Contigo Cuidador initiative, some that stand out are attorney Dalila Allende; Tecnoabuelos; Dr. Cristina Herrera, psychologist; Glamaris Valentín, caregiver and editor of Mi Gente Grande; representatives of Banco Popular for financial topics, nurses, and other health professionals who share their knowledge and experience.         

The series virtual workshops are held every two weeks and will extend until September. To participate, you do not have to be an insured of Triple-S.

Through this site you will find more information about the workshops, details for registering, and educational material.