The mission of the Edel Caregiver Institute is to support you, the caregiver, as you support your loved one. No matter the diagnosis or stage of the diagnosis, we are here to offer help with finding resources and provide emotional support throughout your caregiving journey.

 

 

Our support groups and individual consultations are designed to assist with your unique caregiving needs and concerns. There is no charge to be a part of our open groups offering opportunities to share and be heard, as well as to listen and support.

Perhaps you are not comfortable sharing in a group? We also offer individual consultations at no charge. If you have a concern about your loved one, including dementia behaviors, are looking for assistance finding resources, or would just appreciate a private session with a caregiver consultant, no matter the diagnosis, we would be honored to walk with you through your caregiver journey.
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Private individual consultations are available upon request at the Edel Caregiver Institute offices. Please reach out to 912-629-1331 or email info@edelcaregiverinstitute.org for more information.

If you are a family caregiver in need of emotional support, assistance finding resources, or would like to learn more about the Edel Caregiver Institute, please reach out to the Edel Caregiver Institute at 912.629.1331 or email Info@EdelCaregiverInstitute.org

Who Are Caregivers?
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Caregivers are friends, relatives, in-laws, and spouses – anyone who provides assistance to another, in whatever capacity and whatever their relationship, with no financial benefits.

What We Offer

Through our partnerships with the Steward Center for Palliative Care, United Way of the Coastal Empire, Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving, Coastal Area Agency on Aging, Mercer University School of Medicine at Memorial Health, St. Joseph’s Candler, Georgia Southern University, Senior Citizens, Inc., and many other local area service agencies, we offer standard-setting, innovative programs to help all non-professional caregivers learn how to best deal with impending or current caregiving challenges and needs. By providing tailored support we can help reduce your level of stress and help maintain the health and quality of life for both you and your care recipient. (Increasing evidence also shows that providing comprehensive support to family caregivers reduces stress induced diseases for caregivers.)

We can also provide:
• Resource information and referrals to community services.
• Caregiver follow-up support.
• Caregiver support groups and individual consultations.
• Extensive dementia education and support (including individual consultations with “Teepa Snow Positive Approach to Caregiving™” PAC Certified Independent Consultant and Trainer)
• Restorative yoga classes for caregivers
• Dementia Live™  dementia simulation experience.
• Project Sherpa (physician appointment navigation and patient advocacy).
• Palliative care education and referrals

GUIDE
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The GUIDE model offers enhanced services for people living with dementia along with support for their caregivers. Its’ focus is to bring high-quality dementia care for all individuals, including those in underserved communities. GUIDE recognizes the complex challenges families face in caring for a loved one with dementia. This model provides a framework for delivering care with additional resources that were not available until now. To participate in the model, patients must have a dementia diagnosis.

If you are a non-professional caregiver in need of help, please fill out our caregiving questionnaire.
We will be in touch with you soon!

While there is no charge for our services, classes, or support groups, donations are gratefully accepted.
If you choose, please donate below.

ECI CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS
In response to caregivers’ requests, we are continuing to offer an online option for both our general caregiver and dementia caregiver support groups.  Online groups must be pre-registered.
(Please note: New attendees must register at least 24 hrs in advance.
Please phone 912.629.1331 or email Info@EdelCaregiverInstitute.org with any questions or concerns.
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For complete list of caregiver support groups,
please click for our Caregiver Support Calendar.

GENERAL CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS 

New attendees to online support groups must register at least 24 hours in advance. Your loved one does not have to be under hospice care to attend this group. These groups are non-disease specific to encourage caregivers to focus on their own concerns and circumstances.

Are you gradually feeling more alone — that those around you just don’t seem to get what you are going through? Our Caregiver Support Groups provide a safe place to connect with other caregivers who truly understand. Learn and discover strength, emotional support, and a necessary sense of community with like-minded people.

ONLINE / General Caregiver Support Group
Tuesday, October 14 / 11:00 am – Noon / SECOND TUESDAY monthly

ONLINE/ General Caregiver Support Group – Evening
Thursday, October 16 / 7pm – 8pm / THIRD THURSDAY monthly
Online and after usual business hours

ON-SITE / General Caregiver Support Group at Legacy in Pooler
Wednesday, October 22 / 6:00 – 7:00 pm / FOURTH WEDNESDAY monthly
Hosted by Legacy at Savannah Quarters, 101 Shepherd Way, Pooler

ON-SITE / General Caregiver Support Group at Rincon United Way
Thursday, October 23 / 3:00 pm  – 4:00 pm / FOURTH THURSDAY monthly
United Way – Effingham Service Center , 711 Zitterour Dr, Rincon

ON-SITE / General General Caregiver Support Group at Hospice Savannah
NOTE: This support group is temporarily on hold while the Eisenhower location is renovated to better serve you and your families. Please join us online or at one of our other onsite support groups.

DEMENTIA CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS

New attendees must register at least 24 hours in advance. These Groups are facilitated by Jill Costello, Certified Independent Dementia Consultant. Please note this group is for family caregivers of a loved one with dementia or memory issues ONLY.

Being a caregiver for a loved one with dementia presents its own unique set of circumstances. The progressive, terminal effects of dementia pose the ongoing need for caregivers to educate themselves on changes occurring with their loved one.

ONLINE /  Dementia Caregiver Support Group
Wednesday, October 8 / 11:00am – 12:30pm / SECOND WEDNESDAY monthly

ON-SITE /  General Caregiver Support Group on Wilmington Island
Tuesday, October 14 / 1:00 – 2:00 pm / SECOND TUESDAY monthly
Frank G. Murray Community Center, 125 Wilmington Island Rd, Savannah

ON-SITE / Dementia Caregiver Support Group at HOPE HAVEN
Tuesday, October 21 / 10:45am – Noon / THIRD TUESDAY monthly
St. John’s Church, Cranmer Hall 3rd Floor, 27 West Charlton St., Savannah
For more information visit: www.SavannahRespite.com/caregivers

ON-SITE / Dementia Caregiver Support Group in RICHMOND HILL
Tuesday, October 28 / 5:30pm – 7:00pm / FOURTH TUESDAY monthly
Hosted by Station Exchange Senior Care, 3205 TSX Grand Central, Richmond Hill
For more info call 912-445-2425

 

INDIVIDUAL DEMENTIA CAREGIVER CONSULTATIONS AVAILABLE.

Are you caring for a loved one with dementia, finding yourself blocked and frustrated because you don’t know what to do and how to do it when it comes to relating and communicating?
Do you wonder why what you both want is not happening?
Learn to anticipate the struggles and how to be better prepared.
Recognize your loved one’s point of view, understand where they are coming from, comprehend the grieving of loss that comes with dementia, and develop a better understanding of what is possible and what is not.
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Jill Costello is a Certified Independent Dementia Consultant and a Certified Independent Dementia Trainer under Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Caregiving™ and is available for individual caregiver consultations at no financial cost to family caregivers..
CLICK HERE to request an individual caregiver consultation.
Educational content provided by Positive Approach® is used with permission and based on the GEMS® and the techniques, strategies, and overall approach to care created and developed by Positive Approach, LLC. / www.teepasnow.com

For more information on how the Edel Caregiver Institute may assist you, please contact us at 912.629.1331.
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The Edel Caregiver Institute is part of the Hospice Savannah continuum of care.  Caregivers are not required to have a loved one presently under hospice care, we are open to the community and to families at any stage of their caregiving journey.

Jill Costello is certified to implement the teachings and trainings about dementia of Teepa Snow and the Positive Approach to Care® (PAC). While based on the educational content from Teepa, and inspired by my Certification, views or opinions expressed, and additional content offered here, are representative of Jill, independent of the PAC organization.

Hospice Savannah’s Edel Caregiver Institute proudly employs PAC Certified Independent Professionals who use approved methods and content from Teepa Snow and Positive Approach to Care®. While based on the educational content and methods from Teepa and a PAC Certification, the delivery, views, and opinions are representative of this organization alone.

Educational content provided by Positive Approach® is used with permission and based on the GEMS® and the techniques, strategies, and overall approach to care created and developed by Positive Approach, LLC. www.teepasnow.com

PAC Certified Independent Consultants are not employees of Positive Approach, LLC. The opinions and views expressed by PAC Certified Independent Consultants do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of Positive Approach, LLC or any of its employees.  Positive Approach, LLC is not liable for any actions by PAC Certified Independent Consultants.


Teepa Snow PAC® Certified Independent Dementia Consultant and PAC® Certified Independent Dementia Trainer

Certified “Dementia Live®” Coach

Certified Music & Memory® Coordinator

Certified Dementia Caregiver Coach and “Dealing with Dementia” Trainer

Certified Support Group Facilitator

The Edel Caregiver Institute is honored to be recognized by the Maude’s Awards for Innovation in Alzheimer’s Care.

Maude’s Award was created to reward innovations that enrich the quality of life for persons living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias as well as their care partners.  The category Supporting Care Partners recognizes organizations that are “providing education, training or support for care partners of persons living with dementia”  

Hospice Savannah’s Edel Caregiver Institute is honored in the Supporting Care Partners category with the mention, “Hospice Savannah, Inc. has provided Savannah and surrounding suburban and rural counties with the best services and resources on living with a life-limiting illness, dying, death, grief and loss.” 

 Maude’s Awards was created in 2019 by Richard Ferry in honor of his beloved wife of 65 years, who was diagnosed in 2013 with dementia. Maude’s Awards are for achievement, as opposed to grants for future programs and are intended to reward programs, active prior to 2022, that have demonstrated success.