Nevada Rural RSVP featured on KNPB TV show

Training for caregivers of Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers who give them time off is a subject coming to a television near everyone in Northern Nevada.

“The NV Rural Counties Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Inc. partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association to provide state of the art training for family caregivers and respite volunteers on how to more effectively assist persons suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers” said Janice R. Ayres, executive director and C.E.O. of RSVP.

The training, made possible by a grant from the United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierras, involved three sessions that gave volunteers and caregivers an opportunity to learn more about how to deal with the devastating disease affecting many. It also assisted caregivers in Carson City or rural Nevada with free respite care from RSVP volunteers. Caregivers received regular breaks for two to four hours per week for several hours at a time.

Part of final training session was filmed for “A Conversation” with Brent Boynton in an upcoming KNPB Public Broadcasting show which will honor RSVP for its 40 years of service to rural Nevada. The show will feature actual recipients of RSVP’s free services who talk about how it has changed their lives, enabling them to remain independent and in their own homes, and has relieved their stress to the point where they feel that RSVP saved their lives.

“It provides us a sense of belonging to the community and the gift of something really wonderful — a little bit of you,” said Susan Haas, director of Marketing and Development for RSVP.

“A Conversation” with Brent Boynton,” featuring RSVP, will air on Channel 5/PBS – KNPB at 8:30 p.m. May 10 and at 11 a.m. May 12. The show will be available at www.knpb.org after the initial airing.