Caregivers are often regarded as unsung heroes.

Being the primary person responsible for ensuring an elderly or disabled loved one’s health, finances and overall well-being are intact can be a significant undertaking.

In efforts to arm caregivers with the confidence, strength and added tools to handle all of the tasks that come with caring for a loved one, the Mountainland Association of Governments Utah County Caregiver Coalition will host its 19th annual Caregiver Conference.

The event brings together caregivers to explore strategies for enhancing resilience, according to a description on the organization’s website. Attendees, in-person or virtually, can engage in interactive workshops, insightful discussions and mindfulness practices designed to nourish your mental, physical and emotional well-being. 

This year’s theme is Mind, Body, Heart: Boosting Caregiver Resilience.

As Geri Lehnardt, caregiver program coordinator explained, many caregivers have expressed feeling trapped as well as the strain and stress of the demanding tasks.

“There’s a common feeling of feeling stuck, feeling like I can’t get sick,” Lehnardt described of caregivers she’s spoken with. “It’s a desperation, you know, like nothing can happen to me because I have to be there to care for my loved one.”

The hope is that caregivers who attend will learn how to reframe the way they think about and approach caring for their senior loved one.

“And helping them to find ways to build their immune system, build their resiliency, emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually,” Lehnardt said.

A keynote address will be given by Jody Moore, a life coach and host of the Better Than Happy podcast. Through her sessions, Moore has reportedly helped thousands live happier and successful lives.

“I think her information is really going to give caregivers a whole different way to see their experience, (and) be able to enjoy their loved one a little bit more, maybe have a little more empathy, and enjoy the caregiving experiences as much as they can,” Lehnardt said.

The event will also feature several presentations, or tracks, focused on general caregiving, managing stress while caregiving and ways to exhibit more compassion for those suffering from dementia.

According to the CDC, Alzheimer’s disease, also known as the most common type of dementia, is a leading cause of death in the United States among people 65 and older. 

The number of people living with the disease is expected to rise from 6.9 million in 2020 to nearly 14 million people in the next 30 years.

In Utah, a state generally known for its young population is slowly aging.

A recent report by the Kem C Gardner Institute suggests Utah’s retirement-age population — those 65 and over — will make up around 20% of the state’s overall population by 2060.

“In 1980, less than 8% of Utah residents were over 65, but by 2020, this share increased to nearly 12%,” the May 2024 Gardner Institute report noted.

Those figures mark more reasons why organizers say this conference is so important in helping caregivers prepare for the future by providing a plethora of resources and paths to continued support platforms.

“What we’ve seen in the past is that caregivers feel validated, appreciated, loved, supported, so that they can continue their journey as a caregiver and know where to go if they need more assistance,” Lehnardt told the Daily Herald.

She hopes those who are currently caring for an older adult/senior and want extra support and ideas to make caregiving life better find the event worth their time and come away feeling inspired and enlightened.

“Caregivers can realize, like, I’m going to go home and I’m going to try the things that I learned today with my loved one, and many will find that it will help, in the long run,” Lehnardt said.

The Caregiver Conference happens Friday, Nov. 8, at doTERRA, located at 389 South 1300 West in Pleasant Grove. In person slots are currently filled, but those still interested can join the waitlist in the event a spot reopens, and virtual seats are still available.

The event is free, but registration is required by visiting magutah.gov/cg.