FAIRMONT — The volunteer organization CREST will offer a workshop titled “Powerful Tools for Caregivers” beginning June 12.

Those taking the class will meet at the CREST office at 820 Winnebago Ave. in Fairmont. This is the first workshop held at CREST’s new location. The class is scheduled every Tuesday morning from 9:30-11 a.m. for six weeks.

The workshop was offered in Fairmont last spring, and most recently in Truman. It will give participants tools to take care of themselves: tools for reducing stress; for improving ways of communicating feelings and needs; and for dealing with emotions in different situations.

Joyce Peterson, caregiver support coordinator for CREST, explained that the class is may be underutilized because many people do not think of themselves as being caregivers.

“When you’re married, if your spouse has a health issue, you take care of them,” she said. “That’s just what you do. But you are a caregiver. If it’s your parent, it’s the same situation because you feel compelled to take care of them because they took care of you. But you are a caregiver.”

Peterson said caring for someone else adds stress on individuals, and it is important to be able to take good care of yourself both mentally and physically.

“Now it’s your job to make sure dad takes his pills on time and is OK in the shower, and there’s a whole new set of things to do everyday,” Peterson explained, adding, “This class is for the caregiver to reduce their stress and help them have some balance in their life.”

Caregivers could be someone taking care of a child, parent, spouse, family member or neighbor. A caregiver could be someone of any age and either gender.

While it is free to take the class, a donation of $25 is suggested to help pay for materials, which includes a caregiver helpbook.

“It’s a wonderful book,” Peterson said. “It has tips and narratives and little stories. Something might jump out at them in this book that really makes sense. It feels good to be able to give it to people and know that they can refer to it.”

The helpbook has a lot of resources listed, including both national and local.

“We want to help people deal with the added stress and we want to help keep them healthy mentally and physically so that they can do what they need to do,” Peterson said.

The class will be capped at 12 people, but there is still room to sign up. Those interested may call the CREST office at (507) 235-3833.