Join the Las Cruces Museums on Jan. 21 for “Museum Selfie Day.” Each of the four museums will have selfie stations relating to the exhibits with tips on how to get the best selfie possible.
Come by anytime throughout the day and take your selfie. Once you’ve taken your selfie, share it on social media using the hashtags #MuseumSelfie or #CLCSelfie. Museum Selfie stations will stay up for the rest of the month of January.
Museum Selfie Day stems from a 2014 blog post on culturethemes.com. The event “highlight(s) the fun and ‘unstuffiness’ of museums/culture,” so join them at the museum and show your support for the Las Cruces Museums. Check out other museum selfies at museumselfies.tumblr.com or add your own.
The City of Las Cruces Museum System has four Museums: The Branigan Cultural Center, 501 N. Downtown Mall; Museum of Art, 491 N. Main St.; and Museum of Nature and Science, 411 N. Downtown Mall; and the Railroad Museum, 351 N. Mesilla St. The Main Street museums are open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the Railroad Museum is open Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All of the City of Las Cruces Museums are free and open to the public.
For information, call the Museum of Nature and Science, 575-522-3120, visit las-cruces.org or Facebook.
FREE COURSE FOR ALZHEIMER’S CAREGIVERS OFFERED GT;GT; Families facing Alzheimer’s disease will have access to a free, seven-week education course in Las Cruces offered by the Alzheimer’s Association, New Mexico Chapter. Beginning Jan. 15, the “Savvy Caregiver Program,” will meet once per week for seven consecutive weeks from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Southern Area Health Education Center, 4003 Geothermal Drive. Participants may be reimbursed for the cost of having others tend to their loved one while they attend the classes.
This evidence-based training aims to teach caregivers practical techniques for interacting with loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease, and for understanding and managing their behavior. It also imparts tools for long-term planning and for reducing stresses common to Alzheimer’s caregivers. The course explains the signs, impacts and pathology of Alzheimer’s disease.
To register, or for further information, call the Alzheimer’s Association, New Mexico Chapter, 800-272-3900, email msiderisdorame@alz.org or visit alz.org/newmexico.
FAMILY-TO-FAMILY CLASSES GT;GT; The Dona Ana County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness has just opened registration for their Jan. 22 to April 9, Family-To-Family Classes. Family-to-Family class will be held from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Thursdays at Unitarian Universalist Church, 2000 S. Solano Drive.
This class is only for family members of people suffering from a diagnosed brain disorder/mental illness, such as: depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia.
You must register in advance for this class. If the current class is filled, you may put your name on the waiting list for the next class. There are several classes every year. Classes are 2.5 hours long and include a light snack. There is no cost and all materials are supplied. All personal information in the class is treated according to strict guidelines for confidentiality. All instructors are trained to teach class materials and are NAMI-certified.
This is a series of 12 classes and they recommend that you attend all of them to get the full benefit of your time investment. What you will learn in these classes: Current information about schizophrenia, major depression, bipolar disorder (manic depression), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, and co-occurring brain disorders and addictive disorders; Up-to-date information about medications, side effects, and strategies for medication adherence; Current research related to the biology of brain disorders and the evidence-based, most effective treatments to promote recovery; Empathy by understanding for the subjective, lived experience of a person with mental illness; Problem solving, listening, and communication techniques; Strategies for handling crises and relapse; How as a caregiver you can cope with worry, stress, and emotional overload; Guidance on locating appropriate supports and services within the community; Information about advocacy initiatives designed to improve and expand services.
If you would like to take this class, email Lyn Pearson, NAMI Family to Family instructor, LynPearson1948@gmail.com.
For information, visit nami-dac.org.