Our lives change dramatically when illness or disability strikes those we love most, and we are suddenly cast in the role of caregiver. Our worlds can be turned upside down, our most cherished beliefs and expectations challenged and transformed.

Dale Larson, PhD, MFT explores the challenges and rewards of the caregiver’s journey-the demands, risks and rewards of caregiving; common reactions of burnout and enhancing resilience as a caregiver; how we cope with grief and loss during the illness and after the loss of our loved one.

Dr. Larson is a national leader in psychological issues in bereavement and end-of life care and is the author of “The Helper Journey: Working with People Facing Grief, Loss and Life-Threatening Illness” (Champaign, IL: Research Press).

The Optimal Hospice Foundation Caregiver Conference will provide an opportunity for families to obtain information from vendors providing health-related and eldercare services about the resources available as they plan for their present and future needs. For more information, please call (559) 320-8000 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it