Heart of the Redwoods Community Hospice announced it will present a series of four monthly caregiving workshops, beginning Saturday, March 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hospice building in Garberville.

The workshops are intended to prepare individuals planning to give care to friends or family members, as well as providing training for Hospice volunteers, according to Shirley Gray, bereavement coordinator.

Cindy Taylor, a counselor in private practice with many years of caregiving experience, will start off the series March 20 with a presentation entitled “Sitting with Someone: Compassionate Companioning.”

Describing Taylor as “one of our favorite presenters,” Gray explained that she brings a “unique way of being” and a strong spiritual component to caregiving, looking at it as more than the management of symptoms.

She encourages deep listening and asks caregivers to examine their own experiences with illness and death to inform them on how to relate compassionately to others.

”Cindy inspires you with confidence in your ability to be fully present with another person,” Gray said.

The second workshop, to be held either the last Saturday or the last Sunday in April, will be led by Dr. Michael Fratkin, developer of the Threshold Project and former medical director of Hospice of Humboldt.

Dr. Fratkin will present his way of approaching death and dying by helping the dying person create a legacy of memories. He is “dedicated to enhancing life for those facing death and celebrating the wisdom revealed in all lives,” said Gray.

Among other subjects, Fratkin will discuss writing your own obituary and planning your own funeral or memorial ceremony.

No firm dates have been set for the May and June workshops, but the May workshop will be led by local bodyworker Joan Becker on the importance of human contact, particularly touch, to the dying.

Becker will discuss touch as healing -- not in the sense of cure but as connection. The workshop will include hands-on training that will help participants feel comfortable and confident with touching dying patients in a healing way.

In June, Gray, who has had nearly 11 years of experience as a bereavement counselor for Heart of the Redwoods Hospice, will present a workshop on bereavement called “Being with Grief.”

She will draw on her own life and the wisdom of teachers to guide participants as they learn how to “hold our own grief gently” and to be authentic about our own feelings in order to respond appropriately and help others who are grieving.

”One thing I’ve learned,” Gray said, “is that everyone grieves differently.”

Participation in the workshops is free. The series is funded by a grant, written by Gail Eastwood and Jennifer Waters, from the Union Labor Health Foundation

”We are really excited about getting funding,” Gray said, explaining that in the past the Hospice staff paid for workshop expenses out of their own pockets.

Those interested in participating must register in advance by calling Hospice at 923-7276 during office hours, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Each workshop is limited to 15 persons. Registration will be taken for each workshop individually, so those interested can sign up for one, two, three, or all four as desired. Currently Hospice is taking registration only for the first workshop.

Additionally, anyone who is considering volunteering as a caregiver for Hospice can also receive individual training from Hospice staff, which can be arranged by calling the Hospice office, Gray said.