LUTCHER — St. James Parish’s Elderly Services Department is teaming up with St. James Parish Hospital to offer the community Caregiver Support Meetings this month.

The hospital’s experienced Social Worker Melba Perez-Berguno is leading the support group, which will meet for three weeks from 3 to 4 p.m. Meetings will be held on June 15, June 16, June 22 and June 29.

Caregivers supporting sick or indigent family members, friends and patients of all ages are welcome to join the free meetings to learn how to handle stress, deal with burnout and care for themselves. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to meet and consult with other caregivers.

Being a caregiver can be one of the most trying and rewarding jobs, Perez-Berguno said.

“It takes a special person to devote their life to caring for another,” she said. “We are honored to work with the parish to offer an outlet and support for this group.”

Perez-Berguno is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at St. James Parish Hospital. She has a Master of Social Work with an emphasis in alcoholism from the University of Puerto Rico. She has more than 30 years of medical social work experience in acute medical, intensive care, neurological/alcohol rehabilitation and in discharge planning/case management.

She is a field instructor for Tulane University and Southern University Schools of Social Work.

Caregiver Support Group Meetings will be held in the Hospital Meeting Room. For more information, call 225-258-5942.