Southwestern Oregon Community College has announced it will get a $30,000 grant to train family members and professional caregivers to provide in-home care for older adults.

It’s one of 12 institutions nationwide to receive the 2008 Community College Caregiver Training Initiative funding, a press release said.

The college will use the $30,000 to fill critical gaps in training for professional and family caregivers serving older adults by developing curriculum for modules on a variety of health care issues. The project also includes scholarships for low-income family caregivers. Southwestern will collaborate with the Oregon Department of Human Services Office of Senior and People with Disabilities, the Area Agency on Aging and CARE Connections to carry out the project, which is expected to serve 140 caregivers locally and more than 10,000 statewide.

“It’s incredibly valuable information to have when you’re taking care of someone you love,” Southwestern Human Services instructor Beverly Segner said.

The grants are supported by the MetLife Foundation and the International Longevity Center-USA’s Caregiving Program for Older Americans.

The colleges will use the grants to help launch or develop home health care, nurse aide, hospice and family caregiving training programs, as well as programs for dementia care, paraprofessional training and certified nursing assistants.