Ginger Peer-Spencer, founder of Heart Felt Community, will teach a class next Thursday for family and professional caregivers, those who would like to volunteer, and those who already volunteer in our communities’ nursing and retirement homes.

Compassionate Touch is a non-pharmaceutical approach combining skilled touch and specialized communication shown to prevent behavioral expression in people with dementia and reduce job stress in care-partners, a release stated. In palliative care, it provides a skilled touch with compassionate presence to enhance quality of life for those in the later stages of life, according to the release.

The approach can be used in any caregiving situation to instill trust, combat isolation, loneliness and has been shown to relieve physical, emotional, cognitive, social and spiritual discomfort, the release added.

The class will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Jan. 23, at the Coleman’s Crossing Club House, 7027 Coleman’s Crossing Avenue, Hayes. Register by calling Peer-Spencer at 804-832-8859 or email Connect@heartfeltcommunity.org.

This class is free; however, donations will be accepted on the day of the class and all proceeds will benefit Heart Felt Community, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit enhancing the lives of elders by providing Compassionate Touch through licensed massage therapists, medical professionals and volunteers. Peer-Spencer, a licensed massage therapist, is the owner of Heart Felt Touch Massage Therapy in Gloucester.