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Vol. 10, No. 8

August 21, 2019

Dear Friends:

Believe it or not, autumn is right around the corner. Despite the recent heatwaves and the responsibilities of caregiving, we hope you’ve been able to make some time to enjoy the summer with family and friends. 

At FCA, we’re hard at work supporting caregivers. Caregivers seeking information, resources, and support are encouraged to try FCA CareJourney, our free and secure online service. Locally, a number of fall workshops and classes are open to San Francisco Bay Area caregivers, in addition to our October and November Camp for Caring. For those across the country and state, FCA will be doing a free August webinar for caregivers considering quitting their job to be a full-time caregiver. We hope you’ll join us.

As you continue on your caregiving journey, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Sincerely,

Calvin Hu

Education Coordinator

[email protected]

Caregiver Conversations Event Highlights

Caregiver Conversations: A Day of Learning, Support, and Information Exchange was hosted by Family Caregiver Alliance, the Contra Costa County Area Agency on Aging, and other key community organizations. The event served as a listening session on the critical needs of local caregivers of adults living with chronic illness. Caregiver Conversations highlights summarizes day’s presentations, in addition to listing information and support organizations that participated during the event.

Depression and Caregiving

Caregiving can be tough and stressful work. While not all caregivers live with depression, it is a normal response to the demands of caregiving. For family caregivers who are depressed, or think they may be, FCA’s Depression and Caregiving fact sheet identifies the symptoms of depression, explains certain caregiver concerns, and gives advice on treatment options, alternative therapies, and how to pay for treatment.

Understanding and Communicating With Someone With Dementia — FCA Learning Center Online Class

Dementia caregiving can be very challenging as family members, spouses, partners, relatives, or friends learn to take on the new role of caregiver, and try to understand, accept, and manage the care of their family member or friend with dementia. Understanding and Communicating with Someone with Dementia is a free online class designed specifically for these caregivers. Participants will learn about different causes of dementia and how they affect people differently, tips for communicating with people with dementia, and how to manage challenging behaviors.

To take this online class, please visit www.caregiver.org/caregiver-learning-center , click on the “Take a class” icon, click on “Understanding and Communicating with Someone with Dementia,” and sign in* or register (registration is free).

*FCA CareJourney members are automatically Learning Center members

Step Out of the Spin Cycle: What to Know About Quitting Your Job to Provide Care

Whether the need to care for an elderly loved one emerges suddenly or gradually, a time can come when we think it’s necessary to quit our job and withdraw from other aspects of life to fulfill our caregiving responsibilities. While this may seem like the best or even the only path to take, this choice can have unexpected emotional, financial, medical, and social repercussions for both the caregiver and the care receiver that should be thought through before a final decision is made. This webinar will focus on the advantages and disadvantages of quitting a job to become a full-time caregiver to a loved one, raise other considerations when making this important decision, and discuss the team approach to caregiving.

When: Wednesday, August 28, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon (Pacific Time)

Where: ONLINE

Cost: No Charge

Contact: Calvin Hu, [email protected] , (415) 434-3388 

Registration: Click here

Delirium Isn’t ‘Just Part of Getting Older’

Delirium is a common ailment effecting millions of older Americans every year. Delirium may be mistaken for dementia as it produces dementia-like symptoms, but a person living with dementia may also be simultaneously affected by both dementia and delirium. Unlike dementia, delirium is most often a temporary condition, and can usually be treated. Next Avenue Health and Caregiving Editor Edie Grossfield provides a detailed look at the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of delirium.

Live-In Senior Care: Is It a Good Idea?

Live-in senior care is one option for older adults requiring assistance for common everyday tasks, but wanting to age in place. There are two types of arrangements for this kind of care: a paid caregiver will live in the same home as the person they are tending to, or two paid caregivers work in 12-hour shifts providing round-the-clock care. U.S.News contributor Elaine K. Howley explains the types of situations this care is best suited to, and discusses the pros and cons of live-in senior care.

There Must Be a Better Way Than This! 

A Free One-Day Class for Dementia Caregivers

In this FCA class, you’ll have the opportunity to learn tips and strategies for understanding and communicating effectively with someone living with dementia. This class will also cover how to handle difficult behaviors, how dementia impacts a person’s ability to understand and communicate, and how to feel more confident in your caregiving role.

Pre-registration is required and group size is limited. Please let us know if you have a disability and require specific accommodations. This class is specifically for family caregivers, not providers. 

When: Wednesday, October 23, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: Coventry Place, Main Activities room, fifth floor

1550 Sutter Street, San Francisco 94109

Cost: No Charge

Registration: Christina Irving,  [email protected] , (415) 434-3388 x 303

Film Screening: Too Soon To Forget

Too Soon To Forget is a new documentary on early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Early onset Alzheimer’s disease affects people under 65 years of age, and can strike those as young as 30. Too Soon to Forget follows nine families living and coping with this disease, and seeks to raise public awareness and increase support for those affected by early onset Alzheimer’s.

A question and answer session will follow the film screening with Catholic Charities Aging Support Services staff. The screening is sponsored by Burlingame Parks and Recreation, Catholic Charities, and the Peninsula Health Care District.

When: Thursday, August 22 at 1:30 p.m., and Tuesday, August 27 at 6 p.m.

Where:   Burlingame Recreation Center

850 Burlingame Avenue, Burlingame 94010

Cost: No charge

Memory Cafe

Memory cafes provide a safe and supportive space where people living with memory loss and their caregivers can socialize, participate in activities, and relax. You are invited to join fellow caregivers and care receivers for a memory cafe at the Trousdale Wellness Center.

This memory cafe is sponsored by Burlingame Parks and Recreation, Catholic Charities, the Peninsula Health Care District, and Rotary International.

Schedule: September 4 - meet & greet, October 2 - chair yoga, November 6 - music & memory, and December 4 - photo sharing

When: Wednesdays, monthly, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Where:   Trousdale Wellness Center

1875 Trousdale Drive, Burlingame 94010

Cost: No charge

Registration: (650) 558-7300

Getting There Together: A Celebration of All Ages and Abilities 

Getting There Together is a citywide celebration of San Francisco seniors and adults with disabilities. This event will bring together seniors, people with disabilities, service providers, and the public to celebrate and ensure San Francisco is a great place to live and age. Activities include a main stage with music and dance, an interactive resource fair, a heath and fitness track, and an open air gymnasium.

Getting There Together is presented by CASE (Coalition of Agencies Serving the Elderly) in partnership with Livable City/Sunday Streets, the City and County of San Francisco Department of Aging and Adult Services, Age and Disability Friendly San Francisco, and the Dignity Fund Coalition.

When: Sunday, September 8, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Larkin Street, Ellis Street, Jones Street, and Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, please click here for a map

Cost: No charge

Contact: [email protected]

FCA’s   Facebook page   offers articles and posts of interest for family caregivers. Please follow our page at www.facebook.com/FamilyCaregiverAlliance .

Do You Get Caregiving Policy Digest?

Published monthly, this e-newsletter focuses on legislation and policy, caregiving research, and media coverage of caregiving issues. Visit the  archive  for past issues and click  here   to subscribe.

Professional Research

Graduate Student Research

We would like to take a moment to extend a warm thank you to the many generous supporters who make the work we do possible through thoughtful donations to Family Caregiver Alliance.

FCA has led the way in supporting family caregivers for over 40 years.

Your donation makes all the difference!

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Phone: (800) 445-8106 | Email: [email protected]

Visit Family Caregiver Alliance’s online solution for secure information, support, and resources for family caregivers of adults with chronic physical or cognitive conditions.  FCA CareJourney™   provides a personalized dashboard loa   ded with inform   ation that matches your unique caregiving needs.

Visit  caregiver.org   today and  JOIN!