Vol. 11, No. 2
February 2020
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Dear Friends:
Have you visited FCA on social media recently? When you connect with FCA, you’ll receive information on classes, retreats, news on caregiving, innovative programs, and the latest stories about legislation and policy that will affect caregivers. Please stop by
FCA’s Facebook page and follow our
Twitter account.
FCA is continually working to support family caregivers with high-quality online resources. For information on medical conditions, caregiving questions, and local resources, please join
FCA CareJourney
, a free web tool that provides personalized information tailored to your unique caregiving situation.
Sincerely,
Calvin Hu
Education Coordinator
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“
No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.
”
—
Aesop
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Caregiver: A Love Story
Caregiver: A Love Story, is a short documentary that follows the journey of Bambi Fass and her husband Rick as he cares for her at home during the last weeks of her life. This documentary is being used by caregiving experts to help prepare families for common caregiving issues and to connect them with resources in their community.
Following the screening FCA Clinical Services Director and Family Consultant Christina Irving will moderate a discussion. Space is limited, and registrations are required. Refreshments will be provided.
San Francisco
When: Wednesday, March 18, from 4 to 6 p.m.
3575 Geary Boulevard, San Francisco 94118
Cost: No charge
Berkeley
When: Sunday, April 5, from 2 to 4 p.m.
1414 Walnut Street, Berkeley 94709
Cost: No charge
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Join FCA
’
s Young Adult Caregiver Support Group
This group will focus on the needs and unique challenges faced by caregivers 40 and under. The group will meet monthly online (via Zoom) on the 1st Thursday, and in-person on the 3rd Thursday — 6 to 7:30 p.m. In-person meeting locations will alternate between San Francisco (near Montgomery BART) and Oakland (near 19th Street BART).
Exact locations and Zoom login details will be provided with registration. To register contact Rachel at (415) 434-3388 ext. 331, or email
rcreed@caregiver.org
.
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Transportation Survey for Seniors and People With Disabilities in the San Francisco Bay Area
Transportation Resiliency, Access and Climate Sustainability (TRACS) is seeking input to improve transportation for seniors and people with disabilities. The goal of TRACS is to understand the unique transportation needs of seniors and people with disabilities in the Bay Area and to make transportation more accessible. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. All survey respondents can enter their name and email for a drawing for a $25 gift card.
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2020 Census
The 2020 Census survey is just around the corner. You, with the assistance of a family member or your caregiver, can complete your 2020 Census survey when you receive your letter in mid-March with instructions for completing your survey.
FCA is helping to get the word out. Please see the Census
FAQ’s for more information.
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Medicare Heart Disease Screening
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Half of adults in the country have at least one risk factor for heart disease or stroke. To help older Americans determine if they are at risk, Medicare Part B includes a free heart disease screening every five years. A short video about the disease and the free screening can be viewed
here.
For more information on what Medicare covers, please visit
Medicare.gov.
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Genuine Resilience Is Closer (and Easier) Than You May Think: Webinar Recording Available
Resilience, or the ability to rebound from difficult or traumatic experiences, is the key to well-being. In the context of caregiving, developing emotional skills for coping with stress is essential for the long-term.
Watch a recording of this recent webinar featuring Zen Caregiving Project for an introduction to the key areas essential for coping with stress. This webinar will also provide simple practices you can integrate into your caregiving to build resilience.
Objectives:
- Introduce the relationship between mindfulness, emotional skills, and well-being in caregivers
- Lead a short, guided meditation and provide ways to maintain a simple mindfulness practice in one’s busy life
- Offer simple activities that family caregivers can integrate into their lives to build compassion, resilience, and to better cope with stressful situations.
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Estate Planning 101 for California Property Owners
For many Californians, your home is your biggest asset, but passing it on to the next generation can be complicated. This webinar will explain what an estate plan is and how it can help you and your loved ones during your lifetime as well as after your death. The webinar will cover key documents of estate planning, which include living trust, will, financial power of attorney, and health care directive. This webinar will also help you to understand California’s laws around property taxation and provide information on how your family may be able to access tax savings when transferring property from one generation to the next. Estate Planning 101 for California Property Owners will feature experts from the
Office of San Francisco Assessor Carmen Chu, and
Housing and Economic Rights Advocates (HERA).
Objectives:
- Develop an understanding of the basic components of an estate plan and why it is important to have an estate plan in California
- Develop an understanding of California’s laws around property assessment and tax savings available to California homeowners when transferring property within families
- Understand where to go for additional information and resources on these topics
When:
Wednesday, March 25, from 11
a.m. to 12 noon (PT)
Where:
ONLINE
Cost:
No Charge
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CPR, by Default
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a staple in television shows, where the victim usually makes a miraculous recovery. Unfortunately the success rate of CPR in the real world is grim for many seniors. When performed on an adult 80 or over in a hospital, most of these patients will not survive to discharge. The success rate is worse when CPR is performed outside a hospital. The New York Times’ journalist Paula Span delves into the high mortality rate of CPR when performed on older adults, and examines
why it is the default procedure even on those with a low chance of success.
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What Caregivers Should Know About Managing a Loved One
’
s Money
Being a caregiver can include a wide range of tasks, from medication management to toileting. Some of those being cared for may no longer be capable of handling their finances. AARP has published an article about the tools, laws, and concerns relating to
managing a loved one’s money. The article also quotes FCA Family Consultant Jo McCord on potential conflicts among family when money management is involved.
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CAREGIVERS CONNECT: SF BAY AREA EVENTS
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Dementia and Caregiving
Caring for someone with memory loss or dementia can be challenging. Come and find ways to balance managing your own health and well-being while acting as a caregiver. Learn simple skills to handle troubling behavior, tools to help you reduce stress, coping skills, and find community resources to support you. Light refreshments will be provided.
This FREE program will be offered in English and Spanish.
Este programa es gratuito y sera ofrecido en Ingles Y Espanol
When: Saturday March 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (sign-in starts at 9:30 a.m.)
193 Griffith Lane, Brentwood 94513
Cost: No charge
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Self-care and Stress Management for Caregivers
One of the greatest challenges of being a family caregiver is maintaining one’s own physical and emotional health—all too often, caregivers neglect their health and well-being. We cannot stop the impact of a chronic illness on a loved one. However, we, as caregivers, need to be responsible for our own self-care. At this workshop, participants will learn why those who care for others often feel sad, guilty, alone, and how you can change these feelings. Participants will also learn about tools to reduce stress, change negative thinking, and how to ask for what you need from others.
When:
Wednesday, April 22, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
840 West Orange Avenue, South San Francisco 94080
Cost:
No charge
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CAREGIVERS CONNECT: SF BAY AREA PARTNER EVENTS
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Too Soon to Forget: The Journey of Younger Onset Alzheimer’s Disease
Too Soon To Forget is a 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 moderated by Catholic Charities Director of Client Services Patty Clement in collaboration with Terue Shinohara, Support & Wellness Manager Kimochi San Mateo.
When: Wednesday, February 26, starting at 6 p.m.
55 West 3rd Avenue, San Mateo 94402
Cost: No charge
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Connected Horse
Connected Horse is for those living with early stage dementia and their caregivers. Based based on research conducted at UC Davis and Stanford Universities, this program seeks to harness the power of the human-horse connection to help participants feel relaxed, confident, and happy in the moment.
No prior experience with horses is necessary to participate. Participants will be engaging with horses from the ground (no riding). All participants must be ambulatory and willing to participate together.
Pleasanton/Danville
When: Saturdays, March 7, 14, 21, and 28, from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
7220 Johnston Road, Pleasanton 94588
Cost: No charge (donations accepted)
Orinda
When: Wednesdays, April 8, 15, 22, 29, and May 6, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon
60 Don Gabriel Way, Orinda 94563
Cost: No charge (donations accepted)
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Caregiver Conference: TBI and Stroke
The
Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center
(DVBIC) is hosting its 1st Annual TBI and Stroke Caregiver Conference. This free conference is open to the public, focusing on caregiving for individuals with stroke or TBI. The conference will include presentations by family
caregivers, brain injury specialists, and afternoon breakout sessions.
Light snacks will be provided in the morning and the canteen will be open for lunch.
When:
Friday, March 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
3801 Miranda Avenue, Palo Alto 94304
Cost:
No charge
Registration: No registration needed
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Dementia Caregiver Wellness Day 2020
Join the
Presence Care Project and
Zen Caregiving Project for a day of wellness, relaxation, and community. This retreat was created especially for you — the dementia family caregiver. Each activity was selected to help boost your resilience and sustain your wellness as you continue on your caregiving journey.
The retreat will offer four 1 ½ hour sessions, during which you’ll have a chance to experience different ways to practice self-care. You will leave feeling energized, relaxed, and inspired to pursue one or more of these practices throughout the year.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Respite may be available. The Institute on Aging will open the Enrichment Center during the event if enough caregivers are interested.
1199 9th Avenue, San Francisco 94122
When: Sunday, April 5, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cost: No charge
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10th Annual Caregivers Count! Conference
Caregivers Count! is an annual event designed for families and friends caring for their loved ones. The conference features professional speakers covering a wide range of topics to support caregivers. This year’s presentations include: emotional well-being, stress reduction, paying for care, technology tools, and dealing with resistance.
When: Saturday, April 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
1 West Campbell Avenue, Campbell 95008
Cost:
$15
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Do You Get Caregiving Policy Digest?
Published monthly, this e-newsletter focuses on legislation and policy, caregiving research, and media coverage of caregiving issues. The recent, issue is available
here.
Visit the
archive
for past issues and click
here
to subscribe.
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Professional Research
Graduate Student Research
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OUR SUPPORTERS: THANK YOU!
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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.
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Follow FCA on Social Media!
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101 Montgomery Street | Suite 2150 | San Francisco, CA 94104
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Visit Family Caregiver Alliance’s
NEW
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.
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Family Care Navigator
state-by-state resources
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Help support Family Caregiver Alliance by choosing FCA as your
Amazon Smile
charity.
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Connections Credits
Editors
Calvin Hu
Al Martinez
Contributors
Kathleen Kelly
Calvin Hu
Lana Sheridan
Leah Eskenazi
Executive Director
Kathleen Kelly
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FCA Board of Directors
President
Celine Takatsuno
Vice-President
Dan Lieberman
Treasurer
Wyatt Ritchie
Secretary
Kathleen Raffel
Amanda Breeden
Athan Bezaitis
Shruti Kothari
Catherine Lelong
Rajiv Mehta
Scott Peifer
Tiffany Riser
Keely Stevenson
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