The new year normally marks a new beginning and a fresh start. Unfortunately, the beginning of 2021 is still marred by the dangers and challenges of COVID-19. Despite this dark cloud, January is still a good time celebrate all you have accomplished over the past year, especially because of COVID-19.

Pandemic or not, FCA's mission is to improve the quality of life for caregivers and the people who receive their care. To that end we offer a number of helpful online tools including CareNav, a secure online service that offers personalized information, support, and resources; FCA Learning Center which brings together our fact sheets, recorded online classes, and videos, to provide a one-stop shop for educational materials; and Family Care Navigator, that can help you locate and connect with resources in your area.

Sincerely,

This online support group provides a place for family caregivers to get support and hear from other caregivers. It is moderated by a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and is open to San Francisco Bay Area caregivers who are caring for someone 60 or older with any diagnosis, or caring for someone between the ages of 18-59 with an adult onset cognitive or neurological impairment. The group being offered in six-week cycles with breaks in between.

When: Six consecutive Tuesdays, starting January 26, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Cost: No charge

To register: Click here

The San Francisco LGBTQ Dementia Care Project is a collaboration between The Alzheimer’s Association, in partnership with Openhouse, and FCA. The project offers free training to health and social service providers on the care needs of LGBTQ seniors living with dementia and their caregivers.

Communication is more than just talking and listening, it’s also about sending and receiving messages through attitude, tone of voice, facial expressions, and body language. As people with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias progress in their journey and the ability to use words is lost, care partners need new ways to connect. Join us to learn to decode verbal and behavioral messages and identify strategies to help you improve communication at each stage of the disease.

When: Monday, January 25, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon (PT)

Cost: No charge

Registration: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LGBTQ012521

KQED Forum is a live call-in radio show discussing local, state, national, and international issues. Forum recently covered how caregiving has changed during the pandemic, and how to get support. The program featured a panel of experts including FCA Clinical Services Director and Family Consultant Christina Irving. Please click here to listen.

Go online to complete a brief questionnaire and get a personal dashboard loaded with information that matches your unique caregiving needs. CareNav, our secure online service, offers quality information, support, and resources for family caregivers of adults with chronic physical or cognitive conditions such as Alzheimer’s, stroke, Parkinson’s, and other illnesses.

To learn more, click here or register here.

This webinar features experts from California Work & Family Coalition explaining Paid Family Leave for caregivers. The presentation covers the basics of Paid Family Leave in addition to local, state, and federal laws that help family caregivers take the time they need while still keeping their jobs. Participants will learn about: Paid Family Leave; State Disability Insurance; job protection under CFRA and FMLA; and paid sick days for caregiving.

To view a recording of this webinar please click here.

Para ver una grabación haga clic aquí.

The California Caregiver Resource Centers (CRC) serve families and caregivers of adults affected by chronic and debilitating health conditions (FCA is the San Francisco Bay Area CRC). FCA is now hosting a calendar of classes, workshops, and events compiled from each of the 11 CRCs and open to family caregivers across the country.

When: Wednesday, January 27, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon (PT)

Where: ONLINE

Cost: No Charge

Contact: [email protected]

Registration: Click here

Many caregivers are assisting family or friends who are older and suffering from one or more chronic health conditions. These older and sicker adults are more susceptible to COVID-19, and are in theory near the top of the list for a vaccination. In practice, getting a COVID-19 shot varies between states and counties, and can be very confusing and unclear. Next Avenue writer Arlene Weintraub provides some advice on how to navigate the vaccine red tape and outlines the special considerations for loved ones that are homebound.

For residents of California, VaccinateCA helps get COVID-19 vaccines in the hands of seniors as quickly as possible by publishing up-to-date vaccine availability at hospitals and pharmacies across the state. The volunteer-led effort calls hundreds of locations every day to get up-to-date availability information, while also tracking and publishing county-level vaccination policies.

Caregiving can take a physical, emotional, and financial toll. To help offset the expenses of being a caregiver, many families opt to enter into a family care agreement (also known as a personal care agreement). Forbes contributor Cindy Hounsell explains what these contracts do, and how they can benefit both the family caregiver and the person for whom they are providing care.

For more information, please view FCA's fact sheet on personal care agreements.

Ang webinar na “Mabisang Komunikasyon sa Pangangalaga” ay para sa mga family caregivers na ang pangunahing wika ay Tagalog bilang tulong at suporta sa pagsiyasat ng mas mabuti at mas mabisang pamamaraan sa komunikasyon. Ang mga family caregivers ay kadalasang nagsusumikap na panatilihin ang magandang komunikasyon at iwasan ang hidwaan sa loob ng pamilya. Ang webinar ay itatanghal sa wikang Tagalog para sa pakinabang ng mga Pilipinong caregivers at sa mga family caregivers na ang pangunahing wika ay Tagalog. Ang pangunahing layunin nito ay para tulungan ang family caregivers na unawain ang kahirapan sa komunikasyon sa loob ang kani-kanilang pamilya at para sa kanilang mas mabisang pagtaguyod.

Kailan: Pebrero 25, 1:30 PM - 3 PM Pacific Time

Halaga: Gratis

Pagrerehistro: Click here

Pakikipag-ugnayan: Jasmine Ng, [email protected]

When: March 10, from 2 to 3:15 p.m. (PT)

Where: Online

Cost: No charge

Registration: Click here

Contact: [email protected]

The entire issue is available here.

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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