Vol. 7, No. 6 June 16, 2016

Dear Friends, Summer is once again here. For those readers who’ve been caregiving since last summer or longer and for those who are new to caregiving, FCA recognizes your hard work, dedication, and compassion in providing care for a relative, friend, or neighbor. We understand how much time, energy, and effort it takes to provide care and we are thankful for all that you do. For those of you who ’ve started your caregiving journey recently, we have many resources available on our website , including an  introductory fact sheet on caregiving, as well as a more detailed  caregiver self-care fact sheet  which explains why self-care is so important, and lists some ways you can integrate self-care practices into your daily routine. For caregivers new and old, as well as for professionals and medical providers, all of FCA’s webinars are now online and free to view. You can find them on our webinar archive page. For your convenience, our webinars have been organized into three categories: d aily care, p lanning for care, and s elf-care. As always, we welcome your comments and suggestions. Feel free to contact me directly at the email below.  Sincerely, Calvin Hu Education Coordinator [email protected]

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“ What’s in store for the future? ... I only know that day by day, we carry on. I am glad he survived. I’m glad I had the courage to stand by his side when, as “a girlfriend,” I really didn’t have to. Now more than ever, I treasure the time we spend together and look forward to each new day with an unbridled expectation of things to come.” —  Olga Sowchuk, caregiver

NEWS FOR CAREGIVERS

FCA Launches Outreach and Awareness Campaign in San Francisco: ‘WE CALL IT caregiving’ FCA is excited to announce a new caregiving awareness campaign. Starting this month, large format banners can be seen on San Francisco  Paratransit buses. T he goal of this campaign is to raise awareness about caregiving with the public, while also connecting with caregivers who might be in need of FCA or partner organization services. If you see one of our banners, please share a photo on our social media pages to help spread the word about caregiving.

FCA would like to thank the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation for development of this caregiving awareness campaign.

FCA Caregiving Webinars Online Archive  Are you having difficulty  communicating with relatives and family members  about caregiving decisions? Are you worried about an older family member or friend  falling and injuring themselves ? Are you in need of help managing the finances of a relative, or parent who is no longer able to do this themselves? You can get information and advice on these and other caregiving topics at our newly expanded webinar archive, where all FCA webinars are now free to view online.

Help Support FCA and Caregivers by Shopping on AmazonSmile If you shop on Amazon.com, please consider supporting FCA through the AmazonSmile program. This program donates a small percentage of the value of your purchases to non-profit organizations at no cost to you. To select FCA as your AmazonSmile program, a ll you need to do is click this link.

FCA’s Caregiver Satisfaction Survey   FCA clients who have received services within the last year will be receiving a survey by mail or by email this month. We’d be grateful for your feedback in order to help us provide the best service to you and to make sure we continually improve our processes, procedures, and programs. Thank you!

INFORMATION YOU CAN USE

Hot Weather Tips Caregivers for older individuals face additional challenges when the temperature rises. Normal physiological changes that occur later in life, medications, or a cognitive impairment can inhibit an older person’s ability to tell if they are suffering from unhealthy temperatures. Please read our article to learn tips on how to keep a loved one cool, and how to spot the warning signs of a heat related problem. Photo by High Contrast (Own work) [CC BY 3.0 de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/de/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons

Downsizing a Home: A Checklist for Caregivers This FCA Tip Sheet provides a useful guide on planning a move for you, or someone you care for, in the most efficient way possible. Moving can be stressful, especially when moving to a smaller space, when planning a move for a family member or parent, or during a move brought on by a crisis. This tip sheet will guide you from start to finish, from the initial planning to the final settling in.  A listing of all FCA Fact and Tip Sheets is available at our fact and tip sheet webpage.

ARTICLES FOR CAREGIVERS

Caregivers Are Winning Workplace Discrimination Cases Family Responsibilities Discrimination (FRD), is when an employer discriminates against an employee only because of their caregiving responsibilities. Examples of FRD can include being passed over for promotion, fired, or demoted for no demonstrable reason related to work performance.  Rex Huppke writes in the Chicago Tribune that FRD complaints have skyrocketed in the past decade. However, in a majority of court cases, the caregivers have prevailed against their employer with 67 percent of cases being decided in favor of the caregiver.

What If PTSD Is More Physical Than Psychological? Robert F. Worth writing for the T he New York Times Magazine explores the data and repercussions of a new study that links exposure to blast waves with brain damage.  Th is study is unique in that it departs from the conventional wisdom that treats brain injury from explosions the same as brain injury from  sports concussions or head trauma from car accidents. This new study indicates that brain injuries induced by the violent phenomena of a blast wave leave a t elltale scarring pattern on the brain, not seen in other types of brain injury.

CAREGIVERS CONNECT: SF BAY AREA EVENTS

Caregiver Educational and Respite Retreat in Fremont You are invited to join FCA and the City of Fremont for a free one-day retreat designed especially for you, the family caregiver. Enjoy a visit to Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, located in the historic Mission San Jose district of Fremont. The tree lined campus includes a newly restored home from 1885, the largest mission-era olive grove in California, a labyrinth, and numerous gardens and green spaces throughout. You’ll enjoy a complimentary breakfast and lunch, educational presentations for caregivers, a therapeutic group activity, and a chance to share your experiences with other family caregivers.  Pre-registration is required and group size is limited. This retreat is specifically for family caregivers, not providers.  When: Friday, June 24, 9:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Where: Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose 43326 Mission Circle, Fremont 94539 Cost: Free Registration: Click here Contact: Calvin Hu, [email protected], (415) 434-3388 x 313

There Must Be a Better Way Than This! (A Free One Day Class for Dementia Caregivers) In this class, you’ll learn tips and strategies for understanding and communicating with someone affected by dementia. You’ll also learn how to handle difficult behaviors, how dementia affects 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. This class  is specifically for family caregivers, not providers.   San Rafael When:  Friday, June 17, 10  a.m. to 1 p.m. Where:  Alzheimer’s Association — Northern California and Northern Nevada Chapter 4340 Redwood Highway,  Suite F138, S an Rafael 94903  Registration: Amanda Hartrey, [email protected], (415) 434-3388 x 334 Half Moon Bay When:  Saturday, June 25, 10  a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Where:  Coastside Adult Day Health Center 925 Main Street,  Half Moon Bay 94019 Registration: Christina Irving, [email protected], (415) 434-3388 x 303

CAREGIVERS CONNECT: SF BAY AREA PARTNER EVENTS

Caregiving: The Circle of Love AARP’s new documentary, Caregiving: The Circle of Love, presents caregiving through the unique lens of the Chinese American experience. This short film focuses on three Chinese American caregivers including MSNBC News Anchor Richard Lui. Following the screening, there will be a panel discussion, and questions and answers.  When: T uesday, June 21, 6 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.  Where:  University of San Francisco,  Fromm Hall (Xavier Auditorium) 2497 Golden Gate Avenue,  San Francisco 94118 Cost:  Free Registration: Click here

Legal and Financial Planning for Alzheimer’s  Disease This Alzheimer’s Association class was designed for families or individuals taking care of someone diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, or a related dementia. At this class you will learn about the legal and financial issues to consider when planning for long–term dementia care. Legal documents, finding legal and financial assistance, tax information, and government programs that can help pay for care will be discussed.  When: Wednesday , June 29, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.  Where:  CPMC Davies Campus,  Davies Auditorium located in the North Tower,  Level B 45 Castro Street, San Francisco 94114 Cost:  Free Registration: Rachel Main, [email protected] ,  (415) 463-8505

RESEARCH REGISTRY

Professional Research Caregivers’ Use of Patient Portals for Their Loved Ones Mobile Assessment of Cognitive Function Life Enhancing Activities for Family Caregivers (LEAF) Graduate Student Research Caring for a Friend or Family Member With Dementia Are You a Caregiver for an Older Adult With a Pet Cat or Dog? Family Caregivers of Loved Ones With Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Life Balance in Adult Siblings of Individuals With Childhood Cancer

OUR SUPPORTERS: THANK YOU!

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. View a list of our current donors here. FCA has led the way in supporting family caregivers for over 35 years. Your donation makes all the difference!

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Connections Credits      Editors Calvin Hu Michelle Venegas   Contributors Kathleen Kelly Calvin Hu Lana Sheridan Michelle Venegas Leah Eskenazi Communications and Layout Francesca Pera Executive Director Kathleen Kelly

FCA Board of Directors President Jacquelyn Kung Vice-President Dan Lieberman Treasurer Jeff Kumataka Athan Bezaitis Wanda Borges Herman S. Brown, Jr. Tricia Dell Ping Hao Catherine Lelong Rajiv Mehta Chris Park Scott Peifer Kathleen Raffel Celeste Takatsuno F. Burns Vick