Vol. 11, No. 3
March 2020
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Dear Friends:
The country and world are working hard to contain the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). This disease has been most dangerous to older adults, and those with certain health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease. The coronavirus is particularly concerning to family caregivers who may be tending to someone with an elevated risk, or who are themselves in the groups most threatened.
Sincerely,
Calvin Hu
Education Coordinator
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“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Family Caregiver Alliance Will Be There For All Family Caregivers During This Crisis
Family Caregiver Alliance is committed to supporting you and other caregivers through the evolving situation associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19). Our thoughts are with caregivers struggling to find ways to keep themselves and their families and friends physically and emotionally healthy during this uncertain time.
Our online services continue to be available
We continue offering our services to caregivers through our website (
caregiver.org). This includes our robust collection of high-quality information and training tailored for family and friend caregivers. These resources now include updates on the coronavirus.
•Articles and overviews on health conditions, planning for care, daily care, self-care, legal issues, and more
•Educational webinars and videos on a range of caregiving topics
•Stress-reduction exercises
•Updates on the coronavirus and national, state and local responses and care tips
•Live webinars to be scheduled
Family Caregivers in San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Marin Counties
For caregivers in the San Francisco Bay Area:
FCA will continue our consultation/coaching, emotional support and educational programs by phone, telehealth (secure video) and online classes. Our telehealth visits involve a simple online service that allows your family consultant to provide you with a face-to-face check-in. To request a telehealth visit, please contact your family consultant.
As FCA quickly changes our services to reach everyone now sheltering in place,
we will be offering telephone or video support groups, educational classes and delivering other services by phone or online. We will keep you posted of additional services as they become available. Let us know if you have questions or need additional information regarding COVID-19 and caregiving.
Contacting FCA
If you need to contact your family consultant by phone, please use the consultant’s phone extension. A listing of phone extensions was sent out in a prior email. You can also find them in our phone directory when calling the office (415.434.3388). This will ensure your consultant receives your message in a timely manner. Please note that response times may be slower than normal.
For more information about the coronavirus and related resources, please see our recent
blog post.
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Survey Online Caregiving Educational Classes
While FCA staff are working remotely and are available for support on an individual basis, many of our community classes or workshops have been postponed. In the meantime, we are planning to offer more online educational programs so caregivers can still stay connected, and receive helpful information and resources. To make them as useful as possible,
please fill out this short survey and let us know what programs you would like to see.
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Alameda County Caregiver Conversations: Highlights and Slides
Caregiver Conversations was a special event held in January that brought together Alameda county residents and key community organizations for a listening session on the unique needs of family caregivers. For those who were unable to attend, FCA has compiled highlights from the event. Please
click here to read a summary of the day’s findings. Caregiver Conversations’ keynote was delivered by Rita Choula, AARP director of Caregiving Projects. The slides from her presentation can be
viewed here.
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Spotlight — Innovations in
Alzheimer’s
Caregiving Awards Winner:
Charlotte Symphony
Charlotte Symphony’s
Healing Hands is a unique program that highlights the restorative power of music. Healing Hands sends Charlotte Symphony musicians into local hospitals, libraries, senior care centers, and recreation centers to enrich the lives of patients, residents, and community members. The music performed ranges from intimate ensemble pieces to larger chamber orchestral works.
Healing Hands performances include interactive elements, audience participation, and are designed to be accessible to those with early to mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease. For local area residents, please visit the orchestra’s
community events page for upcoming concerts.
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Join FCA’s Young Adult Caregiver Support Group
This group focuses on the needs and unique challenges faced by caregivers 40 and under. FCA’s Young Adult Caregiver Support Group meets monthly online (via Zoom) on the 1st Thursday, and 3rd Thursday — 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Zoom login details will be provided with registration. To register contact Rachel, (415) 434-3388 ext. 331 or email
rcreed@caregiver.org
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Proper Hand-Washing Technique
The CDC recommends through hand-washing as a way to protect against the coronavirus. For the best results, hand cleaning should be more than a quick rub with soap. Johns Hopkins Medicine has uploaded a video,
Hand-washing Steps Using the WHO Technique. The WHO (World Health Organization) is the United Nations agency focused on public health. If water and soap are unavailable, Johns Hopkins has also created a companion video on the most effective use of hand sanitizer,
Hand Rubbing Steps Using the WHO Technique.
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Nursing Home Visitation Guidelines (coronavirus)
The deadliest outbreak of coronavirus has been linked to a nursing home in Washington state. Nursing homes are vulnerable to these outbreaks due to the age and frailty of their residents. California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform has published information on the new
Nursing Home Visitation Guidelines by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which were drafted to reduce the danger of coronavirus in nursing homes.
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Presence Caregiver Study Enrolling Family Caregivers
People Power and researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have jointly developed Presence Caregiver. This system is designed to improve the safety of people living with dementia and to reduce the stress and isolation of their caregivers. Presence Caregiver includes in-home sensors that alert family caregivers to potential risks including falls, wandering, and water leaks. No cameras are used to preserve privacy.
Presence Caregiver is seeking 400 family caregivers of adults with dementia or mild cognitive impairment for a one year research project. Participants will receive the Presence Caregiver system at no charge, which consists of devices and sensors that connect with a smartphone app. Participants must be family caregivers, fluent in English, living with a person with dementia, and have a smartphone and wireless internet connectivity. Please
click here for more information and to see if you are eligible to participate.
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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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Coronavirus and Older Adults: Your Questions Answered
Many family caregivers are either tending to or are themselves older adults. The novel coronavirus has been particularly serious for adults 60 and above. AARP’s Rachel Nania interviews doctor Nancy Messonnier, the director of the CDC National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, on the
pressing questions related to keeping safe during this pandemic.
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How to Keep Yourself Safe From Coronavirus Scams and Fake Health Products
Americans are stocking up on groceries and home cleaning supplies to try and weather the current health emergency. Unfortunately, scammers are using this time of hardship to prey upon the public. Phishing scams, commerce scams, and fake products are some of the ways these individuals are looking to defraud you. Good Housekeeping’s Zee Krstic shares advice on how to
protect against coronavirus scammers.
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CAREGIVERS CONNECT: SF BAY AREA EVENTS
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Caregiver: A Love Story – Screenings Postponed
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 registration is required. Refreshments will be provided.
The screenings have been postponed.
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Sustainable Caregiving — Online Class
Sustainable Caregiving is a live, online class of eight weekly 90-minute sessions. In each class, participants will learn skills to help make caregiving sustainable and to reduce burnout. The class will also include smaller structured break-out groups in addition to the normal full sized class. The class topics include: attentional balance, positive intention setting, stress responses, difficult emotions, self-compassion, challenging relationships, chronic sadness, and growth in adversity.
This online class is for residents of the San Francisco Bay Area. San Francisco residents will be given priority for registration.
When: Wednesdays, May 6, 13, 20, 27, and June 3, 10, 17, 24, from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Where: Online via Zoom (link to join will be sent after registration)
Cost: No charge
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CAREGIVERS CONNECT: SF BAY AREA PARTNER EVENTS
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10th Annual Caregivers Count! Conference – Event Postponed
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: Postponed
1 West Campbell Avenue, Campbell 95008
Cost: $15
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Headlines From the February 2020 Caregiving Policy Digest
- House Committees Inch Ahead on Surprise Medical Bills
- Primary Physician Home Care Services Expand
- Strength training targets frailty
The entire February 2020 issue is available
here
.
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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
Deborah Kan
Shruti Kothari
Catherine Lelong
Rajiv Mehta
Scott Peifer
Tiffany Riser
Keely Stevenson
Ian Tong
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