Vol. 10, No. 5
May 16, 2019
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Dear Friends:
May is
Older Americans Month
. It’
s a time to recognize, reflect, and celebrate the contributions older Americans have made and continue to make across this country. Besides being a vital part of our communities and families, many older Americans are also caregivers for spouses, family, relatives, or friends.
Sincerely,
Calvin Hu
Education Coordinator
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“When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
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FCA Executive Director Kathleen Kelly Speaks at California Budget Subcommittees
In the next decade, 20 percent of Californians will be over the age of 65 with an estimated 4.5 million family caregivers. On April 25th (California State Senate) and May 6 (California Assembly), FCA Executive Director
Kathleen Kelly
spoke before the legislative budget subcommittees on the importance of increased funding to expand services and support for the millions of California family caregivers. Kelly’s testimony is part of statewide advocacy efforts by FCA, California’s ten other
Caregiver Resource Centers, as well as through
petitions of support by residents.
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Join FCA for a Summer Event in the San Francisco Bay Area
FCA is putting on special caregiving programs this summer across the San Francisco Bay Area. Young Generation X and millennial caregivers are invited to join us at the Google Community Space in downtown San Francisco for a
Young Caregiver Brunch and Tea, bridging the gap and honoring your unique caregiving situation. Family caregivers in Contra Costa County are invited to join FCA for
Caregiver Conversations, a special town hall and conference featuring Keynote Speaker: Dr. Heather Young with a welcome by Pleasant Hill Mayor Ken Carlson. Finally, residents of Alameda County and Santa Clara County are welcome to join FCA and the City of Fremont for our annual
Fremont Caregiver Retreat at the picturesque and serene Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose.
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FCA is Hiring
FCA is looking for qualified and interested applicants to fill current openings in our San Francisco office. Please
click here to see available positions for Social Worker/Family Consultant – bilingual (English/Cantonese), Social Worker/Family Consultant, and Accountant.
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Contra Costa County Family Caregiver Survey
FCA will be drafting a report on the state of family caregiving in Contra Costa County and we need your help. If you are a resident of Contra Costa County please take a moment to complete our five minute
survey, to help us inform local politicians, service providers, and non-profit organizations on your caregiving needs and challenges as a resident of Contra Costa County. All answers given will be kept confidential.
The final report will be presented during our special Caregiver Conversations event on Tuesday, June 25 in Pleasant Hill. Please
click here
for more information.
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Home Alone Alliance Releases New Additions To Caregiver Video Series
The
Home Alone Alliance, a collaborative from
AARP and featuring partners including FCA, has updated its
video series that now includes “Special Diets” and “Managing Incontinence.” The “Special Diets” series consists of information on nutrition basics, modifying food textures, and helping to feed a person with dementia. “Managing Incontinence” covers topics including helping someone to the toilet, how to talk about incontinence, selecting incontinence products, and difficulty getting out of bed.
Both video series can be viewed on the
FCA Learning Center
. Click on “Watch” and type in either “diet,” or “incontinence” in the search field.
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Contra Costa County Seeking Input From Local Family Caregivers
The Contra Costa County Area Agency on Aging would like to hear from Contra Costa County family caregivers. Caregivers of an adult 60 years or older are encouraged to complete a 20 minute
survey that will help the county determine the needs and priorities of older adults and their caregivers. This survey will also help shape the 2020-2024 Countywide Area Plan for Older Adults.
All survey responses are anonymous.
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What You Need to Know About Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse
Ten percent of Americans over the age of 60 have experienced elder abuse, according to the National Council on Aging. There are many types of elder abuse including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and financial abuse. This webinar will provide a brief overview of common trends related to elder and dependent adult abuse, common signs and symptoms to look out for in your loved ones, and ways to report abuse.
Objectives:
- Reasons older and dependent adults are vulnerable to abuse
- Common signs and symptoms of elder and dependent adult abuse
- Where to report suspicions of elder and dependent abuse
Click
here to view a recording of the webinar, and
here to download a copy of the slides.
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FCA Fact Sheet: Mild Cognitive Impairment
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a condition that falls between normal age-related memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease or a similar impairment. A person with MCI may experience memory problems, and difficulties with judgment, thinking and language. To read more about MCI, please
click here.
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From Gloom To Gratitude: Eight Skills To Cultivate Joy
Morning Edition’s Allison Aubrey reports on an encouraging caregiver study that suggests depression and anxiety can be reduced through
positive thinking. The article also explains how caregivers can apply eight simple daily actions in their own lives to develop a positive outlook.
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Many Americans Will Need Long-Term Care. Most Won’t be Able to Afford It.
It is estimated that 50 to 66 percent of older Americans will need some form of long-term care. Unfortunately, as New York Times columnist
Paula Span laments,
the majority of th
ese Americans do not have enough money to
pay for long-term care
. Span’
s article focuses in particular on middle-income seniors, those Americans who are not wealthy enough to afford long-term care, but who are also too well off to benefit from federal assistance programs.
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CAREGIVERS CONNECT: SF BAY AREA EVENTS
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Young Caregiver Brunch and Tea - Honoring Modern Caregiving Needs
FCA is excited to host a special workshop for young family caregivers. We would like to bridge the gap, as well as celebrate, support, and honor your stories, despite the dearth of available information. This workshop will feature presenters speaking on topics specifically relevant to younger family caregivers, whose needs and concerns can differ from a caregiver who is older.
A light breakfast and refreshments will be provided.
When: Saturday, June 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
188 The Embarcadero, San Francisco 94105
Cost: No Charge
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Fremont Retreat
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 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.
The retreat will be located in the Dominican Center,
click here to view a campus map.
Pre-registration is required. Please let us know if you have a disability and require specific accommodations. Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate professional caregivers at this event.
When: Friday, April 27, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
43326 Mission Circle, Fremont 94539
Cost: No charge
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Caregiver Conversations
Join FCA for a day of learning, support, and information exchange!
This convening is for family and friends caregiving for an adult living with a complex illness (e.g. dementia, general frailty, Parkinson’s, stroke, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), Multiple Sclerosis, and similar conditions), and professionals who provide services to caregivers and care receivers in Contra Costa County.
Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Heather Young, co-author, Home Alone Revisited study, 2019. Professor and Dean Emerita Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, UC Davis.
Welcome by Ken Carlson, Mayor, Pleasant Hill
**Respite services are available on a first-come, first-served basis.**
When:
Tuesday, June 25, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where:
Pleasant Hill Community Center, Perera Pavilion
320 Civic Drive, Pleasant Hill 94523
Cost:
No charge
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CAREGIVERS CONNECT: SF BAY AREA PARTNER EVENTS
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Ninth Annual Caregivers Count Conference
Join the
Aging Services Collaborative for a conference for families and friends caring for a loved one. This conference will connect you to resources and information to help you on your caregiving journey. Conference topics include the healing power of humor, coping with grief and loss, and information on long term care options.
Respite care grants are available through the Alzheimer’s Association. Contact (800) 272-3900 for more information.
When: Saturday, May 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
1 West Campbell Avenue, Campbell 95008
Cost: $15 (includes lunch)
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Tooling up for Cognitive Care: How Families, Volunteers and Care Staff Can Use Cognitive Care Technologies to Improve Home Visits and Day Activities (webinar)
This is a free webinar presented by Mandy Salomon PhD, CEO of
Mentia, and creator of Deva World, a tablet-based cognitive care program used by residential care communities. Webinar participants will have the opportunity to learn about cognitive care as the missing piece in non-medical support, how digital tools are opening up communication pathways and building meaningful connections, the challenges in going digital, and how supporters and staff can learn new person-centered care skills by being “tooled up.”
When: Tuesday, June 25, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. (PT)
Where: Online
Cost: No charge
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Teepa Snow — Dementia Caregiver Conference for Professional and Family Caregivers
Join Campos Family Vineyards and
Positive Approach to Care for a dementia caregiver conference. The featured speaker is Teepa Snow who will talk about
brain changes in dementia, using a positive approach to dementia care, and making moments of joy for those living with dementia. The conference is for both professional and family caregivers. A taco bar lunch is available for purchase. Space is limited.
When: Friday, July 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
3501 Byer Road, Byron 94514
Cost: $40 (optional $17 for lunch)
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Headlines From the April 2019 Caregiving Policy Digest
- Medicaid Work Requirements Blocked, but ...
- Changing Family Structures: Its Impact on Seniors
- Tech Advances in Healthcare: Telehealth, Tablets, Apps, and Wearable Devices
- Rethinking Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment
The entire April 2019 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
Paria Dea
Contributors
Kathleen Kelly
Calvin Hu
Lana Sheridan
Leah Eskenazi
Executive Director
Kathleen Kelly
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FCA Board of Directors
President
Jacquelyn Kung
Vice-President
Dan Lieberman
Treasurer
Wyatt Ritchie
Secretary
Kathleen Raffel
Amanda Breeden
Athan Bezaitis
Shruti Kothari
Catherine Lelong
Rajiv Mehta
Chris Park
Scott Peifer
Tiffany Riser
Keely Stevenson
Celine Takatsuno
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