Vol. 8, No. 9

September 18, 2017

Dear Friends:

September 15 marks the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month. National Hispanic Heritage Month honors and celebrates the culture, accomplishments, and contributions of Spanish-speaking Americans. Hispanic Americans are an inseparable and vibrant part of the American story.

Spanish speakers are also intimately enmeshed in the work of caregiving, 45% of whom spend 30 hours a week on caregiving tasks. To serve these caregivers who have unique linguistic and cultural needs, FCA has a number of dedicated resources in Spanish. In San Francisco, FCA will be hosting its 6th annual Latino Forum in October, where caregivers can learn from experts and connect with one another. FCA also hosts an ongoing monthly Spanish Speaking Support Group in San Francisco. For caregivers outside of the San Francisco area several of our fact and tip sheets are available Spanish, in addition to instructional videos and two webinars.

Sincerely,

Calvin Hu

Education Coordinator

[email protected]

FCA CareJourney Formally Announced in Press Release Last Week

Family Caregiver Alliance Launches an Online Service for Family Caregivers of Adults With Serious Health Conditions

For the first time, family caregivers can get support and information tailored for their situation— free, secure, and accessible 24/7

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) announces the launch of  FCA CareJourney™, a dynamic online service, mobile-ready, that delivers specialized information directly to family caregivers. Based on FCA's 40 years of service and research experience and insights from families, CareJourney™ responds to the complicated needs of caregiving.

Forty-four million people in the U.S. care for ill, frail, or elderly adults—usually without compensation—and frequently juggle the demands of work and parenting. CareJourney™ helps caregivers manage complex care responsibilities that cross over topics such as: legal and financial issues, health conditions, locating in-home assistance or out-of-home resources, self-care, communication with health practitioners, and training on care tasks.

Read more

The 2017 Rosalinde Gilbert Innovations in Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiving Legacy Awards Deadline Extended

There is still time to submit an application for the Rosalinde Gilbert Innovations in Alzheimer’s Disease Caregiving Legacy Awards . The deadline has been extended to Monday, October 2, 2017, 5 p.m. (Pacific Time). The Gilbert Awards honors innovative Alzheimer’s/dementia programs that support caregiving. Each awardee in three categories, will receive $20,000.

The Alzheimer’s Caregiving Legacy Awards are possible thanks to the generous and continuing support of   The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation .

For more information and to apply online, visit    caregiver.org/gilbert-awards.   Past applicants are encouraged to apply again.

Enroll in the SHARE Program

FCA is seeking San Francisco Bay Area family caregivers to enroll in the SHARE program. Over the course of five face-to-face home visits, SHARE will help you get the most out of today while planning for tomorrow. The goals of SHARE include learning effective communication skills, reducing stress, promoting health, and learning about long-term care management. The SHARE program is offered at no charge.

SHARE is specifically for caregivers of adults (close family or partner/spouse), with a confirmed diagnosis of a chronic health condition, 60 or older, living at home ,   and with intact cognitive abilities. Eligible conditions for SHARE include, but are not limited to: heart disease, diabetes, COPD, arthritis, kidney disease, stroke, or HIV-AIDS.  Care receivers with a neurocognitive disorder, a mental health condition, traumatic brain injury, or are in the terminal phrase of their condition, are unfortunately not eligible.

Please contact Michelle Venegas, (415) 434-3388,   for more information.

Disaster Preparedness for Caregivers

Two devastating Hurricanes and massive wildfires across the western United States have forced caregivers around the country to face the fury of nature. To help prepare caregivers for these trying times, FCA offers a number of resources to help prepare for the worst.

Where to Find my Important Papers is a downloadable form that can be filled out and printed. FCA also has an Emergency Preparedness Checklist for Caregivers and a post on Caregiving During a National Emergency. Additionally, caregivers may be interested in AARP's blog post Caregivers, Are You Ready for a Disaster?, and FEMA's Resources for People with Disabilities, Access & Functional Needs web page.

Hiring In-Home Help Fact Sheet Recently Updated

Hiring in-home help can alleviate the demands of caregiving. FCA’s recently updated fact sheet will help you decide if in-home help is right for you and your loved one, and guide you step-by-step through the process. The fact sheet includes information on the pros and cons of using an agency or hiring directly, the costs, and how to conduct an interview.

Replacement Medicare Card Scams

By April 2019, all Medicare recipients will automatically receive new Medicare cards by mail. In an effort to combat identity theft, these cards will no longer include the recipient’s social security number. Unfortunately, scammers are now targeting Medicare recipients, asking for payment or sensitive personal information like social security numbers in order to receive their replacement card. The FTC has written an informative blog post on what to expect with the new cards, and how to avoid these scams.

Manejando el Estrés de ser Cuidador Familiar (Managing the Stress of Being a Family Caregiver)

Cuidar a un ser querido puede ser una tarea de mucha satisfacción pero a la vez, puede ser una responsabilidad que demanda mucho.



En este webinar hablaremos sobre como podemos manejar el estrés de ser cuidador con actividades y técnicas de relajación. Temas del taller: como reconocer el estrés, cuales actividades nos ayudan manejar el estrés, técnicas de relajación

What Driving A 33-Foot RV Through Alaska Taught Me About Moving Past Grief

Ann Brenoff is a senior writer and columnist for the HuffPost. Brenoff was a spousal caregiver until her husband died earlier this year. Brenoff’ s article on the life lessons she learned while driving an RV is part travelogue, part caregiver advice column.

“ Just when I thought the challenges couldn’t get any harder, the tasks any nastier or any more dehumanizing, some nurse practitioner or dialysis worker would present some new and hideously unpleasant thing for me to do [...] I feel the same about making right turns in a 33-foot RV. I can’t say I enjoyed a single second of the turning experience, but I did understand that on some level, it was something I was going to have to do ― like it or not, fair or not fair.”

For more information, please view FCA’ s fact sheet Grief and Loss .

The Appointment Ends. Now the Patient Is Listening

Recording medical appointments, either audio or video, is not common practice, yet may offer tangible benefits to patients. Recordings offer the ability to review exactly what was said in an appointment, and allow this information to be easily shared with family or a caregiver. New York Times journalist Paula Span highlights some of the benefits of appointment recording, in particular for patients with memory loss, hearing loss, or multiple conditions that require visits to numerous doctors.

Shedding New Light On Hospice Care: No Need To Wait For The ‘Brink Of Death’

While the basics of hospice care are generally understood by the public, the exact features and specific options are not. Kaiser Health News columnist Judith Graham explains the reality and surprising flexibility of hospice care, including the different levels of care, routine care at home, and hospice discharge. Graham also reveals some surprising facts: most hospice care occurs in the home, care is not 24/7, and hospice patients die at lower rates compared to those not in hospice with a similar prognosis.

For more information, please view FCA’ s fact sheet Understanding Palliative/Supportive Care: What Every Caregiver Should Know .

Caregiving Is Hard Enough. Isolation Can Make It Unbearable

One cost of caregiving that may not be fully appreciated by the public is the social isolation caregivers face. Paula Span, writing in The New York Times, explains how exhaustion, being abandoned by friends or family, and the meticulous planning that must go into joint activities can lead to isolation. Span also touches upon the health problems that isolation is known to cause, as well as some of the ways for caregivers remain socially engaged.

For more information, please view FCA ’ s fact sheet Taking Care of YOU: Self-Care for Family Caregivers .

Long-Term Care Planning for Caregivers

Family caregivers and the person for whom they are providing care often face emotional and economic stress when long-term care is needed. A properly drafted estate plan will help reduce these stresses by providing the tools needed to navigate through the system. This workshop will provide the basics of estate planning, long-term care planning, and public benefits, covering topics such as wills and trusts, finance and health powers, and taxes.

Pre-registration is required. This class is specifically for family caregivers, not providers. 

When:  Thursday, September 21, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m

Where:  Little House   

800 Middle Avenue, Menlo Park 94025

Cost:  No Charge

Registration:  contact Little House, (650) 326-2025

Foro Latino (Spanish Speaking Caregiver Conference)

Una conferencia gratis para familiares y amigos que cuidan a un ser querido con demencia o una persona mayor con enfermedades crónicas. Aprenda de los expertos, participe en actividads terapéuticas en grupo, y disfrute de desayuno gratuito.

Fecha:  Sábado, Octubre 7, 8:30 a.m. a 12:45 p.m.

Locacion:   Catholic Charities

50 Broad Street, San Francisco 94112

Registracion:  Adriana Sanchez,  [email protected] , (415) 434-3388 x 316

It Takes Two! A Refreshing Approach to Understanding and Coping With Dementia Behavior

This four-week class offers skills and tools for family caregivers, friends, or partners who care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia. It Takes Two! offers the opportunity to learn more about your relative or friend’s ability to understand and communicate, as well as skills to handle troubling behavior and how to feel more confident and positive about your caregiving role.

Pre-registration is required. Please let us know if you have a disability and require specific accommodations. This class is specifically for family caregivers, not providers. 

When:  Thursdays, October 12, 19, 26, and November 2, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Where:  San Leandro Senior Center   

13909 E 14th Street, San Leandro 94578

Cost:  No Charge

Registration:  Calvin Hu,  [email protected] , (415) 434-3388 x 313

Aging My Way — Free Resource Event 

Now in its second year, Aging My Way showcases resources that support aging adults. Aging My Way includes a resource expo, lectures, g iveaways, raffle prizes, and more.

When: Wednesday, September 27, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where:    San Francisco Main Public Library

Koret Auditorium and Latino/Hispanic Community Room

30 Grove Street, San Francisco 94102

Contact: Rowena Fontanos , [email protected]

Senior Care and Life Planning Seminar

This free seminar, presented by the office of Assembly Speaker pro Tempore Kevin Mullin, is for seniors, their families, and caregivers. The Senior Care and Life Planning Seminar will feature a range topics including advance care directives, asset protection, living well, faith and cultural influences in healthcare, funeral considerations, and palliative care. Refreshments will be served.

When: Saturday, September 30, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Veterans Memorial Senior Center

1455 Madison Avenue, Redwood City 94061

Cost: No charge

Contact: (650) 349-2200

Observation Status, Poverty, and High Financial Liability Among Medicare Beneficiaries

A new study, published in the American Journal of Medicine, sought to find out if low-income Medicare patients were at greater risk of expensive observational care. After researching claims and census information, the authors concluded the poorest Medicare beneficiaries are indeed at a higher risk for costly out-of-pocket observational care than the richest Medicare beneficiaries. This study was recently featured in an article in The New York Times.

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View a list of our current donors here.

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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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