Vol. 13, No. 9

September 2022

Dear Friends:

September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic American Heritage Month. It’s a time when people from across the country recognize and celebrate the culture, achievements, and struggles of Spanish speaking Americans. FCA is dedicated to supporting family caregivers from diverse backgrounds, and many Spanish speaking family caregivers have difficulty accessing resources and support related to their caregiving tasks. To help fill this gap, FCA has a number of resources available to Spanish speaking caregivers.

Our website is available in Spanish (caregiver.org/spanish/) and includes fact sheets on self-care, depression, caregiving with siblings, and more. We recently translated a number of new fact sheets into different languages including Spanish. FCA also produces videos on topics including hands-on caregiving skills, relaxation exercises and publishes an online newsletter, ¿Que Pasa?, that covers topics and information focusing on the needs of Spanish speaking family caregivers. Finally, San Francisco Bay Area Spanish speaking family caregivers are encouraged to join our monthly support group.

Sincerely,

Calvin Hu

Education Coordinator

edprograms@caregiver.org

“However bad life may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at. While there’s life, there is hope.”

— Stephen Hawking

FCA is excited to announce that we’re accepting applications for this year’s Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving Awards.

Now in its 15th year, the awards spotlight innovative programs in three categories: Creative Expression, Diverse/Multicultural Communities, and Public Policy. One award of $20,000 will be given in each category.

The annual Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving Awards program is made possible with support from The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation and the Bader Philanthropies, Inc.

Last year, winners included “Art Is...In” (The Memory Center at The University of Chicago Medicine), CARE NYC (Queens, NY), and Elderwise (Seattle, WA).

Please note: Applications must be submitted by 8 p.m. Pacific Time on October 10, 2022. 

Next steps:

-Go to our awards page to get more information and access the application form.

-Know of an innovative program that should apply? Send the name and email address of the contact person to us at awards@caregiver.org

New FCA Infographic: Five Self-Care Validations for Caregivers

Caring for yourself is one of the most important things you can do as a family caregiver. In fact, family caregivers face a higher risk of depression, chronic illness, and poor quality of life. At FCA, we know it’s challenging to take time for yourself. We also know when you put self-care first, the people you care for benefit as well.

Our infographic, “5 Self-Care Validations for Family Caregivers” reminds family caregivers to: acknowledge your role isn’t easy, ask for help, prioritize self-care, and more. “5 Self-Care Validations for Family Caregivers” is perfect for printing out and hanging on the fridge, sharing online, or sending to caregivers who might need a reminder to put their own well-being first.

“5 Self-Care Validations for Family Caregivers” is part of a series of ten all-new infographics, each featuring bite-sized tips and helpful ideas on a variety of subjects related to family caregiving. Check out the whole series.

Managing Caregiver Stress (webinar)

Caregiving responsibilities can cause a lot of stress. In this webinar, Jerry Fenter and Helen Bauer from The Heart of Hospice podcast, talk about the benefits of streamlining caregiving tasks and how to create a “caregiving village.” They’ll also share ways caregivers can reduce stress by caring for themselves – mind, body, and spirit.

Click here to view the recording.

Taking Care of YOU: Self-Care for Family Caregivers

Self-care is an important, and often overlooked, aspect of caregiving. Practicing self-care will help with mental, emotional, and physical health and will also benefit the person for whom you are providing care. Reading Taking Care of YOU is a useful first step in practicing self-care. Some of the topics covered in this fact sheet include identifying personal barriers, reducing stress, seeking goals, and starting to exercise.

Dementia, Caregiving and Controlling Frustration

Frustration is a normal response to the very difficult job of dementia caregiving. However, extreme frustration is physiologically and mentally unhealthy, and can even lead to being physically or verbally aggressive. This FCA Fact Sheet will discuss some of the warning signs of frustration, how to remain calm, how to modify your thoughts, and other strategies to keep frustration under control.

Caregiver Resource Center Classes 

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.

For more information on October's events, please click here.

Becoming a Caregiver When Your Parent Wasn’t There for You

It is often assumed that caregivers hold deep affection for those they are tending to. However, this is not always the case, where adult children of abusive, uncaring, or neglectful parents find themselves thrust into the role of caregiver. Next Avenue’s Julie Hayes in collaboration with Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging give suggestions on how to be a caregiver to an estranged parent. This advice include setting boundaries and enlisting a team to help out.

Disagreements Over how to Care for Aging Parents can Ruin Sibling Relationships. These Expert Tips can Prevent Damage

Being a caregiver to a parent can be full of challenges (financial, emotional, and physical for example). One potential area of conflict is family dynamics. Disagreements or misunderstandings that arise between adult children providing care to a parent can lead to strained or even broken sibling relationships. Fortune’s Kristine Gill explores this topic with a special emphasis on the importance of planning and communication for caregiving by siblings.

CAREGIVERS CONNECT:

FCA EVENTS

Caregivers Count! 12th Annual Conference (Virtual Event – final session)

Caregivers Count Conference is an annual event designed for families and friends caring for their loved ones. The conference features professional speakers covering wide ranging topics to support caregivers.

Virtual session dates and topics:

September 10 – 10am to 12pm (PT)

​Keynote: A Holistic Approach to Self-Care

(In-person watch party hosted at Hearts & Minds Activity Center in San Jose)

September 17 – 10am to 12pm (PT)

Strategies for Dementia Caregiving

September 24 – 10am to 12pm (PT)

What Comes Next? An Introduction to Long-Term Care Decisions

October 1 – 10am to 12pm (PT)

Fall Prevention and Home Safety

​​The conference is planned by a coalition of local nonprofit agencies and businesses interested in supporting family caregivers.

When: Saturday, October 1, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon (PT)

Where: Online

Cost: No charge

Registration: Click here

There Must be a Better Way Than This

This workshop offers tips for understanding and communicating with someone affected by dementia. Losing the ability to communicate can be one of the most frustrating and difficult challenges for people with dementia. As caregivers, we’re often at a loss as to how to talk with and respond to a loved one affected by dementia. This 1-day workshop teaches you new strategies to handle difficult behaviors and how to remain connected with your family member. Discussions will cover how dementia affects a person’s ability to understand and communicate; learn simple skills to handle troubling behavior; and feel more confident in your caregiving role.

This workshop is open to family caregivers.  

This workshop is funded by Alameda County Department of Adult and Aging Services, Contra Costa County Area Agency on Aging, the City of San Francisco’s Department of Disability and Aging Services, San Mateo County Aging and Adult Services, and the California Department of Aging.

When: Wednesday, October 12, from 1 to 2 p.m. (PT)

Where: Online

Cost: No charge  

Registration: Click here

Caregiving 101

Caregiving 101 gives a general overview of what it means to be a caregiver and how caregiving impacts ones overall health and wellbeing. This specific class offers general information on respite, caregiver stress, ways to find help, and a few more topics related to caregiving.

This workshop is open to family caregivers.  

This workshop is funded by Alameda County Department of Adult and Aging Services, Contra Costa County Area Agency on Aging, the City of San Francisco’s Department of Disability and Aging Services, San Mateo County Aging and Adult Services, and the California Department of Aging.

When: December 14, from 1 to 2 p.m. (PT)

Where: Online

Cost: No charge 

Registration: Click here

CAREGIVING POLICY DIGEST

Caregiving Policy Digest

Caregiving Policy Digest is a publication of the National Center on Caregiving, a program of Family Caregiver Alliance. The newsletter offers a fresh look at the rapidly changing world of caregiving policy―at the local, national, and international levels.

You’ll receive briefings on key legislation, news on innovative public programs, and the latest information on caregiving and long-term care policy at national and state levels. Subscribe here.

Professional Research Listings

• Families Coping Together with Alzheimer’s Disease Study (FACT-AD)
• Free Online Health and Wellness Education for Caregivers of People with Alzheimer’s
• LGBTQIA+ & non-LGBTQIA+ Caregivers Needed: Parkinson’s Research
• Life Enhancing Activities for Family Caregivers (LEAF) (SP0044459; NCT03610698)
• Memory Loss Study
• Project Respect: LGBTQ+ Experiences with Healthcare Providers for Serious Illness
• We Need Your Help! Research Study Participants (Caregivers) who know Someone with a Disability Wanted for Interviews

Graduate Student Research Listings

• Seeking volunteers for a study examining the daily stress and well-being of caregivers
• The Relationship Between Caregiver Burden and Anxiety and Depression in People with Chronic Headaches
• The Relationship Between Uncertainty Associated with Patient’s Delirium and Psychological Distress Among Family Caregivers in the Intensive Care Unit.
• UW Caregiver Study: Caring for a Parent who Harmed You