Vol. 12, No. 9
September 2021
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Dear Friends:
September 15 marks the beginning of National Hispanic American Heritage Month. It’s a time for people across the country to celebrate the achievements, culture, and struggles of Hispanic Americans. Many Spanish-speaking family caregivers have difficulty accessing programs, resources, support, and information related to their caregiving responsibilities. To help fill this gap, FCA has a number of resources available to Spanish-speaking caregivers.
Sincerely,
Calvin Hu
Education Coordinator
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“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
— Aesop
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Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving Awards Accepting Applications
The Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving Awards, supported by The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, the Bader Philanthropies, Inc. and administered by FCA, promote innovation in the field of Alzheimer’s caregiving by recognizing efforts that lead the way in addressing the needs of Alzheimer’s caregivers. One award of $20,000 will be presented to a nonprofit organization, government agency, or university in each of the following categories:
- The Creative Expression award encourages programs that use novel approaches to support persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their family and informal caregivers.
- The Diverse/Multicultural Communities award recognizes outreach programs to family and informal caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias in ethnic, rural, religious, low-income, LGBT, and other diverse communities.
- The Public Policy award promotes programs that advocate for policy or systems change for the benefit of family and informal caregivers or persons with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias.
The application deadline is October 18, 2021, 5 p.m. (PT).
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Chair Yoga for Caregivers Offers Accessible, Gentle Self-Care
On September 29, FCA will be hosting a special chair yoga class for caregivers presented by the Yoga4Caregivers Project. To give family caregivers a better idea of what to expect, Kim Hayes writing for FCA interviews the class instructor, Ellen MacKay. Ellen answers questions including the benefits for caregivers who practice yoga, and what a virtual chair yoga workshop will be like.
Please click here to register for this free workshop. |
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Giving Care
Come, laugh, shout, whimper, weep, or simply remain silent and hear how Frances transformed herself from a tentative and uncertain caregiver into a compassionate and empowered caregiver.
Educator, caregiver, poet and internationally published award winning author of sixteen books, Frances Kakugawa is here to take us on her personal journey, through her poetry and actual experiences, on how she rose above the challenges of caregiving and found meaning and dignity in caring for her mother who had Alzheimer’s disease.
Hear her read some poignant poems on her experiences and how poetry, story telling, use of language and humor became part of her tools in helping her transform from a scared caregiver into a capable and passionate caregiver.
She shares of lessons learned, and the choices confronting caregivers to either succumb to the realities of caregiving or to live with that small light of our own humanity by offering our loved ones, the dignity in living the last years of their lives.
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A short writing workshop with Frances Kakugawa will follow the lecture. This special program is co-sponsored by Kimochi.
When: Wednesday, November 17, 1 to 3 p.m. (PT)
Where: Online
Cost: No charge
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Caregivers Count! 11th Annual Conference (Online)
Caregivers Count Conference is an annual event designed for families and friends caring for their loved ones. The conference features experts covering a wide range of topics designed to support caregivers. Topics include self-care, caring for someone with mental health needs, advance care planning, and adult daycare.
When: Sept 11 to Oct 2, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon (PT)
Where: Online
Cost: No charge
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FCA is Hiring
We’re looking for qualified and interested applicants to fill an opening in our San Francisco office for the position of Family Consultant. FCA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and is committed to creating a diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Please click here for more information or to apply. |
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Get Your Own Personalized Caregiving Resource Dashboard
Go online to complete a brief questionnaire and get a personal dashboard loaded with information that matches your unique caregiving needs. CareNav, our secure online service, offers quality information, support, and resources for family caregivers of adults with chronic physical or cognitive conditions such as Alzheimer’s, stroke, Parkinson’s, and other illnesses.
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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 September events, please click here. |
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Chair Yoga for Self-Care and Self Love with Yoga4Caregivers
Studies have shown that yoga can have many beneficial effects for those who engage in a regular practice including reduced stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression. For many, yoga may seem an intimidating pursuit because of injuries, balance issues, or unfamiliarity. Yoga is accessible to everyone regardless of age, and physical ability. A chair is simply a prop to help you to access your expression of the pose and support your body. Chair yoga can help you safely and comfortably reap the benefits of yoga and improve your well-being.
Objectives:
-Discover how the embodied practices of slow mindful yoga can support your self-care and improve your well-being.
-Learn how conscious slow breathing can help you to calm your nervous system and promote rest and digest.
-Explore how yoga can help us to lovingly reconnect us with our true selves and enable a sacred space to ground ourselves with self-compassion and self-love so that we can give care from our overflow instead of the depths of the well.
Presenter
Ellen MacKay (she/her) is the Project Manager at Yoga4Caregivers Project. Ellen has a genuine passion for supporting caregiver well-being and serves on the leadership team of the Caregiver Wellness Collective Inc. Ellen is an experienced trauma informed yoga teacher, trained social worker and former family caregiver for her mother during her battle with lung cancer and her father during his COPD progression. Ellen is passionate about empowering others to find healing by turning inward to connect with the body, mind and spirit.
When: Wednesday, September 29, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon (Pacific Time)
Where: ONLINE
Cost: No Charge
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Reducing Green-Eyed Envy in Family Caregiving
Many family caregivers may experience very understandable feelings of jealousy or envy. For an older spouse taking care of a partner, seeing another couple holding hands, or enjoying the fruits of retirement spent together can cause these negative emotions. Barry J. Jacobs, clinical psychologist, and AARP Caregiving Expert gives advice to family caregivers who are struggling with jealousy and envy.
This article is also available in Spanish here.
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Why the Cost of Long-Term Care Is Out of Reach for the Middle Class
A survey by Genworth has estimated that 70% of Americans will need some form of long-term care during their lifetime. Unfortunately, this type of care is expensive, and often unaffordable for those with an income of between 25 and 95 thousand dollars. Liz Seegert writing for Next Avenue details the challenges these individuals face seeking long term care arrangements. |
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CAREGIVERS CONNECT:
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA EVENTS
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Let’s Get Away Together
This series is comprised of interactive sessions with each week focusing on a new place or cultural activity, while incorporating storytelling, music, poetry writing, and/or a simple craft. Each session will include a follow-up message filled with tips, activities, and recipes for families to continue to enjoy after the virtual trip. The focus of each group is to explore a new world, experience a variety of engaging opportunities, and enjoy a sense of camaraderie and community.
Let’s Get Away Together is intended to be an enjoyable activity for family caregivers and the person they care for. Those receiving care who are able to participate in the discussion and activities are encouraged to attend with their family caregiver. Read a Q&A about the series here.
September 28
Summer in Ireland: traditional Irish Music, and Summer Festivals!
Join Katrina for traditional Irish music while traveling Ireland. Learn about the traditional Irish Session and the many ‘trad festivals’ while having a ‘good craic’ together with live music over Zoom.
When: Tuesdays, August 3 to September 28, from 1 to 2 p.m. (PT)
Where: Online
Cost: No charge
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Cuidando 101
El objetivo de esta clase es identificar que es ser un cuidador de familia y la importancia de ser identificado como cuidador. Este clase también brindara al participante el entendimiento del impacto que potencialmente deja en el cuidado de su familiar y el impacto que ser un cuidador deja en ellos mismos.
Dia/Hora: octubre 8 del 2021, 12 p.m. a 1:30 p.m. (Hora del Pacífico)
Costo: Gratis
Para obtener más información o ayuda: Stella Lazo,
slazo@caregiver.org, (415) 434-3388, ext. 323
Esta clase es especificamente para cuidadores familiares y no para proveedores profesionales.
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Headlines From the August Caregiving Policy Digest
- Major hospital systems give thumbs down on aducanumab
- Neuroscientists fight AD with light and sound therapy
- Nursing shortages vex hospitals
The entire August issue is available here. |
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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. |
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Professional Research Listings
Graduate Student Research Listings
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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.
FCA has led the way in supporting family caregivers for over 40 years. Your donation makes all the difference!
You can also help support FCA by choosing us as your Amazon Smile charity. |
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CONNECTIONS CREDITS
Editors: Calvin Hu, Al Martinez
Contributors: Kathleen Kelly, Executive Director, Calvin Hu, Lana Sheridan, Leah Eskenazi
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President: M Celine Takatsuno
Vice-Presidents: Catherine Lelong, Ian Tong
Treasurer: Wyatt Ritchie
Secretary: Amanda Breeden Warner
Athan Bezaitis, Deborah Kan, Shruti Kothari, Dan Lieberman, Scott Peifer, Kathleen Raffel, Tiffany Riser, Karen Sperling, Keely Stevenson.
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101 Montgomery Street | Suite 2150 | San Francisco, CA 94104
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