Dear Friends:

Young adults make up an increasingly large share of family caregivers. As their friends and colleagues focus on establishing careers, relationships, and families, young caregivers must juggle these milestones with their caregiving responsibilities. To better support these caregivers, FCA recently hosted Aisha Adkins and Jenn Chan for a discussion on the challenges of younger caregivers, each drawing upon their current or past experiences of providing care during their 20s and 30s. FCA’s website and online resource center CareNav are additional tools that provide high quality information and resources at no charge to busy caregivers. Family caregivers are as diverse as their individual journeys. FCA is committed to provide needed support and education now and in the future.

Sincerely,

Calvin Hu

Education Coordinator

FCA partners with the media to provide insight on the plight of caregivers, and also uses the media to offer suggestions and advice directly to caregivers. Since the last issue of Connections, FCA staff have appeared in: “5 tips for safe and sane travel with someone who has dementia” (Los Angeles Times), “America isn’t taking care of caregivers” (Vox), and “La vida después del cuidado” (AARP).

¿Qué Pasa? Es un nuevo boletín electrónico enfocado en información y recursos relevantes a los cuidadores familiares de adultos del Área de la Bahía de San Francisco. La tercera edición incluye  información sobre respiro (respite), el autocuidado, la presentación de Tatiana Mariscal, Especialista de programa, y una lista de eventos gratuitos para todos los cuidadores.

¿Qué Pasa? Será publicado bimensual y para suscribirte, haz clic aquí.

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

Registration: Click here

We’re looking for qualified and interested applicants to fill current openings in our San Francisco office. The positions are: Family Consultant, and Community Engagement Specialist. 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.

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.

To learn more, click here or register here.

Over a quarter of all family caregivers are Millennials or Gen Z, often facing unique challenges from those providing care later in their life. Managing careers, maintaining friendships and relationships, and planning for their own futures and families add to the stresses and difficulties of caregiving. Join FCA for a discussion and conversation with Millennial caregivers Aisha Adkins, Co-Executive Director of Love Labor Project, and Jenn Chan, founder and CEO of Senior Shower Project. Aisha and Jenn will share their experiences as current and former caregivers (respectively), discuss the obstacles they face, and explain how they cope during their caregiving journeys.

About the speakers:

Aisha Adkins, MPA, CNP is the Constituency Organizer for Caring Across Generations, Co-Executive Director of Love Labor Project, and a full-time caregiver to her parents. She is a storyteller and advocate who is passionate about building an equitable, inclusive, and comprehensive public health and care infrastructure using media, storytelling, and culture and policy change.

Jenn Chan is the Founder of Senior Shower® Project, a startup with a mission to celebrate family caregivers of older adults with a party. Inspired by caregiving for her grandma, Jenn dedicates her career to elevate the family caregiver role with fun, love, and positivity. Jenn also facilitates support groups for LGBTQ seniors, dementia caregivers, and young caregivers.

To view a recording of this webinar please click here.

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.

More information on August events can be found here. For September events please click here.

Yoga has striking benefits for family caregivers. 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.

Yoga4Caregivers Project was established to support the health, mental health and well-being of caregivers. It provides free daily classes as well as wellness workshops, virtual retreats, and online social gatherings created with the busy caregiver in mind. To learn more, please visit Yoga4Caregivers Project.

When: Wednesday, September 29, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon (Pacific Time)

Where: ONLINE

Cost: No Charge

Registration: Click here

Many caregivers experience elevated stress and anxiety levels stemming from the weight of their caregiving responsibilities. Short Wave, an NPR podcast, delves into the challenges caregivers face with mental health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Katherine Harmon Courage writing for Vox details the many serious difficulties family caregivers are facing both before and because of the pandemic, and explains ways to support caregivers. This article also features insights from FCA’s Client Services Director Christina Irving.

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.

Celebrate the rich flavors and stories of the United States, represented through Americana Folk Art.

Experience the many facets of Asian Art, from ceramics to printmaking to calligraphy to jade carving. We will learn what it is to breathe life while creating art.

Let’s travel to Indonesia! 

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 (no session on September 7th due to Labor Day), from 1 to 2 p.m. (PT)

Where: Online

Cost: No charge

Registration: Click here

Contact: Calvin Hu, edprograms@caregiver.org

En esta clase de FCA aprenderá los siguientes consejos y estrategias sobre cómo: manejar comportamientos difíciles, como la demencia afecta el proceso y la capacidad de una persona para comprender y comunicarse, sentirse más seguro en su papel como cuidador.

Dia/Hora: Miércoles- septiembre 1, 1 p.m. a 2 p.m.

Costo: Gratis

UBICACIÓN (Únase desde una PC, iPad, iPhone o dispositivo Android): https://tinyurl.com/FCA9121

Para obtener más información o ayuda: Stella Lazo, slazo@caregiver.org, (415) 434-3388, ext. 323

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.

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.

Editors: Calvin Hu, Al Martinez

Contributors: Kathleen Kelly, Executive Director, Calvin Hu, Lana Sheridan, Leah Eskenazi

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.

Phone: (800) 445-8106 | Email: info@caregiver.org