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Vol. 16, No. 4
April 2025
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Dear Friends:
Spring is here, signaling the start of new growth and new birth in nature. For many, Spring is a time for renewal and optimism. In line with the season, FCA is hosting two caregiver retreats in the San Francisco Bay Area. These retreats provide caregivers with respite from their daily responsibilities, a chance to connect with fellow caregivers, and the opportunity to learn valuable information or to learn new practical tools and techniques for their self-care.
For those unable to attend, or those not in the San Francisco Bay Area, FCA has a number of online resources on self-care, information on illness, and information on local support groups. FCA also hosts specialized online support groups for San Francisco Bay Area caregivers supporting/assisting African Americans, LGBTQ Caregivers, and Young Adult Caregivers.
Sincerely,
Calvin Hu
Education Coordinator
edprograms@caregiver.org
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“Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th.”
— Julie Andrews
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April Marks Parkinson’s Awareness Month
Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that affects how a person moves, speaks and can also affect thinking. Parkinson’s looks different in every person. Some people will live with mild symptoms for years, while others may notice changes more quickly. There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but there are treatments that can ease symptoms and improve quality of life.
A recent FCA blog post provides a roundup of information, tools, and support for Parkinson’s caregivers and people living with Parkinson’s.
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Alzheimer’s and the LGBTQ+ Community: Understanding Legal Issues
Join FCA and community partners for a 90-minute virtual legal talk and Q&A. We'll discuss key legal issues affecting the LGBTQ+ community nationally and at the state level. LGBTQ+ older adults, their loved ones, and caregivers are encouraged to join and gain valuable insights.
Date: May 21, from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Location: virtual via zoom
Register: Tinyurl.Com/lgbtalzlegalissues
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Soul Stroll 2025 (San Mateo, CA)
Soul Stroll for Health is the Bay Area Community Health Advisory Council’s Signature Event. Established in 2002, Soul Stroll is a 1, 3, 5 Mile Run/Walk. The Soul Stroll health fair includes multiple resources and corporate partners providing product, screenings and information. Stop by and say hello to FCA staff members who will have a resource table.
When: Saturday, May 17, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: Coyote Point Recreation Area, 1701 Coyote Point Drive San Mateo, CA 94401
For more information or to purchase tickets, please click here.
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Building Community: Weekly Support Group for African American Caregivers
Despite disproportionate stress experienced by African American caregivers in our culture, support services designed for this community are few and far between. That’s why Family Caregiver Alliance is excited to announce our African American support group.
This recurring online gathering will be hosted by FCA Family Consultant Norell Wheeler, MPH / MBH, and will provide a safe space for caregivers to build community, discuss caregiving topics, and share healing self-care practices.
When: 2025 schedule runs March 4 – April 1; May 6 – June 3; July 8 -August 5; September 9– October 7; November 11 – December 9
Who: San Francisco Bay Area family caregivers of Black/African descent who care for someone with adult onset neurodegenerative disorder or who have a chronic health condition and are over the age of 60.
Registration is ongoing. Visit the FCA Support Groups page to learn more.
Men, women, non-gendered and trans individuals are all welcome.
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FCA Offers A New Program For Caregivers of People With Dementia
For those facing the challenges of dementia, FCA and Tembo Health have partnered to deliver comprehensive dementia care directly to family caregivers’ homes through the CMS GUIDE Model. It’s free for those with traditional Medicare.
The innovative GUIDE Model (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience) is designed to transform dementia care, by focusing on a person-centered approach that empowers individuals with dementia and their caregivers.
GUIDE offers: comprehensive care planning, caregiver support, access to critical services (like respite care, transportation, and home modifications), and peace of mind.
To learn more about the GUIDE program and schedule a complimentary consultation click here.
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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.
To learn more, click here or register here.
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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.
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Behavior Issues for Individuals With Dementia
Individuals with dementia or other cognitive conditions may exhibit confusing or challenging behaviors at times. This FCA Tip Sheet provides guidance for handling common concerns to help caregivers better understand what the person they are caring for may be feeling or trying to communicate.
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Building Your Caregiver Toolkit: Supporting a Loved One With Depression (recorded webinar)
As a family caregiver, you likely hold many roles. But when the person you are caring for is in a depressive episode, you may need to take on even more roles and responsibilities as you support them in getting professional care. Your self-care may take a back seat as you try to balance everything. Unfortunately, ignoring your own wellness often leads to stress, overwhelm, and, sometimes, your own battle with depression. This is where a caregiver toolkit can come in to provide hope, support, and keep you well.
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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 May events, please click here.
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Tips for Caregiver Burnout
Caregiver burnout is the exhaustion that can be caused by the responsibilities and demands of caregiving. Burnout can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression for caregivers. To help you identify and manage potential caregiver burnout, the American Cancer Society has provided an article that lists symptoms and provides tips on managing or avoiding burnout.
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Building a Social Network of Contacts Can Save Lives
Most Americans prefer to age in place and maintain their independence as older adults. The benefits of this arrangement do not need to be explained, but there are some drawbacks, like if a solo ager living alone falls and is unable to reach the phone, or a spouse caring for a partner becomes overwhelmed and is unable (no one to call) or unwilling to reach out for help. This Next Avenue article by Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell provides tips on how to create or grow a social network that can help check-in.
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CAREGIVERS CONNECT:
FCA 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.
March 25th - Let’s Celebrate Spring All Over the World!
April 1st - Let’s Dive Deep Into the Ocean!
April 8th - Let’s Travel Around the World!
April 15th - Let’s Go Spelunking into the Hidden World of Caves!
April 22nd - Let’s Discover the Musical that Accompanies the Popular Song!
April 29th - Let’s Travel to the Natural Wonders of the Earth!
May 6th - Let's Experience Unusual Musical Instruments!
May 13th - Encore - Let's Explore More Waterfalls!
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When: Tuesdays, March 25 to May 13, from 1 to 2 p.m. (Pacific time)
Where: ONLINE
Cost: No charge
Registration: Click here
This class 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, Sourcewise, and the California Department of Aging.
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Fremont, California Retreat
Please join FCA and the City of Fremont for a 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 a newly restored home from 1885, 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.
Registration is required. This retreat is open to family caregivers.
For more information (or if the registration is full): edprograms@caregiver.org
When: Friday, May 2, from 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM (Pacific)
Location: Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, 43326 Mission Circle, Fremont 94539
Cost: No charge
Registration: Click here
This program is presented by the City of Fremont in collaboration with Family Caregiver Alliance with additional funding by Alameda County Department of Adult and Aging Services and the California Department of Aging.
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Caregiver Retreat in Moraga, California: A Day of Recovery
FCA invites San Francisco Bay Area family and friend caregivers to join a one-day, in-person caregiver retreat on Saturday, May 17th from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Casita House, Casa de las Flores in Moraga.
Led by restorative retreat designer Wendy Figone, this event is free of charge. It offers caregivers a chance to step away from their daily responsibilities while reconnecting with body, mind and spirit—and experiencing a moment of peace amidst the demands of caregiving.
On this one-day retreat, participants will build community with fellow caregivers, engage in easy, joyful movement to enhance mobility and release stress hormones and gain practical tools to support peace-of-mind, foster resilience and promote holistic well-being. Parking and restrooms are easy to access and a healthy lunch will be provided.
When: Saturday, May 17th from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (lunch provided)
Where: Casita House at Hacienda de las Flores, Moraga, California
Cost: No charge to caregivers
Registration: Click here
Deadline to register: May 10, 2025
To learn more, please read our blog post.
This retreat is open to family and friend caregivers of all ages and all levels of experience with mindfulness, who care for an adult with onset neurodegenerative disorder or who is over the age of 60 and lives with a chronic health condition; and who live in the San Francisco Bay Area, including Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Women, men, non-gendered and trans individuals are all welcome.
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Powerful Tools for Caregivers
This free six-part class offers new skills and tools for family caregivers of those with a chronic health condition such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, or stroke. At Powerful Tools, you will learn how to: reduce stress, make difficult caregiving decisions, communicate more effectively during challenging situations, and prevent caregiver burnout.
This class is open to family caregivers in the San Francisco Bay Area.
As each class builds upon previous classes, we require attendance at all six sessions.
Participants will learn to:
-Reduce stress
-Improve caregiving confidence
-Establish balance in their lives
-Communicate their needs and feelings
-Make tough decisions
-Locate helpful resources
-Manage Time, Set Goals, and Solve Problems
Participants who took the Powerful Tools demonstrated:
-Improved confidence in coping with the demands of caregiving
-Reduced guilt, anger and depression
-Increased use of exercise, relaxation techniques, and medical check-ups
-Increased awareness and use of community resources
Who: Family caregivers and friends (including families of choice) of care recipients with cognitive impairments or age 60+ with chronic health issues, either one who is living in San Francisco Bay Area.
When: Six consecutive Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., June 12 to July 17, 2025
Where: Zoom
Registration: Click here
Facilitators: Queenie Chan and Chi Chang
PTC is based on the highly successful Chronic Diseases Self-Management Program developed by Dr. Kate Lorig and colleagues at Stanford University. The PTC class curriculum meets the highest-level criteria of evidence-based disease prevention and health promotion programs per the Administration on Aging/Administration for Community Living. Since the program’s inception, PTC has reached more than 80,000 caregivers.
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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.
Click here to view archived issues of Policy Digest.
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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!
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CONNECTIONS CREDITS
Editors: Calvin Hu, Al Martinez
Contributors: Kathleen Kelly, Executive Director, Calvin Hu, Ingrid Olivar, Leah Eskenazi
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President: Ian Tong
First Vice President: Karen Sperling
Second Vice President: Deborah Kan
Treasurer: Keely Stevenson
Secretary: Amanda Warner
Amber Christ, Shruti Kothari, Mary Ellen Kullman, Sarita Mohanty, Ambika Pajjuri, Tiffany Riser, Wyatt Ritchie, Marda Stothers
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