Dear Friends:
May is National Older Americans Month. It is a time to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of older Americans across the country. For FCA, this is a special month, as about 20 percent of family caregivers are 65 or older (56 percent of family caregivers are 50 or older), providing care to spouses, partners, family members, relatives, and friends. This caregiving work is crucial for the physical and mental health and wellbeing of millions of people across the country — family caregivers represent an essential but poorly supported part of healthcare in America. FCA joins with people across the country to celebrate Older Americans Month.
Sincerely,
Calvin Hu
Education Coordinator
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“If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.”
—Martin Luther King Jr.
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Call to Action: California Residents Help Support FCA and the California Caregiver Resource Centers
Contact your legislator now with the message: “Extend and make permanent the $10M augmentation to the statewide system of Caregiver Resource Centers”
The nonprofit Caregiver Resource Centers (CRCs) provide a range of core programs from counseling and care planning, to legal/financial consulting and respite, to family caregivers in California (FCA is the San Francisco Bay Area CRC). We are advocating for a one-year extension of the current $10M California budget augmentation and to make this augmentation permanent. The increase in funding will expand and improve family caregiver services and enhance CRC information technology services.
Your voice needs to be heard on this important issue now. For too long, family caregivers have been recognized but not adequately supported with practical services, emotional support and guidance throughout the care journey.
Now we are asking for your help in contacting your legislator by phone or email and by signing on to our support letter to let them know that CRC services are important to you, your family, and to others in similar care situations.
Please click here to sign on to the Support Letter. |
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SPARK - Robin Williams and his Battle With Lewy Body Dementia (documentary screening)
The Lewy Body Dementia Association and the producers of Robin’s Wish have teamed up to create a documentary, SPARK: Robin Williams and his Battle with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD). This documentary tells the story of Mr Williams’ battle with undiagnosed Lewy body dementia, delves into the known science behind the disease, and highlights the disease’s impact the person with LBD and their family caregiver.
A panel discussion will follow the screening. This special screening of SPARK is in partnership with the Lewy Body Dementia Association.
When: Wednesday June 30, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PT
Where: Online
Cost: No charge
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¿Qué Pasa?
¿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 edición de inauguración incluye consejos para el autocuidado, énfasis de las clases en Español que ofrece la FCA, y la presentación de Adriana Sanchez-Consultora Familiar-y su grupo de apoyo por teléfono.
¿Qué Pasa? Será publicado bimensual y para suscribirte, haz clic aquí.
¿Qué Pasa? is FCA’ s new online newsletter focusing on information and resources relevant to Spanish speaking family caregivers. The debut issue includes tips for self-care, highlights upcoming classes in Spanish, and introduces FCA Family Consultant Adriana Sanchez and her telephone support group. ¿Qué Pasa? is published every other month. To subscribe, please click here.
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San Francisco Proyecto para el Cuidado de LGBT con Demencia: Incrementando el acceso al cuidado efectivo para ancianos LGBT y adultos con discapacidades (The San Francisco LGBTQ Dementia Care Project --Tier 1 Training: Increasing Access to Dementia Capable Care for the LGBTQ Community)
La Alzheimer’s Association®, en colaboración con Openhouse y Family Caregiver Alliance, ofrece formación gratuita a los proveedores de servicios sociales y de salud acerca de las necesidades de atención de las personas mayores LGBTQ que viven con demencia y con sus compañeros de cuidados. Este programa está financiado por el Departamento de Servicios de Discapacidad y Vejez de San Francisco.
Los temas de formación incluyen: visión general de la demencia, comprensión de las necesidades y los desafíos únicos de la población de la demencia LGBTQ, recomendaciones para trabajar con personas LGBTQ que viven con demencia y sus compañeros de cuidado
Fecha: Junio 04, 10 a.m-11:30 a.m (PT)
Ubicación: Zoom
Idioma: Espanol
Costo: Gratuito
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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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Tips to Boost Emotional Health During the Pandemic Webinar Recording
COVID-19 has caused serious hardships and heartbreak for families across the country. Many family caregivers have been particularly hard hit, with the weight of a global pandemic added to their already significant caregiving responsibilities. This webinar discusses how caregivers can add or modify existing self-care practices to help them better manage during these difficult times.
To read a special Q and A with presenter Tiffany Pippen about this webinar, please click here.
Presenter: Tiffany Pippen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and practicing Psychotherapist with over a decade of experience working with children and families around issues of anxiety, depression, trauma, and family caregiving challenges. She provides a warm, culturally-competent environment where you are safe and can feel safe to express your thoughts and feelings, free from judgment and criticism.
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FCA Presents: A Conversation With 2020 Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving Award Winners
This webinar features presentations by the 2020 Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving Awards winners, and also includes a panel discussion. The winners include the following programs:
-Caregiver/Storyteller Podcast (CaringKind, the Heart of Alzheimer’s Caregiving)
Caregiver/Storyteller is a unique storytelling podcast that provides a platform for Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers to share personal stories and experiences.
-Culturally Responsive Caregiver Support and Dementia Services (Volunteers of America Minnesota/Wisconsin)
Established in response to the need for culturally relevant dementia support for African American community members, the program has now expanded to serve the unique needs of East African and Hmong caregivers, care receivers, and their families.
-California Task force on Family Caregiving: Picking up the Pace of Change in California (University of Southern California Family Caregiver Support Center)
The California Task Force on Family Caregiving was created to examine the challenges faced by dementia caregivers. The task force convened a team of professionals and caregivers to propose policies with the following values: supporting diverse needs, cultural sensitivity, person and family-centered care, work-life balance, choice, and options.
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Conceptos Básicos Y Esenciales De Planificación Patrimonial
En esta presentación cubriremos los documentos y procesos legales que le ayudarán a cuidar de un miembro de la familia incapacitado. Repasaremos las herramientas básicas de planificación patrimonial que son importantes para todos, incluidos los testamentos, fideicomisos, poderes notariales y directivas anticipadas de atención médica. También discutiremos brevemente la tutela de adultos.
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KINDER—New Online Caregiver Program
KINDER (Knowledge and Interpersonal Skills to Develop Exemplary Relationships) is an eight-week online course that aims to give family caregivers strategies to enjoy a healthy and rewarding relationship with the person for whom they provide care. Participants will learn about Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias, having difficult conversations with care recipients, coping with stress, and more. To learn more please click here. |
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Eliminating the Medi-Cal Asset Test: Making Access to Health Care More Equitable and Fair
"Millions of California seniors and people with disabilities turn to Medi-Cal for essential health care. These Californians face discrimination due to an asset test in Medi-Cal that unfairly applies only to people age 65 or older or who have a disability. Medi-Cal limits seniors and people with disabilities to assets of no more than $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples. Assets include money in a checking or savings account, a second car, and cash in hand. In addition, seniors must have household incomes that do not exceed 138% of the federal poverty line — $1,482 per month for a single adult or $2,004 for a couple as of 2021. Policymakers have chosen to exempt certain assets from counting toward the limit. However, by treating resources differently, they have created an uneven playing field..."
To view this fact sheet on eliminating the asset test, click here
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Survey of Caregiving for Seniors in the Korean Community
Korean Center, Inc is seeking input from Korean caregivers and those who may be interested in becoming caregivers in the near future. Survey responses will help Korean Center develop senior programs in the future.
설문조사대상: 이미 간병인이나 도우미로서 노인분들을 돌보고 계신 분이나, 미래에 노인분들의 간병인이나 도우미로 활동을 계획하고 계신 분들
설문목적: 노인분들을 돌봐주시는 간병인분들이나 도우미 분들이 겪고 계시는 어려운 점들을 파악하고, 그 분들이 받고자 하는 정보 및 교육을 배우기 위함
설문기간: May 10 - May 30
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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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Journaling for Caregivers
In this hands-on webinar, we’ll explore journaling as a way to relieve stress, find the meaning and purpose that often gets lost in day-to-day activities, and find new ways to share our love with the one we care for. The objectives of the Journaling for Caregivers webinar are to: learn how to free write with no judgements, say what you need to and see how it changes the way you feel, and to find or re-discover hope.
Presenter: B. Lynn Goodwin rediscovered journaling while caring for her mother, who had undiagnosed Alzheimer’s. She owns Writer Advice, www.writeradvice.com. She’s written Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62 (memoir), Talent (YA) and You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers (self-help).
When: Wednesday, May 26, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon (PT)
Where: ONLINE
Cost: No Charge
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When an Ailing Parent Needs More Care, Sibling Conflicts can Arise and add to Stress
Being a family caregiver is often physically, emotionally, and financially taxing. When adult children are making decisions about the care of a parent, tricky family dynamics often come into play. Eve Glicksman writing for the Washington Post outlines some of the common pitfalls and arguments that arise during these caregiving arrangements. This article also includes advice and insight from FCA’s Christina Irving. |
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Doing ‘The Washing Machine’ With My 84-Year-Old Mother
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many family caregivers to adapt to provide caregiving help to loved ones remotely. Education administrator and family caregiver Erika Shimahara shares her story of staying connected with elderly parents in the New York Times’ Modern Love column. Shimahara also writes about the new challenges that have arisen during the pandemic, like keeping her normally fit mother active during lockdowns, and providing tech support. |
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CAREGIVERS CONNECT:
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA EVENTS
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Let’s Get Away, Together Virtual Travel— Summer Session
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.
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May 25
Let’s go to India (Encore)
Explore the popular and off-the-beaten-track destinations
June 1
Let’s go to the British Virgin Islands
Kick-off Summer holiday with us as we visit the Caribbean
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June 8
Let’s go to Amsterdam
June 15
Let’s explore Sacramento
Explore California’s Capitol
June 22nd
Let’s go to Italy!
Join us for a musically rich tour of Italy.
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When: Tuesdays, May 4 to June 22, from 1 to 2 p.m. (PT)
Where: Online
Cost: No charge
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Headlines From the May Caregiving Policy Digest
- Vaccinations tame the virus
- Therapist confronts sibling caregiving rivalries
- AD drug trial stirs some hopes
The entire May issue is available 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: Celine Takatsuno
Vice-President: Keely Stevenson
Treasurer: Wyatt Ritchie
Secretary: Amanda Breeden Warner
Athan Bezaitis, Deborah Kan, Shruti Kothari, Catherine Lelong, Dan Lieberman, Rajiv Mehta, Scott Peifer, Kathleen Raffel, Tiffany Riser, Ian Tong
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101 Montgomery Street | Suite 2150 | San Francisco, CA 94104
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Follow FCA on social media! |
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