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Vol. 17, No. 1
January 2026
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Dear Friends:
The new year has arrived and with it comes an opportunity for self-reflection and a fresh start. How are your self-care and coping skills holding up? As a caregiver, what has been working and what hasn’t? For the things that haven’t worked out, have you figured out a new or different approach that may be more successful? What are some of the big and small goals you accomplished last year? What are some of the ways you made life better for yourself? What are some of the moments from last year that make you proud?
You’ve probably heard already that every caregiving journey is unique. For many caregivers the journey is very challenging and some find meaning, compassion, and satisfaction as caregivers, but not all. If you find yourself in need of support or resources, please contact us.
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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2025 Winners of the Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving Awards
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, RRF Foundation for Aging, and Family Caregiver Alliance are pleased to announce and celebrate the 2025 Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving Awards winners. Three organizations, each delivering a state-of-the-art program that addresses the needs of caregivers and those they care for living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related condition have been awarded $20,000 for their work in the following categories:
Increasing Access and Reducing Stigma:
“Meet Me At…” Series – HOPE Dementia Support, a program of CDM Caregiving Services –Vancouver, WA
Creative Expression:
Improv for Caregivers – New London Barn Playhouse – New London, NH
Creative Expression:
5th Dementia Band – Music Mends Minds, Inc. – Los Angeles, CA
Please visit our website to view detailed information on the winning programs.
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Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving Awards Reception
The 2025 award winners will be honored at a reception at the upcoming American Society on Aging “On Aging Conference” in Atlanta, GA. Please join us and the award winners for program presentations, conversation, hors d’oeuvres, and beverages. All are welcome!
Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2026 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Location: Embassy Hall-C –International Tower Level – Hyatt Regency Atlanta — 265 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30303
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LGBTQ+ Advance Directives and Long-Term Care Facility Resources
FCA seeks to support and advocate for family caregivers of all communities. LGBTQ+ caregivers can face unique challenges that may add additional complications, hurdles, and frustrations on top of their caregiving load. Ames Simmons, Senior Lecturing Fellow at Duke Law, has compiled a special list of resources for LGBTQ+ caregivers which FCA is pleased to share here. These resources focus on Advance Care Planning and Finding a LGBTQ+ Friendly Long Term Care Facility.
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Medi-Cal: The Return of the Asset Limit
Below is an an update from our partners at California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR).
After a brief period of expanded access, California plans to reinstate the asset limit for Medi-Cal, once again placing financial eligibility restrictions on older adults seeking healthcare through the state’s Medicaid program. This policy change, effective January 1, 2026, marks a significant reversal from the recent efforts to eliminate barriers for older adults and people with disabilities. Many Medi-Cal beneficiaries want to know how to keep their benefits and services, especially given that the return of the asset limit is fast approaching. This article aims to provide some clarification based on recently released guidance from the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), which provides oversight to California’s Medi-Cal program.
Please click here to view the full post.
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Improving Practice: New Training to Support Diverse Family Caregivers
Family caregivers are essential partners in care, yet their needs often go unrecognized — especially when cultural, linguistic, and social differences shape their caregiving experience. Health care workers and social workers are on the front lines of supporting these caregivers, and having the right skills and awareness can make all the difference.
To meet this need, FCA is proud to present the course “Improving Practice: Working with Diverse Family Caregivers.” This online training helps professionals deepen their understanding of diverse caregiving realities and adopt practical strategies to better support all families.
This four-hour, self-paced course is designed for all professionals who work with family caregivers, with special relevance for social workers. It is available in two versions: Free Version-- Open to all professionals at no cost & NASW-Approved CEU Version for 4 continuing education contact hours (nominal administrative fee).
This training is funded by CalGrows, an initiative of the California Department of Aging, dedicated to strengthening the caregiving workforce and improving services for all families.
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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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Smart Caregiving: Hiring In-Home Help
The day to day responsibilities of being a caregiver for many can seem endless. Caregivers may find there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. When you’re working, often with a family of your own, you don’t have a lot of extra time to assist with housekeeping, meal prep or other hands-on support. FCA has a new Smart Caregiving resource that can help you find other ways to assist family members in need by hiring in-home help.
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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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Family Caregiver Services by State
FCA’s Services by State tool helps family caregivers locate programs and services nearest to the person they are caring for, whether they are living at home or in a residential facility. These resources include government health and disability programs, legal resources, disease-specific organizations and more. Caregiving is challenging, but there are resources to help. The Services by State tool provides information on state-specific resources, and also national resources and organizations.
Recent improvements to this resource tool were made possible through a generous grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
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FCA Offers 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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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 January events, please click here.
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Expert Tips for Juggling Compound Caregiving
It is estimated that 25% of caregivers are compound caregivers, meaning they provide care for more than one person. Providing care to one person can be extremely challenging, being a compound caregiver will add even more responsibilities to a potentially already overworked family caregiver. AARP’s Bruce Horovitz, provides advice for those caring for more than one person.
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Why Continuity of Care Matters
New research indicates that continuity of care can help reduce hospital or emergency visits for minor chronic ailments. In this instance, continuity of care simply means seeing the same primary care doctor. Next Avenue’s Deborah Lynn Blumberg explains why and offers some additional tips from experts on how to avoid unneeded hospital visits.
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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.
January 6th – Let’s Bring in the New Year with New Astronomical Discoveries!
January 13th – Encore! – Let’s Discover More Unusual Islands!
January 20th – Let’s Investigate the History of Maps!
January 27th – Let’s Share Our Toys and Learn More About Them!
February 3rd – Let’s Delve into the World of Ham Radio!
February 10th – Let’s Explore the Fascinating Life of Some Rather Unusual Plants!
February 17th – Let’s Enter the World of the Milliner and Discover the Amazing World of Hats!
February 24th – Encore! – Let’s Venture into More Caves!
When: Tuesdays, January 6 - February 24 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (Pacific)
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 & Disability Services, Sourcewise, and the California Department of Aging.
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Caregiving 101
Caregiving 101 gives a general overview of what it means to be a caregiver, how caregiving impacts one’s overall health and wellbeing. This specific workshop offers general information on respite, caregiver stress, ways to find help, and a few more topics related to caregiving.
When: February 18 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (Pacific)
Where: ONLINE
Cost: No charge
Registration: Click here https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/zu3bxvn
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 & Disability Services, Sourcewise, and the California Department of Aging.
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Dementia 101
Caring for someone living with dementia poses many unique challenges for family caregivers. This class will provide a basic understanding of dementia and how it affects an individual. Dementia 101 will also include some tips for caregivers on how to cope with these changes.
When: February 25 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM (Pacific)
Where: ONLINE
Cost: No charge
Registration: Click here https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/kf7qsyc
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 & Disability Services, Sourcewise, and the California Department of Aging.
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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 Breeden Warner
Amber Christ, Shruti Kothari, Mary Ellen Kullman, Sarita Mohanty, Ambika Pajjuri, Tiffany Riser, Wyatt Ritchie, Marda Stothers
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