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Dear Friends:
FCA’s mission is to improve the quality of life for family caregivers and the people who receive their care. We strive to assist all caregivers, including those who may face additional challenges in accessing caregiving help and support.
FCA has a growing library of materials for caregivers of diverse backgrounds, communities, and identities. Our website is accessible for Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese speaking family caregivers with translated fact sheets in Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. FCA’s most popular resources are also available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. For LGBTQ+ caregivers, FCA has created special fact sheets on LGBTQ+ Caregiving: Frequently Asked Questions, Special Concerns of LGBTQ+ Caregivers, and Legal Issues for LGBTQ+ Caregivers.
Sincerely,
Calvin Hu
Education Coordinator
edprograms@caregiver.org
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“A happy life consists not in the absence, but in the mastery of hardships.”
― Helen Keller
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FCA CareNav™ Newly Upgraded
When you log into CareNav, you'll find a new look with more personalized tools and resources to help you along your caregiving journey. And all of it is organized in an easy-to-navigate dashboard.
What this means to you as a caregiver is that:
- You'll have access to our library full of videos, fact sheets, infographics, and more, available 24/7, in one convenient location.
- You can gather resources relevant to you and easily keep them organized.
- You can explore a range of caregiving topics like in-home care, finances, legal matters, self-care, and more.
- You can learn about and sign up for caregiving events, classes and webinars given by FCA and other California Caregiver Resource Centers.
CareNav is now easier to use, and it’s still free and secure. No matter what stage of the caregiving process you’re in, CareNav connects you to the resources and support you need.
So, login or register for CareNav today!
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‘Let’s Get Away, Together’ Online Travel Series Offers Community, Adventure, and Fun
Are you looking for a fun, at-home activity to enjoy with your care recipient—or a bit of levity for yourself? Sign up for our popular online travel series, “Let’s Get Away, Together.”
“Let’s Get Away, Together” is a therapeutic travel series designed to combat isolation, offer lifelong learning, guide meaningful conversations, and support community. Moderators with expertise in aging, memory loss, and the arts bring participants on virtual journeys to destinations like Golden Gate Park, the Grand Canyon, Hawaii, and beyond.
Please click here to learn more about this exciting series, or register for the current session here.
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Caregivers Count! 13th Annual Conference (online)
Caregivers Count is designed for families and friends caring for their loved ones. This four-part online conference features expert speakers covering wide ranging topics to support caregivers. This year’s topics include: Making Tender Memories, Anticipatory Grief, Caring for someone who did not Care for you, and Effective Communication with Medical Providers.
When: September 9, 16, 23, and 30, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon (PT)
To register: visit www.caregiverscount.net
Caregivers Count is planned by a coalition of local nonprofit agencies and businesses interested in supporting family caregivers and sponsored by agencies including FCA.
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Help Make a Difference for California’s Unpaid Family Caregivers
Family caregivers and their advocates have a new option to mobilize for California State policies that support unpaid family caregivers--they can join the California Coalition on Family Caregiving (CaCFC).
CaCFC was launched in June 2022 with funding from Archstone Foundation and Community Catalyst to advocate for California policies and services that support diverse unpaid family caregivers and their care recipients. In less than a year, the coalition has grown to 35 members, including caregivers and organizations from our communities. Members voted to support 14 pieces of 2023 California State legislation, including two priority bills, AB 518 (Paid Family Leave for Designated Persons) and SB 616 (Paid Sick and Safe Days). Learn more here.
To join the coalition you can fill out a membership form at https://cacfc.org/get-involved/#apply or email cacfc@usc.edu with any questions.
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Services by State: Your One-Stop Search Tool for Family Caregiver Resources in Every State (newly updated)
FCA’s Services by State tool helps family caregivers locate public, nonprofit, and private programs and services local to them. Resources include government health and disability programs, legal resources, disease-specific organizations, residential care, and more. Our recent update to our Services by State tool means that it’s now not only more robust, with more resources and high-quality information than ever before, but has new features that let caregivers easily filter and sort their search criteria for highly tailored results.
In addition to state-level resources, Services by State also links to National Resources for Family Caregivers and provides relevant related resources from within FCA’s comprehensive library. It is updated regularly by our caregiver resources specialists, so family caregivers always have the most current information and links at their fingertips.
Recent improvements to this resource tool were made possible through a generous grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.
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New! LGBTQ Caregiver Support Group (online)
In partnership with Openhouse, FCA is proud to offer this new support group for LGBTQ caregivers of those with a variety of illnesses, disorders and challenges. It offers a welcoming space for caregivers to discuss the unique stresses, difficulties and variety of experiences that come with providing care in this community.
Open to participants who live in the San Francisco Bay Area (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo or Santa Clara counties). For more information or to register, contact Adriana Sanchez.
When: 3rd Wednesdays of the month, 4 to 5:30 p.m. (PT), via Zoom
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Young Adult Caregivers Support Group (online)
This group is designed for family caregivers under the age of 40 who are caring for someone who is: 1) 60 or older with any diagnosis, or 2) age 18 or older with an adult-onset cognitive or neurological impairment. The Young Adult Caregivers Support Group meets twice monthly.
Open to participants who live in the San Francisco Bay Area (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo or Santa Clara counties). To register, contact FCA at (415) 434-3388 x331 or email bayareaintake@caregiver.org.
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California Department of Aging Statewide Survey of Older Adults
The Community Assessment Survey for Older Adults is designed to help California better understand the contributions that adults 55+ make to their communities. The survey will also focus on the needs and challenges faced by older adults. Feedback will be used to help the State ensure that policies and programs align with California residents’ needs and values.
Starting mid-month, postcards will be randomly mailed to California households with an older adult to participate in the survey online. The survey will also be mailed to these same households. In mid-August, the online survey link will be shared publicly, allowing any interested Californians to participate.
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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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Hot Weather Tips
Normal physiological changes that occur later in life, medications, or a cognitive impairment can inhibit an older person’s ability to tell if they are suffering from unhealthy temperatures. Because of this, caregivers of older adults face additional challenges during warmer months. Read FCA’s tips on how to keep a loved one cool, and how to spot the warning signs of a heat related problem.
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Dementia: Is This Dementia and What Does it Mean?
“Dementia” is a widely used term commonly understood to indicate problems of thinking and memory. But dementia is a symptom, not a diagnosis. FCA’s fact sheet explains dementia causing diseases and conditions such as Alzheimer’ s disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and frontotemporal dementia.
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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 August events, please click here.
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‘Hospital-at-Home’ Trend Means Family Members Must be Caregivers — Ready or Not
Hospital-at-Home is a service that provides hospital-level care at a patient’s home, instead of a more traditional hospital stay. While not available in every state or at all hospitals, this service has become more common following COVID-19. NPR’s Kat McGowan shares stories of families that have found the experience positive, but also cautions that the effects on family caregivers are not well studied or fully understood.
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When the Caregiving Ends: Recovering From Loss, Rebuilding Your Life
While it may be true that all caregiving journeys are unique, the one aspect that does not change is that they all eventually end. When someone being cared for dies, a caregiver may feel complex emotions like relief, guilt, and loss. Next Avenue’s Connie Baher explores what happens after caregiving ends, with a focus on former caregivers rebuilding their lives, and rediscovering who they are.
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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.
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August 1
National Anthems!
In honor of Sir Francis Scott Key’s birthday, we will not only look into our own national anthem, but learn about the national anthems of other countries!
August 8
Let’s explore Aerial Photography!
Join us in exploring San Francisco from the sky, as we look through the lens of Aerial photographer Robert Cameron.
August 15
The Power of Volcanoes!
Travel to some of the most legendary volcanoes around the world and learn more about volcanology, the study of volcanoes!
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August 22
Finding Joyful Moments
Join us in this interactive exploration of the meaning of “Joy” through Hummingbird's seven domains of wellness.
August 29
World Records!
Celebrating the anniversary of the first publishing of The Guinness World Book of Records, let’s enjoy discovering some of the very interesting and wide variety of world records that it includes!
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When: Tuesdays, July 11 to August 29, from 1 to 2 p.m. (PT)
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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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!
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, Calvin Hu, Jenna Shankman, Lana Sheridan, Leah Eskenazi
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President: Scott Peifer
Vice-Presidents: Ian Tong, Catherine Lelong
Treasurer: Keely Stevenson
Secretary: Amanda Breeden Warner
Athan Bezaitis, Amber Christ, Deborah Kan, Shruti Kothari, Mary Ellen Kullman, Tiffany Riser, Wyatt Ritchie, Karen Sperling, Marda Stothers, Celine Takatsuno.
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235 Montgomery Street | Suite 930 | San Francisco, CA 94104
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