Vol. 14, No. 11

November 2023

Dear Friends:

November is National Family Caregivers Month. It is a time to celebrate, and recognize the herculean efforts and sacrifices made by people across the country providing care to family members, partners, relatives, friends, and neighbors.

For caregivers, we hope you will take advantage of our online resource center CareNav, and our many fact sheets, videos, classes, and webinars. Caregivers in the San Francisco Bay Area are encouraged to contact our Caregiver Resource Center for consultations and resources, while our friends in other states can consult FCA’s newly updated Services by State tool for resources local to them.

Sincerely,

Calvin Hu

Education Coordinator

edprograms@caregiver.org

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”

— Mark Twain

FCA Is Deeply Saddened by the News of Rosalynn Carter’s Passing

Rosalynn Carter will be remembered as a great American, who devoted her life to public service. Mrs. Carter was also an early supporter of family caregivers, recognizing the contributions and struggles of caregivers decades before it was recognized as a key issue in health and social services. FCA was proud to receive an award from the Rosalynn Carter Institute in the 1980s for our work in California and beyond. We had the pleasure of working on many committees and advisories with the former First Lady.  

Mrs. Carter was smart, compassionate, practical, and lived her values every day. We will miss her presence in the field and owe Mrs. Carter deep gratitude for her service.

Family Caregiving: Where Compassion Meets Complexity

Being a family caregiver is becoming more complex, taxing, and stressful. In fact, a recent evaluation conducted by the Family Caregiver Institute at the UC Davis School of Nursing analyzed data in CareNav, revealed important insights on the experiences, demographics and needs of nearly 15,000 California family caregivers.

In recognition of National Family Caregivers Month, FCA recently published a blog post thanking caregivers for their compassion, care, and sacrifice. This post also highlights the FCA tools and resources available for caregivers including CareNav, Services by State and includes insight on the difficult tasks fulfilled by caregivers. 

Please Donate to Support Family Caregivers This Holiday Season

As the number of caregivers continues to grow year after year, FCA's mission to improve the lives of family caregivers is more vital than ever. As the is the go-to resource for caregivers of adults with physical and cognitive impairments, FCA serves caregivers both locally and nationally.

Last year, many friends of FCA helped us support caregivers through donations that went toward respite, which allowed caregivers to take well deserved breaks. This year, we're asking our friends and supporters to make a donation that will allow FCA to meet the growing need for caregiver counseling so we can take families off our waitlist. These much needed services are aimed at addressing caregivers' most pressing needs, including relieving stress and increasing confidence, as well as providing emotional, legal and financial support.

Please visit our donation page to support family caregivers.

Calfornia Caregiving Bills in 2023: Wins and Disappointments

Legislation supporting family caregivers had victories and losses in California. Bills that were passed included:

SB 616 Paid Sick Days (Gonzalez), which expands the minimum number of paid sick days in California from 3 to 5 starting January 1, 2024. This law applies to all California employees, including working family caregivers.

AB 1309 Long-Term health care facilities: admission contracts (Reyes), which mandates nursing homes, in the case of an involuntary transfer or discharge, provide written notice and discharge related documents.

AB 1417 Elder and dependent adult abuse: mandated reporting (Wood), which requires mandated reporters (healthcare and social service workers who are required to report suspected elder and dependent adult abuse) follow a timely reporting process and ensure that criminal acts are reported to law enforcement first.

AB 386 California Right to Financial Privacy Act (Nguyen), this bill will extend time frames and allow Adult Protective Services access additional information with the goal of more thorough and improved investigations of suspected financial abuse.

Governor Newsom vetoed AB 524 (Wicks), which would have addressed caregiver discrimination in the workplace, and AB 575 (Papan). None of the proposed Alzheimer’s bills made it into law this session.

Family Caregiver Survey Needs Your Input

The Alliance for Long Term Care Pharmacy at Home is a newly formed organization focused on expanding access to long-term care pharmacy services at home. They are seeking to better understand how services like medication delivery, 24/7 access to a pharmacist, and specialized packaging could benefit family caregivers and care recipients. To provide input, please answer this brief, anonymous, survey.

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.

Caregiverʼs Guide to Medications and Aging

Medicines have contributed to longer life spans, improved health, and improved quality of life. However, when not used appropriately or safely, medications can have devastating consequences. This FCA fact sheet includes information on how to benefit from the expertise of pharmacists, the potential risks of too many medicines, and how to prevent medication-related problems.

Holding a Family Meeting

Caregivers are often advised to seek help to lessen the caregiving workload. For many individuals, the natural place to turn for such help is family. FCA’s Holding a Family Meeting fact sheet provides information on how to approach the subject, advice on creating an agenda, lists key points to consider discussing, and explains potential conflicts that may arise.

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 November's events, please click here.

How Worried Caregivers Can Avoid Becoming Anxious

Worrying about a person you are caring for is a normal reaction to the serious responsibility of being a caregiver. But if worry becomes uncontrollable, that becomes anxiety, which can mean a worse quality of life for the caregiver and also worse quality of care. AARP caregiving expert Barry J. Jacobs shares insight on how to avoid anxiety.

Facing Financial Ruin as Costs Soar for Elder Care

The number of older Americans is increasing and so too are care needs. But the cost of paid caregivers, nursing homes, and other long-term care expenses is outpacing inflation and can deplete the savings and assets of older Americans and their adult children. The New York Times' Reed Abelson and KFF Health News' Jordan Rau explain in detail how long-term care costs are crushing families.

CAREGIVERS CONNECT:

FCA EVENTS

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.

November 21

The “Real” Thanksgiving

Discover the actual lives of the pilgrims and what the first Thanksgiving could have looked like.

November 28

Embark on a Journey of Gratitude and Art

Immerse yourself in a captivating artistic voyage, where we explore the profound concept of ‘thankfulness’ through the vibrant world of art.

December 5

Experience the Magic of Winter at Lake Tahoe!

Come on an unforgettable journey as we discover the winter wonderland of Lake Tahoe by boat, on land, and from high above the stunning snowy landscapes.

December 12

Let’s Explore Architectural Marvels Worldwide!

Embark on a global journey with us to uncover the captivating stories behind some of the world’s most incredible architectural wonders.

December 19

Let’s Explore the magic of Crossword Puzzles!

Celebrate the publishing of the first modern newspaper crossword puzzle by exploring some of the unusual words found in them!

When: Tuesdays, November 21 to December 19, 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.

It Takes Two! A Refreshing Approach to Understanding and Coping with Dementia Behavior

This four-week class offers skills and tools for family caregivers who care for a family

member or friend with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. In It Takes Two! you will: learn more about your relative or friend’s ability to understand and communicate; learn skills to handle troubling behavior; feel more confident and positive about your caregiving role.

When: Four consecutive Wednesdays, January 24, 31 and February 7, 14, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Where: Online (Zoom)

Cost: No charge

Registration: Click here

Registration is open to family caregivers in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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.

CAREGIVING POLICY DIGEST

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.

Professional Research Listings

• Are you a caregiver of an adult over 50 years old, and willing to try Routinify services at no cost?
• Are you or a loved one living with early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment?
• Equity in Caregiving
• Inviting grandchildren, nieces/nephews, siblings, and step-kin to participate in a telephone-based dementia caregiving study
• Learning from Family and Friends Who Helped with Dementia Care
• Nationwide Study for Understanding and Improving Surgical Decision-Making for Persons Living with Dementia, their Family Caregivers, and their Providers – Patients and Caregivers Needed
• Participate in a Study About Dementia and Caregiver Stress
• Participate in a study about Understanding Informal Caregivers

Graduate Student Research Listings

• Caring for a Parent with Dementia
• Help-Seeking Behaviors and Service use for Mental Health in East Asian American Informal Caregivers of Persons Living with Dementia
• Looking for past and present caregivers to volunteer to participate in a research study
• Measuring Emotional Distress in Caregiver and Patients with Primary Brain Tumors
• The Couples Lived Experience Study - Boston University
• The Impacts of Caregiving and Social Support on Stress for Multiple Sclerosis Caregivers

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!

CONNECTIONS CREDITS



Editors: Calvin Hu, Al Martinez

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

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President: Ian Tong

Vice President: Karen Sperling

Treasurer: Keely Stevenson

Secretary: Amanda Breeden Warner

Athan Bezaitis, Amber Christ, Deborah Kan, Shruti Kothari, Mary Ellen Kullman, Scott Peifer, Tiffany Riser, Wyatt Ritchie, Marda Stothers, Celine Takatsuno.