Dear Friends:

March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate and recognize the achievements and contributions women have accomplished for their families, their communities, and this country. This month is particularly meaningful to FCA as an estimated 75 percent of family caregivers are female.

FCA’s mission is to improve the quality of life for family caregivers and the people who receive their care. Family caregivers are the informal, often invisible, and absolutely crucial backbone of the healthcare system. They fill in for the wide chasm between the care that is needed and what is actually provided (or affordable)-- and the backbone of this backbone are women caregivers.

FCA strives to recognize and serve women caregivers of diverse racial backgrounds, cultures, socioeconomic status, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, and more; as these are key components in understanding women’s unique caregiving journeys and experiences. FCA joins with our fellow Americans, and friends in the United Kingdom and Australia in celebrating Women’s History Month, and honoring the valued and essential contributions of women caregivers.

Sincerely,

Calvin Hu

Education Coordinator

We are appalled and deeply saddened by the news of the tragedy in Atlanta last week, and the increasing violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders over the past year. It’s particularly reprehensible that many of these senseless acts of violence target vulnerable elders in the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Our thoughts go to all of the individuals and families affected by these inexcusable acts.

As an organization deeply rooted in the SF Bay Area, FCA serves family caregivers who reflect the diversity of our regional population, including caregivers of Asian and Pacific Island descent. To extend the impact of our efforts, FCA also partners with organizations that support API family caregivers, including Kimochi and Self Help for the Elderly. In addition, our staff and our board include members of these communities. For these reasons and so many more, we must voice our outrage and advocate for action.

The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, Bader Philanthropies, Inc., and FCA are pleased to announce the winning organizations of the 13th Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving Awards. Each organization delivers a state-of-the-art program that addresses the needs of caregivers and those they care for with Alzheimer’s disease or a related condition. Winners receive $20,000 for their work. Please click here to view detailed information on the 2020 programs.

University of Southern California Family Caregiver Support Center – Los Angeles, CA

CaringKind, the Heart of Alzheimer’s Caregiving – New York, NY

Volunteers of America – Minnesota – Edina, MN

This group provides a place to get support and hear from other caregivers. It is moderated by a social worker and is open to San Francisco Bay Area caregivers who are caring for someone 60 or older with any diagnosis, or a person between the ages of 18-59 with an adult onset cognitive or neurological impairment.

When: Six consecutive Tuesdays, March 23 to April 27, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

To register: Click here

Are you interested in sharing your caregiving experiences in a small group setting? FCA is seeking feedback to improve support services provided to caregivers of individuals living with neurodegenerative diseases. The Caregiver Listening Session is 90 minutes and open to current and former family caregivers in the San Francisco Bay Area who are taking care of someone living with: Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia, ALS, Huntington’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease.

When: Tuesday, March 30, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

To apply: Complete a short application here, or leave your name and phone number at (415) 434-3388 x317 to complete an application over the phone.

In this three-part series of intimate and unexpected conversations, filmmaker Kirsten Johnson and guests explore the role of food in grief, mourning, healing, and legacy.

April 6: Madison Cowan, four star chef, keynote speaker and author

April 13: Sandor Ellix Katz, fermentation revivalist

April 20: Kate Washington, essayist, food writer, and author of Already Toast: Caregiving and Burnout in America

To learn more, please click here.

To identify transportation access, usage, and disparities that impact diverse groups, the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) has launched a national equity, diversity, and inclusion transportation survey. The survey will gauge opinions and obtain information from a representative sample of racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse older adults; people with disabilities; and family caregivers about their experiences accessing and using local transportation options.

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.

What matters most to you for your care? How would others know? This webinar discusses how to talk about your wishes for care with the important people in your life, and covers how to choose someone to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to do so. The webinar also covers how to write down your wishes using Advance Heath Care Directives and the Physician Order for Life Sustaining Treatment.

To view a recording, please click here.

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 March events, please click here.

Some people have concerns about the COVID-19 vaccines. To help calm these fears, the City and County of San Francisco has released a fact sheet available in English, Chinese, Spanish, and Tagalog. The fact sheet covers topics including getting vaccinated for those who already had COVID-19, vaccine side effects, and mask wearing after getting vaccinated.

When: Wednesday, March 31, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon (PT)

Cost: No charge

Registration: Click here

Presenter: Dr. Barry J. Jacobs is a clinical psychologist, healthcare consultant, and a monthly columnist on family caregiving for AARP.org. He is also the author of The Emotional Survival Guide for Caregivers—Looking After Yourself and Your Family While Helping an Aging Parent and co-author of AARP Meditations for Caregivers—Practical, Emotional and Spiritual Support for You and Your Family and AARP Love and Meaning for Couples After 50—The 10 Challenges to Great Relationships and How to Overcome Them. Dr. Jacobs is an Honorary Board Member for the Well Spouse Association and a national spokesperson on family caregiving for the American Heart Association.

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 will discuss how caregivers can add or modify existing self-care practices to help them better manage during these difficult times.

When: Wednesday, April 28, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon (PT)

Cost: No charge

Registration: 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.

Join us for a panel discussion with the most recent Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving Award recipients. The winners include the following programs: Caregiver/Storyteller podcast; Culturally Responsive Caregiver Support and Dementia Services; and California Task force on Family Caregiving: Picking up the Pace of Change in California.

When: Thursday, April 29, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon (PT)

Cost: No charge

Registration: Click here

Family caregiving responsibilities often make great demands on not only physical and mental heath, but also personal finances. To help offset the latter, AARP has complied a list of tax credits and deductions that may help you lessen your tax burden.

To learn more, please read FCA’s What Every Caregiver Needs to Know About Money fact sheet.

Dental health is important in and of itself, but it also plays a part in maintaining overall health-- poor dental health has been linked to more serious chronic conditions. For caregivers who may be unsure how to monitor and care for the dental hygiene of an adult, Next Avenue’s Rosie Wolf Williams explains key things to watch out for, and provides information on where to find help.

To learn more, please read FCA’s Dental Care (for dementia) fact sheet.

March 30—Spring has Sprung!

When: Tuesdays, February 23 to April 13, from 1 to 2 p.m. (PT)

Where: Online

Cost: No charge

Registration: Click here

Contact: [email protected]

The entire issue is available here.

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.

Editors: Calvin Hu, Al Martinez, Rachel Creed

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

President: Celine Takatsuno

Vice-President: Keely Stevenson

Treasurer: Wyatt Ritchie

Secretary: Amanda Breeden Warner

Acting Secretary: Kathleen Raffel

Athan Bezaitis, Deborah Kan, Shruti Kothari, Catherine Lelong, Dan Lieberman, Rajiv Mehta, Scott Peifer, Tiffany Riser, Ian Tong

Phone: (800) 445-8106 | Email: [email protected]