Vol. 12, No. 11
November 2021
Dear Friends:

Happy National Family Caregiver Month! Family caregivers perform a vital, essential service by tending to the needs of millions of people across the country. The work can be brutally difficult and often makes extraordinary demands on physical and emotional health, relationships, finances, and careers. National Family Caregiver Month celebrates their achievements, your achievements, your grit, your resilience, and your dedication.

To commemorate this special month, FCA has complied a list of top most useful resources, voted for by family caregivers. We are also hosting a special online celebration in honor of National Caregiver Month featuring dance, games, animals, and some surprises. FCA joins with people across the country in celebrating family caregivers.

Sincerely,

Calvin Hu
Education Coordinator
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“If you fell down yesterday, stand up today.”
— H.G. Wells
WHAT’S NEW AT FCA
FCA Celebrates National Family Caregiver Month

In honor of National Family Caregivers Month, FCA has gathered our 17 most popular resources for family caregivers (as rated by hundreds of our caregiver clients). From instructional videos on medical/nursing tasks to expert guidance on self-care, long-term planning and more, you’ll find these all-time favorites here. Our Top 17 list is one of the many resources we’ve gathered this month to help support you and the rest of America’s 53 million family caregivers.
Online Caregiver Party

Join FCA and fellow caregivers for a special party in your honor. November is National Family Caregiver Month and this year FCA will be celebrating with a virtual (online) event. Activities will include dance, games, animals, and some surprises!

When: Monday, November 22, from 11 a.m. to 12:25 p.m. (PT)
Cost: No charge
Where: Online (Zoom)
Registration: Click here
FCAs Norell Wheeler Featured on HBCU Lounge Network

The HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Lounge Network was created for HBCU singles to mix, mingle, and make connections. Every month, the group also hosts guests on topics including resilience, femininity, real estate, and money in dating. In November, in recognition of National Family Caregiver Month, HBCU Lounge Network invited FCA Family Consultant Norell Wheeler for an in-depth and frank conversation about caregiving.
Are you interested in sharing your caregiving experience as part of a new Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA) video series? 

FCA is seeking individuals like you - current or former family caregivers - to share your knowledge, insights and a story or two about what is involved when caring for someone living with a neurodegenerative disease. Your experience is likely to be truly helpful to someone else, including others who may feel isolated or have little support.

We are looking to connect with caregivers who are: 
  • caring (or cared) for someone living with Huntingtons disease, ALSMS, or Parkinsons disease,
  • open to being interviewed, video recorded, and possibly photographed, and
  • living in the San Francisco Bay Area. 
We expect video recordings to take between 1-2 hours and can take place either at your home or another location.

Please dont be shy. We will make the interview easy and enjoyable. Participants will be offered a gift card for their time.

For more information: Contact Annie Roche by email at [email protected] or leave your name and phone number at 415-434-3388 x317.

Please let us know your interest by Monday, November 29th.

Support for this video series is provided by the Adira Foundation.
FCA is Hiring

We’re looking for qualified and interested applicants to fill a current opening in our San Francisco office. The position is Family Consultant. FCA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and is committed to creating a diverse environment. Please click here for more information or to apply.
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.
INFORMATION YOU CAN USE
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 events, please click here.
ARTICLES FOR CAREGIVERS
What You Can Do to Prevent Caregiver Fraud

To help meet the demands of caregiving, some families opt to hire paid, in-home help to assist with caregiving tasks. Unfortunately, when hiring in-home help, there is always the risk a paid caregiver will commit financial fraud. AARP’s Sandra Guy gives advice and five tips on how to reduce this risk.
Caregiver Burnout: What It Is, Signs You’re Experiencing It, and How to Cope

Caregiver burnout is a very common reaction to the challenges of caregiving. This is different than stress as burnout often appears similar to depression and a state of emotional numbness. Moira Lawler, writing for Everyday Health, explains what caregiver burnout is, what the signs are, and what steps people can take to manage burnout.
CAREGIVERS CONNECT:
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA EVENTS
Caregiver Party- Celebrating National Family Caregiver Month

Join FCA and fellow caregivers for a special party in your honor. November is National Family Caregiver month and this year FCA will be celebrating with a virtual (online) event. Activities include dance, games, animals, and some surprises.

When: Monday, November 22, from 11 a.m. to 12:25 p.m. (PT)
Cost: No charge
Registration: Click here
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. Read a Q&A about the series here.
November 30
Let’s explore wonders in Architecture
Join us as we explore the fascinating architecture in our NEW series; Strange Great Buildings from Around the World!

December 7
Let’s travel to British Columbia and the Yukon with Katrina! 
We’ll take a road trip through BC and through the Yukon, stopping in favorite spots to learn about the beautiful landscape and culture!
December 14
Let’s explore Living on the Water
Ever imagined living life on the water? Wait until you see these yachts and houseboats on our water adventure around the world.

December 21
Winter Sing-Along with Katrina!
Bring your favorite songs and join Katrina in song and live violin renditions for a combination of winter, holiday, and folk favorites!
When: Tuesdays, October 26 to December 21 (no session on November 23 due to Thanksgiving), from 1 to 2 p.m. (PT)
Where: Online
Cost: No charge
Registration: Click here
Contact: [email protected]
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.
RESEARCH LISTINGS
AND ...
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.
CONNECTIONS CREDITS

Editors: Calvin Hu, Al Martinez
Contributors: Kathleen Kelly, Executive Director, Calvin Hu, Lana Sheridan, Leah Eskenazi
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President: M Celine Takatsuno
Vice-Presidents: Catherine Lelong, Ian Tong
Treasurer: Wyatt Ritchie
Secretary: Amanda Breeden Warner

Athan Bezaitis, Deborah Kan, Shruti Kothari, Dan Lieberman, Scott Peifer, Kathleen Raffel, Tiffany Riser, Karen Sperling, Keely Stevenson.
101 Montgomery Street | Suite 2150 | San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone: (800) 445-8106 | Email: [email protected]
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