Vol. 12, No. 8
August 2021
Dear Friends:

Young adults make up an increasingly large share of family caregivers. As their friends and colleagues focus on establishing careers, relationships, and families, young caregivers must juggle these milestones with their caregiving responsibilities. To better support these caregivers, FCA recently hosted Aisha Adkins and Jenn Chan for a discussion on the challenges of younger caregivers, each drawing upon their current or past experiences of providing care during their 20s and 30s. FCA’s website and online resource center CareNav are additional tools that provide high quality information and resources at no charge to busy caregivers. Family caregivers are as diverse as their individual journeys. FCA is committed to provide needed support and education now and in the future.

Sincerely,

Calvin Hu
Education Coordinator
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“A happy life consists not in the absence, but in the mastery of hardships.” 

― Helen Keller
WHAT’S NEW AT FCA
FCA in The News

FCA partners with the media to provide insight on the plight of caregivers, and also uses the media to offer suggestions and advice directly to caregivers. Since the last issue of Connections, FCA staff have appeared in: “5 tips for safe and sane travel with someone who has dementia” (Los Angeles Times), America isn’t taking care of caregivers” (Vox), and La vida después del cuidado (AARP).
¿Que Pasa? Boletin

¿Qué Pasa? Es un nuevo boletín electrónico enfocado en información y recursos relevantes a los cuidadores familiares de adultos del Área de la Bahía de San Francisco. La tercera edición incluye  información sobre respiro (respite), el autocuidado, la presentación de Tatiana Mariscal, Especialista de programa, y una lista de eventos gratuitos para todos los cuidadores.

¿Qué Pasa? Será publicado bimensual y para suscribirte, haz clic aquí.

¿Qué Pasa? is a new Spanish language newsletter focused on information and resources relevant to family caregivers in the San Francisco Bay Area. 
Caregivers Count! 11th Annual Conference (Online)

Caregivers Count Conference is an annual event designed for families and friends caring for their loved ones. The conference features experts covering a wide range of topics designed to support caregivers. Topics include self-care, caring for someone with mental health needs, advance care planning, and adult daycare.

When: Sept 11 to Oct 2, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon (PT)
Where: Online
Cost: No charge
Registration: Click here
FCA is Hiring

We’re looking for qualified and interested applicants to fill current openings in our San Francisco office. The positions are: Family Consultant, and Community Engagement Specialist. FCA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and is committed to creating a diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. 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
Younger Adult Family Caregivers - a Discussion With Aisha Adkins and Jenn Chan (webinar recording)

Over a quarter of all family caregivers are Millennials or Gen Z, often facing unique challenges from those providing care later in their life. Managing careers, maintaining friendships and relationships, and planning for their own futures and families add to the stresses and difficulties of caregiving. Join FCA for a discussion and conversation with Millennial caregivers Aisha Adkins, Co-Executive Director of Love Labor Project, and Jenn Chan, founder and CEO of Senior Shower Project. Aisha and Jenn will share their experiences as current and former caregivers (respectively), discuss the obstacles they face, and explain how they cope during their caregiving journeys.

About the speakers:
Aisha Adkins, MPA, CNP is the Constituency Organizer for Caring Across Generations, Co-Executive Director of Love Labor Project, and a full-time caregiver to her parents. She is a storyteller and advocate who is passionate about building an equitable, inclusive, and comprehensive public health and care infrastructure using media, storytelling, and culture and policy change.

Jenn Chan is the Founder of Senior Shower® Project, a startup with a mission to celebrate family caregivers of older adults with a party. Inspired by caregiving for her grandma, Jenn dedicates her career to elevate the family caregiver role with fun, love, and positivity. Jenn also facilitates support groups for LGBTQ seniors, dementia caregivers, and young caregivers.

To view a recording of this webinar please click here.
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.

More information on August events can be found here. For September events please click here.
FREE FCA WEBINAR
Chair Yoga for Self-Care and Self Love with Yoga4Caregivers

Yoga has striking benefits for family caregivers. Studies have shown that yoga can have many beneficial effects for those who engage in a regular practice including reduced stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression. For many, yoga may seem an intimidating pursuit because of injuries, balance issues, or unfamiliarity. Yoga is accessible to everyone regardless of age, and physical ability. A chair is simply a prop to help you to access your expression of the pose and support your body. Chair yoga can help you safely and comfortably reap the benefits of yoga and improve your well-being.

Yoga4Caregivers Project was established to support the health, mental health and well-being of caregivers. It provides free daily classes as well as wellness workshops, virtual retreats, and online social gatherings created with the busy caregiver in mind. To learn more, please visit Yoga4Caregivers Project.

Objectives:
-Discover how the embodied practices of slow mindful yoga can support your self-care and improve your well-being.
-Learn how conscious slow breathing can help you to calm your nervous system and promote rest and digest.
-Explore how yoga can help us to lovingly reconnect us with our true selves and enable a sacred space to ground ourselves with self-compassion and self-love so that we can give care from our overflow instead of the depths of the well.

Presenter
Ellen MacKay (she/her) is the Project Manager at Yoga4Caregivers. Ellen has a genuine passion for supporting caregiver well-being and serves on the leadership team of the Caregiver Wellness Collective Inc. Ellen is an experienced trauma informed yoga teacher, trained social worker and former family caregiver for her mother during her battle with lung cancer and her father during his COPD progression. Ellen is passionate about empowering others to find healing by turning inward to connect with the body, mind and spirit.

When: Wednesday, September 29, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon (Pacific Time)
Where: ONLINE
Cost: No Charge
Registration: Click here
ARTICLES FOR CAREGIVERS
Caregiving During The Pandemic Takes A Toll On Mental Health

Many caregivers experience elevated stress and anxiety levels stemming from the weight of their caregiving responsibilities. Short Wave, an NPR podcast, delves into the challenges caregivers face with mental health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
America Isn’t Taking Care of Caregivers

Katherine Harmon Courage writing for Vox details the many serious difficulties family caregivers are facing both before and because of the pandemic, and explains ways to support caregivers. This article also features insights from FCA’s Client Services Director Christina Irving.
CAREGIVERS CONNECT:
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA 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. Read a Q&A about the series here.
August 31
Americana Art: a Slice of the American Life 
Celebrate the rich flavors and stories of the United States, represented through Americana Folk Art.

September 7
no session

September 14
Art Around the World - Asian Art and the Breath of Life
Experience the many facets of Asian Art, from ceramics to printmaking to calligraphy to jade carving. We will learn what it is to breathe life while creating art.
September 21
Lets travel to Indonesia! 
Let’s travel to Indonesia to learn about this country’s expansive natural resources, animals, cuisine, and cultural history! 

September 28
Summer in Ireland: traditional Irish Music, and Summer Festivals!
Join Katrina for traditional Irish music while traveling Ireland. Learn about the traditional Irish Session and the many ‘trad festivals’ while having a ‘good craic’ together with live music over Zoom.
When: Tuesdays, August 3 to September 28 (no session on September 7th due to Labor Day), from 1 to 2 p.m. (PT)
Where: Online
Cost: No charge
Registration: Click here
Contact: Calvin Hu, edprograms@caregiver.org
Tiene Que Existir una Mejor Manera!

En esta clase de FCA aprenderá los siguientes consejos y estrategias sobre cómo: manejar comportamientos difíciles, como la demencia afecta el proceso y la capacidad de una persona para comprender y comunicarse, sentirse más seguro en su papel como cuidador.

Dia/Hora: Miércoles- septiembre 1, 1 p.m. a 2 p.m.
Costo: Gratis
UBICACIÓN (Únase desde una PC, iPad, iPhone o dispositivo Android): https://tinyurl.com/FCA9121
  • ID del seminario web: 849 5236 0906
  • Contraseña: 688099
Para obtener más información o ayuda: Stella Lazo, slazo@caregiver.org, (415) 434-3388, ext. 323

Esta Clase esta abierta a cuidadores familiares en la area de la Bahia de San Francisco Y los condados de (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara). Esta clase es especificamente para cuidadores familiares y no para proveedores profesionales.
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: info@caregiver.org
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