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Dear Friends:
From coast to coast, the country has been experiencing blistering heatwaves. While most adults and children will be uncomfortable in this weather, for older adults, or those living with certain disabilities or chronic health conditions, high temperatures can lead to serious health risks. Heat fatigue and the very dangerous heat stroke are some examples of heat induced conditions. Keeping cool and staying hydrated can lessen the risks of heat related emergencies. There are also certain signs that can indicate a possible heat related problem for an older, disabled, or chronically ill adult. For family caregivers assisting or tending to a vulnerable adult, FCA has an article discussing hot weather tips and safety. Other resources include National Institute on Aging's Hot Weather Safety for Older Adults and the CDC's Older Adults and Extreme Heat.
This summer we hope you will be able to enjoy more time outside in the fresh air, while also keeping those you care for safe from extreme heat.
Sincerely,
Calvin Hu
Education Coordinator
edprograms@caregiver.org
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“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”
— Mark Twain
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FCA Supports LGBTQ+ Caregivers
FCA is a community-based nonprofit with deep roots in the Bay Area having been founded over 40 years ago in San Francisco. We celebrate and honor diversity and inclusion. We consider family to be an inclusive term and recognize that caregivers might be friends, partners, and community.
FCA joins the world in celebrating Pride Month, and we’re proud to advocate for and support LGBTQ+ caregivers everywhere. Through the development of LGBTQ+ related resources, support groups, training sessions, events and partnerships, we work to ensure we’re addressing the needs of these caregivers and support them.
If you’re an LGBTQ+ caregiver seeking resources, please see our fact sheets: Special Concerns of LGBTQ+ Caregivers and Legal Issues for LGBTQ+ Caregivers. We also offer an online support group called LGBTQ+ Community Support Caregiving for our Families and Friends. It’s a place for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender caregivers of adults with chronic health problems to discuss the unique issues they face.
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Take our Survey and Improve Support for Caregivers Like You
By giving a microphone to family caregivers, we’re hoping to raise awareness about their experiences and help turn that awareness into stronger recognition and support for them. You can help us by completing this survey for family caregivers.
This 1-page survey is designed to identify family caregivers who are open to talking with reporters and others about their caregiving stories and experiences. We believe that by sharing their stories, caregivers can help our community members and leaders understand the challenges, rewards and complexities of caregiving. FCA may use these stories to highlight and advance the caregiver cause in our educational programming, advocacy and policy initiatives, and collaborations with other organizations and agencies in formats such as:
- letters to elected officials
- on our website and in promotional materials
- in training videos and other materials
- on our social media channels
- in presentations to government agencies
FCA never sells your contact information — our only goal is to elevate caregiver voices to improve channels of support. Thank you for your help!
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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.
To learn more, click here or register here.
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Changing Places: Should Your Parents Move in with You?
Making the decision to move a parent into your home is often neither simple nor clear-cut. Some situations and questions should be addressed before making this choice. FCA's tip sheet on this topic includes key considerations like relationships, adapting the home, money, and personal care.
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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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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.
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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 July events, please click here.
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A Survivor’s Checklist
Being a family caregiver will not last forever, and eventually, the person being cared for will die. Grief and feelings of loss are expected, but what may come as an unwelcome shock is the legal and financial paperwork that must be completed following death. Next Avenue’s C.D. Moriarty gives an overview and provides advice on how to manage the legal and financial documents that accompanies death.
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Caregiver Resentment is Normal: Why it Happens and how to Mitigate it
While no two caregiving journeys are alike, many caregivers share experiences of stress, frustration, and the difficulties that come with caregiving responsibilities. With caregiving being such a challenging endeavor for many, feelings of resentment are normal. Care.com’s Marisa Iallonardo explains why caregivers should not feel ashamed for feeling resentful, and offers advice on how to manage this understandable emotion.
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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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June 18th
Let’s Travel Off the Beaten Path Again!
Join us for a journey to a lesser-known country and location!
June 25th
Let’s Explore Summer Traditions, Modern and Ancient!
July 2nd
Let’s Travel to and Explore Australia!
July 9th
Let’s Experience the Greatest Olympic Moments!
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July 16th
Let’s Explore American Artists!
July 23rd
Let’s Travel to Brazil!
July 30th
Let’s Examine Unusual and Creative Patents!
Happy Birthday, United States Patent Office!
August 6th
Let’s Travel to Hawaii!
Join us to celebrate our 50th state’s anniversary month!
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When: Tuesdays, June 18 to August 6, 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.
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Powerful Tools for Caregivers
This free six-part class offers new skills and tools for family caregivers of those with a chronic health condition such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, or stroke. At Powerful Tools, you will learn how to: reduce stress, make difficult caregiving decisions, communicate more effectively during challenging situations, and prevent caregiver burnout.
This class is open to family caregivers in the San Francisco Bay Area.
As each class builds upon previous classes, we require attendance at all six sessions.
When: Six consecutive Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., July 11 to August 15
Cost: No charge
Registration: Click here
Contact: Norell Wheeler, nwheeler@caregiver.org, (415) 434-3388 ext. 321
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!
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CONNECTIONS CREDITS
Editors: Calvin Hu, Al Martinez
Contributors: Kathleen Kelly, Executive Director, Calvin Hu, Ingrid Olivar, Leah Eskenazi
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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.
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235 Montgomery Street | Suite 930 | San Francisco, CA 94104
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