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Vol. 15, No. 1
January 2024
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Dear Friends:
A new year has arrived. 2024 brings with it the possibility of a fresh start and new opportunities. Some of you have just recently taken on the responsibilities of providing care, while others have many years of experience.
No matter where you are on your caregiving journey, FCA is here to provide information and support. FCA offers a trio of helpful online tools. CareNav is a secure online service that offers personalized information, support, and resources. Caregiver.org brings together FCA’s fact sheets, tip sheets, and videos, to provide a one-stop shop for educational materials. Finally, our Services by State tool can help you locate and connect with resources in your area.
Sincerely,
Calvin Hu
Education Coordinator
edprograms@caregiver.org
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“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
— Chinese Proverb
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2023 Winners of the Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving Awards
In celebration of the 16th year of the Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving Awards, The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, Bader Philanthropies, Inc., and FCA are pleased to announce three winning organizations—each delivering a state-of-the-art program that addresses the needs of caregivers and those they care for living with Alzheimer’s disease or a related condition.
Each model program will receive $20,000 for their work and include:
A Friendly Day At The Movies
Dementia Friendly Saline+ (Saline, Michigan)
Barn-At-Home Program
Connected Horse (Rocklin, California)
AFSC Community Center at the Cape Cod Mall
Alzheimer’s Family Support Center (Brewster, Massachusetts)
Please click here to view detailed information on the winning programs.
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Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving Awards Reception in San Francisco
Join us in honoring the 2023 Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving Award winners with program presentations, conversation, hors d’oeuvres, and beverages. All are welcome!
Date: Tuesday, March 26, 2024 from 6-8pm
Location: Hilton San Francisco Union Square, Yosemite A
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Survey of LGBTQIA+ Older Adults in California: From Challenges to Resilience
This statewide survey will help advocates, policymakers, and legislative leaders be better informed about the issues our communities face when they are crafting programs and policies that impact LGBTQ+ older adults. If you are 50 years and older, identify as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, and a California resident please take the survey here.
The survey is available in four languages: English, Spanish, Tagalog, and Chinese.
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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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Taking Care of YOU: Self-Care for Family Caregivers
Self-care is an important, and often overlooked, aspect of caregiving. Practicing self-care will help with mental, emotional, and physical health and will also benefit the person for whom you are providing care. Reading Taking Care of YOU is a useful first step in practicing self-care. Some of the topics covered in this fact sheet include identifying personal barriers, reducing stress, seeking goals, and starting to exercise.
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Depression and Caregiving
Caregiving can be tough, exhausting, and stressful work. While not all caregivers live with depression or will become depressed, it is a normal response to the demands of caregiving. For family caregivers who are, or think they may be depressed, FCA’s Depression and Caregiving fact sheet identifies the symptoms of depression, explains certain caregiver concerns, and gives advice on treatment options, alternative therapies, and how to pay for treatment.
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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 January's events, please click here.
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The Challenges Facing Male Caregivers
In the United States, more women are caregivers, but the number of male caregivers has been increasing and now stands at 40 percent of all caregivers. Next Avenue’s Sophie Okolo shares insight on some of the unique challenges male caregivers may face when taking on caregiving responsibilities.
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Caregivers Need Care Too
Forum is KQED’s podcast focusing on issues that are important to California and San Francisco Bay Area residents. Recently in January, Forum tackled the topic of family caregivers with a panel of experts including FCA’s Christina Irving. The focus of the episode was on how to better support caregivers and how caregivers are coping with the demands of caregiving.
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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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February 6
Let’s Go to Paris!
Experience the romance and charm of the City of Lights.
February 13
Famous or INfamous?
Explore the intriguing tales of famous... or infamous... couples throughout history!
February 20
Let’s travel off the beaten path!
Embark on a journey to some of the world's smallest, often overlooked or unknown countries.
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February 27
Let’s Go to Seattle!
Uncover the local view of the vibrant city of Seattle with our special guest.
March 5
Let’s explore Animal Extremes!
Travel the globe to learn about and compare the animals that claim the most extreme titles.
March 12
Let’s explore the decades- TV edition!
Delve into the trivia behind and within popular TV shows over the decades.
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When: Tuesdays, January 23 to March 12, 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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Demencia 101 (Dementia 101)
Cuidando a alguien que vive con demencia presenta retos únicos para cuidadores familiares. Esta clase le proveerá un entendimiento basico de la demencia y cómo afecta al individuo. Demencia 101 también incluirá algunos consejos para cuidadores en como pueden afrontar los cambios asociados con la demencia.
Cuándo: 1 feb 2024 02:00 p. m. Hora del pacífico (EE. UU. y Canadá)
Inscríbase en la fecha y horario que más le convengan:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYsf-6sqzgqEtMEcxV8xs-2R3RpebLFp53w
Luego de la inscripción, recibirá un correo electrónico de confirmación con información para unirse al seminario web.
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, Lana Sheridan, 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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