Dear Friends:

National Healthcare Decisions Day happens every year in April. The idea behind this awareness campaign is to promote advance care planning. If you were incapacitated, would medical professionals understand, and honor your choices and values concerning care? In such a situation, is a trusted partner, family member, friend, or medical professional aware of your wishes and empowered to advocate for you? Advance care planning seeks to provide peace of mind for you, and guidance for loved ones if you are unable to communicate because of an illness or injury. For those looking for information on how to get started, FCA has a fact sheet on advance care planning (also available in Chinese and Spanish) and a webinar.

Sincerely,

Calvin Hu

Education Coordinator

FCA is pleased to announce an upcoming online conference, open to all caregivers throughout California. Join us to learn more about maintaining your physical, mental, and emotional health while providing care to a love one. The conference will also address technology and resources available to you, as well as discuss policy opportunities to advocate for yourself. The Family Caregiver Conference will feature experts from across the state drawn from the California Caregiver Resource Centers (FCA is the San Francisco Bay Area Caregiver Resource Center).

When: Wednesday, May 5, from 4 to 6 p.m. (PT)

Cost: No charge

Registration: Click here

The desire for intimacy does not decrease with age. However, older adults may experience changes that alter the ways in which intimacy can be nurtured both physically and emotionally. While family caregivers often experience changes in roles, expectations, and responsibilities, they also share multiple layers of intimacy.

This new class will explore various avenues for intimacy and how family caregivers can foster them on their unique caregiving journeys. The discussion will also explore the ways that aging, intimacy, and sex interconnect, as well as the physical and social factors that affect intimacy and sexual health for older adults.

When: Friday, May 14, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. (PT)

Where: Online

Cost: No charge

Registration: Click here

Contact: Rachel Creed, [email protected]

Today Was A Good Day is a 25-minute documentary that offers different perspectives on the everyday life of a caregiver, as seen through the eyes of three Southeast Michigan residents who have taken on the many roles and responsibilities of caring for an aging parent. This special screening is offered through a partnership of Tight Knit, a project by The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, and FCA. A discussion will follow the screening, moderated by FCA Executive Director Kathleen Kelly, and featuring panelists including FCA's Norell Wheeler.

When: Wednesday, May 19, starting at 1 p.m. (PT)

Where: Online

Cost: No charge

Registration: Click here

Contact: Calvin Hu, [email protected]

Let’s Get Away, Together Virtual Travel— Summer Session

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.

Join us as we explore the art and local/popular landmarks of Saudi Arabia

Jump into our Zoom-world tour of famous as well as less known music from around the world.

Explore the popular and off-the-beaten-track destinations

Kick-off Summer holiday with us as we visit the Caribbean

Explore California's Capitol

Join us for a musically rich tour of Italy.

When: Tuesdays, May 4 to June 22, from 1 to 2 p.m. (PT)

Where: Online

Cost: No charge

Registration: Click here

Contact: Calvin Hu, [email protected]

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.

Family caregivers’ relationships with their loved ones’ healthcare professionals can be that of warmly appreciative partners or coldly suspicious antagonists. But there are ways that family caregivers can build mutual trust with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professions for the sake of their loved ones and themselves. In this webinar, we’ll discuss why professionals’ ideas about “patient-centered care” sometimes excludes family members, how caregivers can present themselves as effective collaborators, and ways to productively question professionals’ treatment plans. Case illustrations will be used throughout.

Presenter: Dr. Barry J. Jacobs is a clinical psychologist, healthcare consultant, and a monthly columnist on family caregiving for AARP.org.

To view a recording of this webinar or to download the slides, 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.

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 hosts a calendar of classes, workshops, and events compiled from each of the 11 CRCs and open to family caregivers across the country.

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.

To read a special Q and A with presenter Tiffany Pippen about this webinar, please 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.

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

Where: ONLINE

Cost: No Charge

Contact: [email protected]

Registration: Click here

Join us for panel discussion with the most recent Innovations in Alzheimer’s Caregiving Award recipients. The winners include the following programs:

-Caregiver/Storyteller Podcast (CaringKind, the Heart of Alzheimer’s Caregiving)

Launched in March of 2018, Caregiver/Storyteller is a unique storytelling podcast that provides a platform for Alzheimer’s and dementia caregivers to share personal stories and experiences.

-Culturally Responsive Caregiver Support and Dementia Services (Volunteers of America Minnesota/Wisconsin)

Established in 2014 in response to the need for culturally relevant dementia support for African American community members, the program has now expanded to serve the unique needs of East African and Hmong caregivers, care receivers, and their families.

-California Task force on Family Caregiving: Picking up the Pace of Change in California (University of Southern California Family Caregiver Support Center)

The California Task Force on Family Caregiving was created in 2015 by the state legislature to examine the challenges faced by dementia caregivers. The task force convened a team of professionals and caregivers to propose policies with the following values: supporting diverse needs, cultural sensitivity, person and family-centered care, work-life balance, choice, and options.

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

Where: ONLINE

Cost: No Charge

Contact: [email protected]

Registration: Click here

En esta presentación cubriremos los documentos y procesos legales que le ayudarán a cuidar de un miembro de la familia incapacitado. Repasaremos las herramientas básicas de planificación patrimonial que son importantes para todos, incluidos los testamentos, fideicomisos, poderes notariales y directivas anticipadas de atención médica. También discutiremos brevemente la tutela de adultos.

Presenter: Miguel Torres is a California estate planning attorney. He has been practicing law in California as a licensed attorney for 15 years. He has practiced in a variety of areas including labor and employment, construction defect, patent litigation, breach of contract, and estate planning. He represented unions and workers in wage and hour class actions and worked at Google on patent litigation, antitrust investigations and company compliance. Prior to forming Miles & Torres Associates, Mr. Torres was active in the Estate Planning arena as a solo practitioner.

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

Where: ONLINE

Cost: No Charge

Contact: [email protected]

Registration: Click here

In this hands-on webinar, we’ll explore journaling as a way to relieve stress, find the meaning and purpose that often gets lost in day-to-day activities, and find new ways to share our love with the one we care for. The objectives of the Journaling for Caregivers webinar are to: learn how to free write with no judgements, say what you need to and see how it changes the way you feel, and to find or re-discover hope.

Presenter: B. Lynn Goodwin rediscovered journaling while caring for her mother, who had undiagnosed Alzheimer’s. She owns Writer Advice, www.writeradvice.com. She’s written Never Too Late: From Wannabe to Wife at 62 (memoir), Talent (YA) and You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers (self-help). A reviewer and teacher at Writer Advice and Story Circle Network, she lives in Northern California with her energetic husband and exceptional terrier.

When: Wednesday, May 26, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon (PT)

Where: ONLINE

Cost: No Charge

Contact: [email protected]

Registration: Click here

Keeping afloat during the pandemic has been an extremely difficult slog for many family caregivers. While a return to normalcy seems to be slowly inching forward, there is no telling what the future will hold. Lee Woodruff, writing for AARP, gives tips and advice to help dementia caregivers weather the continuing pandemic.

Advance care planning involves making decisions on the care you would want if you are incapable of speaking for yourself. This is accomplished by documenting these decisions, sharing them with healthcare providers, and choosing someone to advocate for your choices. Next Avenue's Emily Gurnon gives a overview of the importance of this type of planning, and includes information on how it may differ among diverse communities.

Dia/Hora: Viernes - Abril 30, 2 p.m. a 4 p.m.

Costo: Gratis

UBICACIÓN (Únase desde una PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone o dispositivo Android):

The desire for intimacy does not decrease with age. However, older adults may experience changes that alter the ways in which intimacy can be nurtured both physically and emotionally. While family caregivers often experience changes in roles, expectations, and responsibilities, they also share multiple layers of intimacy.

This class will explore various avenues for intimacy and how family caregivers can foster them on their unique caregiving journeys. The discussion will also explore the ways that aging, intimacy, and sex interconnect, as well as the physical and social factors that affect intimacy and sexual health for older adults.

When: Friday, May 14, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. (PT)

Where: Online

Cost: No charge

Registration: Click here

Contact: Rachel Creed, [email protected]

The entire April 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

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

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

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