Vol. 14, No. 2

February 2023

Dear Friends:

Unusually frigid temperatures have visited many parts of the country. Even in California, meteorologists are expecting that nearly every resident in the state will be able to see snow (be it on the ground or on snow capped mountains).

For family caregivers, winter conditions can greatly complicate caregiving responsibilities, and even pose health and safety risks for older or frail adults in the form of hypothermia. For information on how to keep safe in cold weather, AARP has a number of helpful articles including: How to Stay Safe in Extreme Cold, How to Drive Safely On Winter Roads, and Five Hidden Winter Health Dangers.

Sincerely,

Calvin Hu

Education Coordinator

edprograms@caregiver.org

“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.”

— Thomas A. Edison

Innovations in Alzheimer's Caregiving Awards Reception in Atlanta 

Join The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, Bader Philanthropies, Inc., and FCA in honoring the 2022 Innovations in Alzheimer's Caregiving Award winners with program presentations, conversation, appetizers, and beverages. All are welcome to attend (the reception takes place during the On Aging 2023 Conference-- conference registration is not required to attend this event). 

Date: Tuesday, March 28, from 6 to 8 p.m.                         

Location: Hyatt Regency Atlanta

265 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30303

Regency V (lower level 1 - Atrium Tower)

Study Seeks Long-Distance Family Caregivers

Are you a caregiver for a person with dementia who is receiving home care? A National Institute on Aging-funded study led by researchers at LeadingAge and the University of Massachusetts Boston in collaboration with FCA is evaluating a new support program designed to help long-distance family caregivers of persons living with dementia. You may be eligible to participate if you:

• Are a caregiver age 21 or older
• Are living about 2 hours or more away from your care recipient
• Have a care recipient with dementia AND who is receiving home care

If eligible, you will receive:

• Individualized support from FCA dementia experts, delivered remotely via the use of a tablet
• Tailored dementia education and resources
• A new tablet for the study, which is yours to keep

All intervention activities will be conducted remotely. To learn more and to schedule a brief information and eligibility assessment, please contact the project director, Evan Chunga, richard.chunga001@umb.edu, or contact the principal investigator, Dr.

Verena Cimarolli at vcimarolli@leadingage.org, or call (202) 508-9411.

Depression and Caregiving

Caregiving can be tough and stressful work. While not all caregivers live with depression, it is a normal response to the demands of caregiving. For family caregivers who are depressed, or think they may be, 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.

Disaster Preparedness for Caregivers

FCA offers a number of resources to help caregivers with their disaster planning. Where to Find my Important Papers  is a downloadable form that can be filled out and printed. FCA also has an  Emergency Preparedness Checklist for Caregivers  and a guide on  Caregiving During a National Emergency . Other helpful resources include AARP’ s blog post  Caregivers, Are You Ready for a Disaster?, and FEMA’ s Resources for People with Disabilities, Access & Functional Needs.

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 March events, please click here.

Is Hospital-at-Home Right for You?

Hospital-at-Home is a service that provides hospital-level care at a patient's home, instead of a more traditional hospital stay. While this may seem to be an attractive option at first, there are some considerations families and caregivers should take into account if eligible for this service. Karen Purze, in an opinion piece for Next Avenue, explains some of the pros and cons of Hospital-at-Home. 

How to Make a Caregiving Plan (So It’s Ready When You Need It)

Being a family caregiver can be a very difficult undertaking. This is doubly so, if taking on caregiving responsibilities come unexpectedly. Having a plan beforehand can help ease the transition to becoming a caregiver, and is ideally done before any care is needed. The New York Times' Lynya Floyd gives recommendations on how to create a caregiver plan.

CAREGIVERS CONNECT:

FCA 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.

February 28

Let’s Get Away Together: Let’s go to Golden Gate Park!

Join FCA in uncovering hidden gems throughout San Francisco’s wonderful park!

March 7

Let’s Get Away Together: Let’s Celebrate Women in Art!

Join us in celebrating Women’s History Month by experiencing art created by women!

March 14

Let’s Get Away Together: Let’s go to Canada!

Back by popular demand – Join us in an ENCORE presentation exploring more of Canada!

When: Tuesdays, January 31 to March 14, from 1 to 2 p.m. (PT)

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.

How to Talk to Your Doctor (In-Person Event)

Being a family caregiver can be a very difficult journey and many find it emotionally, physically, and financially taxing. What can come as an unpleasant surprise to some is the first encounter with the health care system as a family caregiver. You may find the experience has left you frustrated, confused, and with a feeling of the system being very impersonal.

How to Talk to Your Doctor will help you to: understand the current realities of the health care experience, identify and use more effective communication techniques with health care professionals, learn and practice powerful communication tools and techniques in order to be a better advocate for the person you are caring for and yourself

It is strongly recommended all persons, regardless of vaccination status, continue to wear a face covering indoors. If you are not feeling well please stay home.

In partnership with Pinole Senior Center

When: Monday, March 13, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. (PT)

Where: Pinole Senior Center, 2500 Charles Avenue, Pinole, CA 94564

Cost: No charge

Registration: click here

This class is funded by Contra Costa County Area Agency on Aging and the California Department of Aging.

Tome Cargo! (Take Charge!)

Planificación anticipada de Cuidados

Obtenga la atención médica que desea en función de lo que más importa. Este seminario web analiza cómo hablar sobre sus deseos de atención con las personas importantes en su vida y cómo elegir a alguien para que tome decisiones de atención médica por usted si usted no puede hacerlo. El seminario web también cubre cómo escribir sus deseos utilizando las Directivas anticipadas de atención médica y la Orden del médico para el tratamiento de soporte vital.

¡Gratis!

Miércoles, 15 de marzo, 3 a 4:30 p.m. (PT)

Para unirse a Zoom, registrar aqui: https://tinyurl.com/FCA323

Para unirse por telefono en Marzo 14 a las 3pm llame al siguiente numero:

(669) 444-9171

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.

Explicando En Detalle El Permiso Familiar Pagado Y Los Derechos Relacionados Con Los Cuidadores (The Ins and Outs of Paid Family Leave and Related Rights for Caregivers)

Explicando en detalle el Permiso Familiar Pagado y los derechos relacionados con los cuidadores: La prestación de cuidados es un aspecto esencial de la vida de muchas personas, y el programa de Permiso Familiar Pagado de California puede ofrecer apoyo. Sin embargo, puede ser complicado saber cómo tomar un permiso pagado del trabajo mientras cuida a un miembro de la familia. Este seminario web de Legal Aid at Work explicará cómo solicitar el Permiso Familiar Pagado y cómo proteger su trabajo mientras toma un permiso para cuidar a sus seres queridos,incluidos consejos sobre cómo hablar con su empleador.

Hora: marzo 23, 12 a 1 p.m. Hora del pacífico

Para registrarse: haga clic aquí

This presentation 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, the California Department of Aging, and AARP Foundation.

Anticipatory Grief Workshop for LGBTQ+ Caregivers

Join FCA for a 90-minute virtual workshop to better understand how anticipatory grief might be affecting you as an LGBTQ+ caregiver.

Grief is an ongoing part of our role as caregivers when looking after family or friends suffering from chronic or terminal illnesses. We grieve the gradual loss of those we care for due to their fading cognition, mobility, or other aspects that defined them. We grieve the loss of parts of who we are, as we prioritize caregiving over activities that recharged us, brought us joy, or even offered us an escape from our day-to-day.

Many of us also experience the weight and pain of the loss of the person we are caring for before their death, yet never identify these feelings as anticipatory grief, or understand the impact this grief has on our wellbeing.

Subjects Covered During the workshop: defining anticipatory grief, identifying ways in which anticipatory grief may be affecting you, discussing strategies to help process anticipatory grief.

When: Thursday, March 23, from 4 to 5:30 p.m (PT)

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, the California Department of Aging, and co-sponsored by Openhouse and Oakland LGBTQ Community Center.

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

Professional Research Listings

• Alzheimer’s Disease Research Study
• Are you a caregiver for a person with dementia who is receiving home care?
• Care2Sleep Education Program
• Co-Designing a Stress Management Toolkit for Families Living with Dementia
• LGBTQIA+ & non-LGBTQIA+ Caregivers Needed: Parkinson’s Research
• Life Enhancing Activities for Family Caregivers (LEAF) (SP0044459; NCT03610698)
• Racial/ethnically Diverse Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) Caregivers of Individuals Living with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD)
• Research Study for people with a recent Alzheimer's Diagnosis and their Caregivers
• The RISE (Research Inclusion Supports Equity) Registry

Graduate Student Research Listings

• Are you a caregiver for an aging parent or in-law? Seeking romantic couples for an online survey in exchange for $25 Amazon gift card
• Caregivers Use of Alternative Strategies in Managing Dementia
• Communication in the Family
• Interview about Family Relationships and Wellbeing in Dementia
• Mental Fatigue and Self-Care in Informal Oncology Caregivers
• Online Survey about Dementia Family Caregiver Wellbeing
• The impact of illness perceptions on veteran caregivers
• The Informal Caregiving Experience

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President: Scott Peifer

Vice-Presidents: Ian Tong, Catherine Lelong

Treasurer: Keely Stevenson

Secretary: Amanda Breeden Warner

Athan Bezaitis, Amber Christ, Deborah Kan, Shruti Kothari, Mary Ellen Kullman, Tiffany Riser, Wyatt Ritchie, Karen Sperling, Marda Stothers, Celine Takatsuno.