Dear Friends:

With the holidays in full swing, many family caregivers face increased stress due to the additional responsibilities and tasks that come this season. To help get you through these busy times, FCA has articles on holiday caregiving topics including stress, family dynamics, and gratitude. This month’s free webinar, “The Gift of Self-Compassion This Holiday Season” focuses on practical ways to build compassion towards ourselves. We’re also doing a Winter Sing-Along as part of our “Let’s Get Away Together” armchair travel and activity series. Finally, new and seasoned caregivers can take advantage of our free online service FCA CareNav.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers at FCA, I’d like to wish you all a very happy holidays, and a bright hopeful new year.

Sincerely,

Calvin Hu

Education Coordinator

NBC recently aired a short segment on spouse caregiving featuring Sherry Richmond, caregiver to her husband Rick who is a stroke survivor. Sherry details the many hardships the couple now face, including loss of income and the round the clock care Sherry now provides. As part of the story, FCA Clinical Services Director and Family Consultant Christina Irving shared her insight as a longtime caregiver advocate and expert.

Last month FCA screened the short film “Enid & Mami,” about the daily life of Enid Mojica-McGinnis, educator, pastor and caregiver to her mother, Emilia Roman. A panel followed the screening with special guest Enid Mojica-McGinnis and included FCA’s Stella Lazlo and AARP's Veronica Segovia Bedon.

The documentary and panel are in Spanish with English subtitles. Please click here to view.

We’re looking for qualified and interested applicants to fill a current opening in our San Francisco office. The position is Family Consultant. FCA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and is committed to creating a diverse environment. Please click here for more information or to apply.

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.

Please click here for a brief overview video of CareNav or click here to register.

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 December’s events, please click here.

In the holiday season we talk a lot about kindness to others, to strangers, to our families. But it is important to remember kindness and compassion to ourselves, especially as caregivers and especially during holidays when things can feel even more pressured. In this interactive session we will share practical ways to build compassion towards ourselves, and those around us, including using mindfulness as a useful technique for deepening compassion.

When: Wednesday, December 15, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon (PT)

Where: ONLINE

Cost: No Charge

Registration: Click here

Millions of family caregivers leave the workforce due to the demands of their caregiving responsibilities. While this may be a viable option for some, for many, leaving work permanently is unsustainable financially. Rebecca Zucker, writing for Harvard Business Review, gives advice on the often difficult task of returning to the workforce after a long absence.

Caregiving can be an extremely difficult undertaking. It often demands vast sums of money, physical energy, and also psychological stamina. AARP caregiving expert, Barry J. Jacobs, explains that a lot of mental and emotional fatigue can be caused by fixating on “checking off items on the (caregiving) to-do list” and offers suggestions on how to provide care while being mindful of your own mental health.

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.

December 14

Ever imagined living life on the water? Wait until you see these yachts and houseboats on our water adventure around the world.

Bring your favorite songs and join Katrina in song and live violin renditions for a combination of winter, holiday, and folk favorites!

When: Tuesdays, October 26 to December 21 (no session on November 23 due to Thanksgiving), from 1 to 2 p.m. (PT)

Where: Online

Cost: No charge

Registration: Click here

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: febrero 4 del 2022, 2 p.m. a 4 p.m. (Hora del Pacífico)

Costo: Gratis

Para registrarse: (Únase desde una PC, iPad, iPhone o dispositivo Android): haga clic aquí

Para obtener más información o ayuda: Stella Lazo, [email protected], (415) 434-3388, ext. 323

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.

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: 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.

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