January 2024 - Caring Connections

Community Education

Prepare for the Inevitable:

Financial Planning to Prepare for the Death of a Loved One

January 11, 2024, 6:00pm and January 25, 2024, 10:00am

Presented in partnership with

The loss of a spouse or family member can be overwhelming. In addition to the grieving process, the surviving family must take steps to put financial affairs in order. One of the best gifts you can give your loved ones is organizing your financial affairs ahead of time. Whether you are preparing to help aging parents, or a senior citizen, this two-part webinar will show you what you’ll need and how to organize yourself to make things easier for your family.

Thursday, January 11 at 6:00 p.m. (Part 1)

Join expert Tamara Haskins, CPA and Financial Service Professional with New York Life, for an overview of what needs to be done in the case of a death or disabling condition in a family. Ms. Haskins will review steps to be taken (and in what order), documents you’ll need, and how to talk with family members beforehand to prevent issues later. Tools and resources will be shared.

Thursday, January 25 at 10:00 a.m. (Part 2)

CaringMatters Board Member Sue DeGraba will provide a hands-on approach to getting your financial paperwork and other important information organized. Helpful resources, like the Gaithersburg Financial Empowerment Center, and tools to prevent financial fraud will be presented.

You may choose to attend one or both webinars.

Register separately for each webinar at the link below. The links to the webinar recordings will be sent to all registrants.

Thank you to our Community Education

Funding Partner

Information and Registration

These webinars are for informational purposes only. The speakers are solely responsible for the content of their presentation which may not necessarily represent the opinions of New York Life Insurance Company or its subsidiaries.

Volunteer Training

General Training for New Volunteers

February 27, 28 and 29, 2024, 9:00am - 4:00pm each day

CaringMatters, 518 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg, MD 20877

Our programs are growing and the demand for our services is increasing the need for more trained volunteers. If you are looking for a meaningful way to make a positive impact on the community, please join us!

Register now for our impactful three-day training for program volunteers, offered at no charge. Through interactive presentations, discussions and guided exercises, the CaringMatters team presents a broad range of information and skill-building instruction to prepare new volunteers for the following positions that are currently needed:

social and emotional support/companions for people with serious illness
adult bereavement support group facilitators
bi-lingual volunteers

We are in particular need of volunteers in the Silver Spring/Down County region of Montgomery County to meet increasing requests for support.

For information and registration,

contact Penny Gladhill at pennyg@caringmatters.org or 301-990-0852.

Adult Bereavement Support

The pain and distress of grief is often misunderstood, adding a sense of uncertainty to one's life at a very vulnerable time. Peer support can help. Our safe, confidential support groups are composed of caring people who are grieving a similar loss. Our members benefit from the collective wisdom and empathy of others who are traveling a similar path.The following groups are now forming or are available for new members. Pre-registration is required.

Adult Child Loss

Openings in a group for any parent who has lost an adult child.

Tuesdays, 7:00pm via Zoom

Adult Sibling Loss

New group forming for adults who have lost an adult sibling.

Tuesdays, 6:00pm via Zoom

Suicide Loss

New group forming for adults who have experienced a loss by suicide.

Tuesdays, 7:00pm via Zoom

General/Mixed Loss

In-Person group for adults who have experienced all types of losses including spouse, sibling, child, friend, etc.

Wednesdays, 7:00pm at St. John's Episcopal Church in Chevy Chase

Parent Loss

Openings in two separate groups for adults who have experienced the loss of a parent.

Meets bi-weekly Wednesdays, 7:00pm via Zoom
Meets weekly Thursdays, 7:20pm via Zoom

To join a group or for general infomation and resources, please email Brandon Brewer, Director of Adult Bereavement Services, brandonb@caringmatters.org, 301-990-0854 or visit www.caringmatters.org/adult-grief-support.