Vol. 14, No. 10

October 2023

Dear Friends:

Longer nights and colder weather are signaling the fast approaching holiday season. This time of year often means additional social engagements, more formal and elaborate meals, hosting family members, holiday parties, and the exchange of gifts.

Many family caregivers already find their day to day caregiving responsibilities extremely challenging. For these caregivers, the demands of the holiday season can be overwhelming. If you are looking for advice on how to manage this busy time, FCA has a number of articles on topics including holiday stress, family dynamics, gratitude, and guided audio caregiver relaxation exercises.

Sincerely,

Calvin Hu

Education Coordinator

edprograms@caregiver.org

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”



— Lao Tzu

Caregivers Matter: A Conference for Family Caregivers

Join San Mateo County Caregivers Collaborative for a day of self-care, gathering valuable resources, and connecting with a community of family caregivers! Learn how to care for yourselves while caring for others. There is no cost to attend the conference, but registration is required. Light breakfast and lunch are included.

Workshop topics include: self-care tips, advance care planning, yoga, fall prevention, legal planning, drumming, brain health, and dance therapy.

Interpretation available in Spanish and Mandarin.

When: Saturday, November 11, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Crowne Plaza Foster City, 1221 Chess Drive, Foster City 94404 (Free on-site parking)

Cost: No charge

Registration: smccaregiverscollaborative.org 

San Mateo County Caregivers Collaborative members include: Alzheimer’s Association, Catholic Charities Adult Day Services, Coastside Adult Day Health Center, Edgewood Kinship Support Services, Family Caregiver Alliance, Kimochi, Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County, Mission Hospice & Home Care, Rosener House Adult Day Services, San Mateo County Public Authority for IHSS, Seniors at Home, and South San Francisco Adult Day Care Center. Funded by Aging and Adult Services.

State Caregiving Profiles Newly Updated

FCA's 50 State Caregiving Profiles provide data related to caregiving and have recently been updated with data from 2023. This information includes the cost of care in each state, as well as the presence or absence of policies supporting caregivers. The profiles also include a wealth of additional data including the average cost of different types of care options, number of family caregivers, and information on care receiver ailments and disabilities.

Caregiving With Your Siblings During the Holidays

“I’m really worried about the holidays. I’ve got everything under control with my Mom and Dad. Then my sisters and their families come. I tell them that Mom and Dad tire easily and to make sure the grandkids don’t exhaust them. But they don’t listen to me. Mom and Dad can’t say no, everything gets crazy, and I’m the one who has to deal with the resulting mess.”

For caregivers in a similar situation, FCA’s blog post by Francine Russo may help you weather the arrival of visiting siblings. Russo’s advice includes accepting that there will be disruption, being comfortable with delegating tasks to siblings, and making changes to unmanageable meal traditions.

Holding a Family Meeting

Caregivers are often advised to seek help to lessen the caregiving workload. For many individuals, the natural place to turn for such help is family. FCA’s Holding a Family Meeting fact sheet provides information on how to approach the subject, advice on creating an agenda, lists key points to consider discussing, and explains potential conflicts that may arise.

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.

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 November events, please click here.

6 Questions to ask That Will Make Caregiving for Older Relatives Much Easier

As family, relatives, and friends age, there is an increasing possibility that they may require care in the future. Anna North, writing for Vox, suggests six questions to ask to help prepare for a possible caregiver role. These questions focus on living arrangements, finances, advance directives, and care preferences. 

Traveling with Dementia

Being a caregiver to a loved one living with dementia can mean simple everyday activities become more difficult or complicated. In this situation, dementia caregivers may feel local, long distance, or even international travel is no longer an option for their loved one. However, Next Avenue's Ashley Milne-Tyte writes that travel may be possible with careful planning, communication, and preparation.  

CAREGIVERS CONNECT:

FCA AREA 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.

When: Tuesdays, September 26 to November 14, from 1 to 2 p.m. (PT)

Cost: No charge

Registration: Click here

October 31st- 

Let’s Explore All Hallow’s Eve!

Dig up a turnip and join us for traditions, history, superstitions, and fun! A turnip? That’s right - a turnip. Join us to find out why!

November 7th- 

Let’s Go to Africa!

Travel with us as we share some intriguing locations to inspire a search further into this incredible continent!

November 14th- 

Finding Joyful Moments 

Join us in exploring further the meaning of “Joy” through Hummingbird's seven domains of wellness.

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.

There Must Be A Better Way Than This!

This 2-hour class will help participants understand dementia and the challenging behaviors that sometimes accompany the disease. We will review strategies to help handle these behaviors and help enhance your communication with the person who has dementia.

Registration is only open to non-professional caregivers (family members and friends) who live in the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara.

When: Monday, November 6, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon (PT)

Cost: No charge

Registration: Click here

Contact: Amanda Hartrey, ahartrey@caregiver.org, (415) 434-3388 ext. 334

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.

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.

Click here to view archived issues of Policy Digest.

Professional Research Listings

• Are you a caregiver of an adult over 50 years old, and willing to try Routinify services at no cost?
• Are you or a loved one living with early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment?
• Equity in Caregiving
• Inviting grandchildren, nieces/nephews, siblings, and step-kin to participate in a telephone-based dementia caregiving study
• Learning from Family and Friends Who Helped with Dementia Care
• Nationwide Study for Understanding and Improving Surgical Decision-Making for Persons Living with Dementia, their Family Caregivers, and their Providers – Patients and Caregivers Needed
• Participate in a Study About Dementia and Caregiver Stress
• Participate in a study about Understanding Informal Caregivers

Graduate Student Research Listings

• Caring for a Parent with Dementia
• Help-Seeking Behaviors and Service use for Mental Health in East Asian American Informal Caregivers of Persons Living with Dementia
• Looking for past and present caregivers to volunteer to participate in a research study
• Measuring Emotional Distress in Caregiver and Patients with Primary Brain Tumors
• The Couples Lived Experience Study - Boston University
• The Impacts of Caregiving and Social Support on Stress for Multiple Sclerosis Caregivers

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!

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.