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Family Caregiver Alliance

Introducing new online classes and events for family caregivers, their care recipients and providers: 

CLASSES & EVENTS



• (tomorrow!) A Caregiver's Guide to Diabetes (webinar) — August 30. Successfully managing diabetes improves long-term health and wellness. This seminar covers the basics of the disease, how to manage and control symptoms, measuring blood sugar, meal planning and helpful resources. Full info and registration here.

• Caregivers Count! 13th Annual Conference — September 9, 16, 23 and 30. Designed for families and friends caring for their loved ones, Caregivers Count is an inspiring, engaging and resource-rich 4-part online conference featuring expert speakers covering a wide range of topics to support caregivers. Scroll to below article for full event details and registration!

• Hiring a Caregiver (3 workshops in English with interpretation in Tagalog, Mandarin & Spanish) — Sept 7, 20, 21. Sometimes family caregivers must seek out supplemental caregiving help for their friend or family care recipient. In this workshop, participants will learn about hiring, compensation and recordkeeping, as well as how to navigate in-home support services (IHSS) and Medi-Cal. They'll also come away with guidance on preventing physical and financial abuse.
• Sept 7 — English with Tagalog interpretation (info & registration)
• Sept 20 — English with Mandarin interpretation (info & registration)
• Sept 21 — English with Spanish interpretation (info & registration)

• Talking to Your Doctor (presented in Spanish with Zocalo Helath) — Oct 17. Save the date and check back on our calendar for forthcoming info and registration link.

• Dementia 101 (in Mandarin) — Oct 19. This class provides a basic understanding of dementia and how it affects an individual, as well as tips for caregivers on how to cope with these changes. Save the date and check back on our calendar for forthcoming info and registration link.

All classes are free. Bookmark our calendar to stay up to date on upcoming classes, webinars and events.

FCA IN THE COMMUNITY

We'll be hosting a resource table at the below health and aging events in our local communities — where we'll have informational materials, small goodies/giveaways and answers to all your questions about family caregiving! Come out and say hi!

• Sept 7, 9am - 3pm — 35th Annual Marin Senior Resource Fair, Marin Center Exhibit Hall, 10 Avenue of The Flags, San Rafael. Full info and registration here.

• Sept 8, 2pm - 5pm — Berryessa Senior Resource Fair, Berryessa Community Center, 3050 Berryessa Rd., San Jose. Full info and registration here.

• Sept 30, 8:30am - 2pm — 14th Annual African American Alzheimer's Forum, "The Role of Care Partners." Ed Roberts Campus, 3075 Adeline St., Berkeley. Full info here. 

For any questions about our community engagements, events or the in-services we offer to provider organizations, contact Julian Leus, our Community Engagement Specialist.

If you haven't had a chance to answer our quick 6-question survey, we want to hear from you! Is this newsletter helpful to you as a provider? Are there things we can do to improve it? We appreciate your feedback! Thank you!

Now in its 13th year, the Caregivers Count Conference is a free annual event designed for families and friends who care for a loved one. It features expert speakers as well as senior service agencies sharing information about local supportive services. Held over four consecutive weeks, this year's conference comprises a 4-part series held virtually over Zoom. Sessions run from 10am - 12pm PT and are themed around the following topics:

• Sept 9, 2023 (Keynote): Making Tender Memories: How Family Caregivers Can Connect with Others and Replenish Themselves (Barry Jacobs, Psy.D., AARP)
• Sept 16, 2023: Anticipatory Grief (Dr. Janet Child, Centre for Living with Dying)
• Sept 23, 2023: Caring for Someone Who Didn't Care for You (Angela Dickson, MSW, CMC, Masonic Homes of California)
• Sept 30, 2023: Effective Communication with Medical Providers (Dr. Melinda Lantz, Mount Sinai Hospital)

Visit the conference website here and click here to register!

In this recurring spotlight section, we’re pleased to highlight a round-up of local organizations serving family caregivers and their care recipients, low-income families and others in need. While we lack the space to highlight all the organizations doing incredible work in their communities, we hope you'll check out the below and add them to your client resources list or as potential organizational partners. These organizations are based in Santa Clara County—in future issues, we will share organizations serving other Bay Area counties:

• Special Spotlight: The Caregivers Count Conference (see above article) is created by a coalition of Santa Clara County-based nonprofit agencies and businesses interested in supporting family caregivers. Please see the conference resources page to learn more about coalition members and local resources in Santa Clara County.

• AACI — Serves a diversity of community members, focusing on those who are marginalized and vulnerable, and who face barriers to accessing health and wellness services. Offers health care services, behavioral health support, and a variety of wellness program offerings.

• Avenidas — Provides a wide range of programs, information and services that enable people to stay active, maintain their independence, help their aging parents, or care for a spouse. Offers engaging on-site and remote programs, classes, activities and events for older adults.

• Gardner Health Services — Provides high-quality, comprehensive medical and mental health care, including prevention and education, early intervention, treatment and advocacy services which are affordable, respectful, culturally, linguistically and age appropriate.

• Hearts and Minds Adult Day — This respite care center offers services for individuals living with dementia, as well family caregivers. The activity center offers a range of activities as well as tailored care components (nutrition, exercise, medication and personal care). Provides support groups, education and respite for caregivers.

• Live Oak Adult Day — This nonprofit agency's adult day program is designed to enhance the lives of older adults while providing respite for their caregivers. The program provides socialization and cognitive stimulation to participants.

• Santa Clara Department of Public Health — Healthy Brain Initiative — Tips, resources and guidance for individuals to be proactive in promoting and maintaining a healthy brain.

We've just updated our California Paid Family Leave resources page with more great info! This page offers resources for both providers and family caregivers — from FAQs and webinar links to articles and deep-dive fact sheets. Some materials are available in Spanish and Chinese. Check it out and bookmark for your caregiver clients and patients!

FCA facilitates and sponsors several types of support groups, both in person and online. For many families, partners, and other caregivers who want a safe place to discuss the stresses, challenges, and rewards of providing care, these groups can help them feel less isolated and more supported. See our full list of groups, including these newly launched groups:

• LGBTQ Caregiver Support Group — 3rd Wednesday of every month. In partnership with Openhouse, FCA is proud to offer this new support group for LGBTQ caregivers of those with a variety of illnesses, disorders and challenges. It offers a welcoming space for caregivers to discuss the unique stresses, difficulties and variety of experiences that come with providing care in this community. Only open to participants who live in the San Francisco Bay Area (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo or Santa Clara counties). For more information or to register, contact Adriana Sanchez.

• Young Adult Caregivers Support Group — Twice monthly via Zoom. This group is designed for family caregivers under the age of 40 who are caring for someone who is: 1) 60 or older with any diagnosis, or 2) between the ages of 18-59 with an adult-onset cognitive or neurological impairment. Only open to participants who live in the San Francisco Bay Area (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo or Santa Clara counties). To register, contact us at (415) 434-3388 x331 or bayareaintake@caregiver.org.

We respect your inbox, so we send our Provider e-News Update out every 1-2 months. But between issues, we are still hosting and sharing plenty of activities, classes, webinars and new resources for caregivers.

Stay in the know by following us on any or all of our social media channels — and be sure to share them with others who can benefit!

... and while you're here — sign up for our Connections e-newsletter (designed for family and friend caregivers), ¿Que Pasa? boletin (our e-newsletter for Spanish-speaking caregivers), and our Caregiving Policy Digest newsletter (caregiving policy at the local, national and international levels).