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For over 35 years FCA has led the way in supporting family caregivers. Your donation makes all the difference!



Connections Credits
Editors
Calvin Hu
Michelle Venegas  

Contributors
Kathleen Kelly
Calvin Hu
Lana Sheridan
Michelle Venegas
Leah Eskenazi

Communications
and Layout
Francesca Pera

Executive Director
Kathleen Kelly



Board of Directors
President
Jacquelyn Kung

Vice-President
Dan Lieberman

Treasurer
Jeff Kumataka

Athan Bezaitis
Wanda Borges
Herman S. Brown
Ping Hao
Catherine Lelong
Michael Malewicz
Rajiv Mehta
Chris Park
Kathleen Raffel
F. Burns Vick
Debbie Wolter



Quick Links
Family Caregiver Alliance's new fee-for-service care management program currently serving the San Francisco Bay Area. Click here for further information. 
Vol. 6, No. 11
November 12, 2015
Dear Friends:

November is a time for family and food, and it's also National Family Caregivers Month. Looking at the past year, there are many positive signs that caregiving is getting local and national attention. Since last November, the formation of the bipartisan ACT Caucus became a reality, as well as the CARE Act being passed in multiple states. Most recently, the President issued a proclamation officially declaring November as National Family Caregivers Month.

To celebrate this month, FCA has launched a social media campaign to help spread awareness and put a face on caregiving. We are also blogging everyday in November, highlighting the changing caregiving landscape.


Sincerely,

Calvin Hu
Education Coordinator
edprograms@caregiver.org
QUOTE OF THE MONTH

"One of the best measures of a country is how it treats its older citizens and people living with disabilities...
"

 --President Barack Obama
WHAT'S NEW AT FCA
FCA launches social media campaign: "I am a Caregiver for my __________"
Family caregivers, please join our national campaign  to spread awareness for caregiving and caregivers. Help us show the country that caregivers are family, neighbors, co-workers, and friends. Print our sign, take your picture, and send us an image file. We'll share it on social media. 
December 1 is #GivingTuesday
If you follow FCA on social media--especially Facebook and Twitter--please be sure to watch for us on Tuesday, December 1. #GivingTuesday is an annual social media response to the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday following Thanksgiving. #GivingTuesday is a great day to support FCA's work by donating online as well as an opportunity to take advantage of our new social media campaign "I am a Caregiver for my _____" (see the previous article). For more information on the history and purpose of #GivingTuesday, visit www.givingtuesday.org. Thank you! Your support helps us help family caregivers.
Family Caregiver Alliance's 30 Days of Caregiving Blog
As part of National Family Caregivers Month, FCA is publishing daily blog posts all November. The blog will explore four, week-long themes about ongoing changes in the caregiving landscape--changes in who provides care, what the needs of care recipients and caregivers are, where caregiving is taking place in an increasingly globalized society, and how caregiving takes place in light of new technological innovations and policy interventions.
Looking for Family Caregivers to Help FCA Shape New Service Product
Family Caregiver Alliance is developing a new online application for family caregivers who are currently providing assistance to an adult with physical and/or cognitive disabilities, living in the community. We need a panel of 20 family caregiver advisers living in the San Francisco Bay Area or across the U.S. to help test questionnaires and functions within the platform. You will be helping us shape our new service offering by providing feedback to improve our services for future caregivers. 

We expect testing to begin in December and last into January. We estimate that it will take 60 to 90 minutes to complete our questionnaires and provide feedback. Aside from our abundant gratitude, you will also receive a $40 gift card to Target for your time and effort.

We hope you join us in improving our next generation of service delivery! Please click here for the product testing application so we can contact and follow up with you as the testing period draws closer. All information is confidential and will not be shared beyond the extent needed to make quality improvements in our service product.
INFORMATION YOU CAN USE
Bathing (for dementia)
People with dementia are often resistant to bathing. They may think they just showered or they may outright refuse to bathe. Unless someone is incontinent, daily bathing is not necessary. 

To learn more about bathing for dementia, please read our Tip Sheet.
Depression and Caregiving
It is possible that the sadness, loneliness or anger you feel today may be a warning sign of depression. It is not unusual for caregivers to develop mild or more serious depression as a result of the constant demands they face in providing care.
NCCA Creative Caregiving Guide
Imagine a world where every caregiving act for adults with Alzheimer's disease and related cognitive disorders contribute to quality days for both the caregiver and their care partner.

The NCCA Creative Caregiving Guide© is a free resource where you can learn, experience, and share vibrant, research-based creative caregiving exercises. These excercices are design to help you and your care partner flourish through the art of caregiving -- all from the convenience of your own home, office, support network, or care setting.
MONTHLY WEBINAR
Challenges of Aging and Caregiving in the LGBT Community: a Guide for Providers and Professionals
This webinar, we will focus on some of the important issues and challenges of LGBT aging and caregiving related to financial security, healthcare, and autonomy. We will offer guidance on how service providers can employ more sensitive language when asking clients personal questions.

Many LGBT seniors live with the trauma of rejection from family and society. It is important for service providers to understand the challenges faced by LGBT caregivers, and to ensure a welcoming safe space is provided. Please join us in understanding the needs of LGBT older adults and the unique issues of LGBT caregiving.

When: Wednesday, November 18, 1 p.m. (PT)
Where: Online
Cost: $15
Registration: Click here
Contact: Calvin Hu, edprograms@caregiver.org, (415) 434-3388 x 313
ARTICLES FOR CAREGIVERS
Costs for Dementia Care far Exceeding Other Diseases, Study Finds
The New York Times reports that dementia is not only the most expensive disease, but also the condition with the highest out of pocket cost.
The Deviousness of Dementia
In 2010, Dasha Kiper took a job as live in caregiver for a 98 year old man with dementia who survived both the Holocaust and a Soviet labor camp. Read the rest of Dasha Kiper's long-form piece in The Guardian here. 
CAREGIVERS CONNECT: SF BAY AREA EVENTS

Caregiver College
Caregiver College is a free class where you, the family caregiver, will learn the skills to become a more confident and capable caregiver. Topics include: caregiver self-care, transfer skills, dental care, nutrition, toileting, bathing, and dressing. Lunch will be provided.

Please note: the class is only open to residents of San Mateo County. 

When: Saturday, November 21, 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Silverado Belmont Hills Memory Care Community, 1301 Ralston Avenue, Belmont 94002
Cost: free, open to residents of San Mateo County 
Registration: Calvin Hu, (415) 434-3388 ext. 313
CAREGIVERS CONNECT: SF BAY AREA PARTNER EVENTS
Meet & Move: A Walking Buddy Program Just for Caregivers
We know how challenging it can be to care for an ailing family member or friend. That's why El Camino Hospital and the Palo Alto Medical Foundation created Meet & Move, a "walk and talk" program designed for adult family caregivers.
The program offers you an opportunity to connect with others who understand your
situation while improving your fitness level.

When: Ongoing
Where: Various locations in San Francisco Bay Area (Peninsula and South Bay) and Santa Cruz
Cost: Free 
Registration: click here
Contact: Cyndi Mariner, meetandmove@linkages.org, (650) 934-3556
Annual Alzheimer's Disease Circle of Care Conference
This annual educational conference is for families caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease or related dementia, and professionals.

Topics include: Technology Tools for Family Caregivers, Successful Strategies for Addressing Sleep Challenges in Dementia, Avoiding Crises in Dementia, and Increasing Happiness & Quality of Life Despite Life's Challenges.  

When: Saturday, November 14, 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1221 Chess Drive, Foster City 94404
Cost: $50 general admission, $90 for professionals
Registration: click here
Contact: Blanca Vazquez-Arias, bvazquez@alz.org , (408) 372-9922
Emergency Response Systems for Older Adults Webinar
Tech-enhanced Life is in the middle of a research project studying personal emergency response systems (PERS) for older adults. The project is designed to answer questions like "Which PERS is right for my parent, or for me?"

This webinar is designed to share our learnings thus far; to introduce people to our PERS selection tool, which is currently in "alpha trials"; and to give you an opportunity to ask questions or suggest additional avenues we should explore in the remainder of our work.

Registration is required and limited spots are available. 

When: Tuesday, November 17, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (PT)
Where: Online
Cost: Free
Registration: click here 
RESEARCH REGISTRY
OUR SUPPORTERS: THANK YOU!
We would like to take a moment to extend a warm thank you to our generous supporters who make the work we do possible.

For over 35 years FCA has led the way in supporting family caregivers. Your donation makes all the difference!

785 Market Street | Suite 750 | San Francisco, CA 94103
(800) 445-8106 | fca@caregiver.org | www.caregiver.org

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