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FCA has led the way in supporting family caregivers for over 35 years. 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, Jr.
Tricia Dell
Ping Hao
Catherine Lelong
Rajiv Mehta
Chris Park
Scott Peifer 
Kathleen Raffel
Celeste Takatsuno 
F. Burns Vick


Quick Links
Family Caregiver Alliance's fee-for-service care management currently serving the San Francisco Bay Area. Click here for further information. 
Vol. 7, No. 2
February 16, 2016
Dear Friends:

"I was angry at my life path. While all my friends in their 20s and 30s got to have involved husbands as fathers, go to brunch with their boyfriends, hang out with friends as young people should, here I was: locked in a marriage with a disabled, chronically ill person. Something had to change . . . and the only thing I could change was me."
                                         --Rebecca Murray, caregiver

No one knows the ups and downs, challenges, and travails of caregiving like other family caregivers. This month, Connections is highlighting Family Caregiver Alliance's online caregiver stories.

While no two caregiving journeys are exactly alike, each shared caregiver story has the power to help new caregivers gain a better understanding of what the road ahead may hold for them. Our hope is that after reading these stories, caregivers understand that they are not alone, even if it may appear this way. 

Sincerely,

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

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.
"

-- Unknown 
WHAT'S NEW AT FCA
2015 Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Legacy Awards Reception at AiA16
Join Family Caregiver Alliance and The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation at a reception honoring the recipients of the 2015 Rosalinde Gilbert Innovations in Alzheimer's Disease Caregiving Legacy Awards at AiA16, the annual conference of the American Society on Aging. Representatives from the four winning organizations will be present at the reception. They include the University of Michigan Stamps School of Art & Design; Arts & Minds, New York City; California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR); and the Clerk & Comptroller's Office, Palm Beach County, Florida. For more information about the organizations and their outstanding programs, visit the Gilbert Awards webpage. Hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served.

When: Tuesday, March 22, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Thurgood Marshall North (Mezzanine level),
2660 Woodley Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
FCA Executive Director Kathy Kelly with Jennifer Wolff Co-Edit Generations, the Journal of the American Society on Aging
Connections is pleased to share Kathy Kelly's article, Family Caregiving is Finally Gaining Public and Policy Notice which she co-authored with Jennifer Wolff. To learn more about how FCA supports caregivers through policy and advocacy, please visit our National Center on Caregiving webpage. 
FCA Seeking Caregiver Stories
FCA would like to share your caregiving story. To submit your story and share your experience, please visit our submission form. You can read caregiver stories from various perspectives, on our website. 
Your Caregiving Experience is Important! Would you Like to Share Your Story Through the Media?

FCA often receives requests from the news media seeking family caregivers willing to be interviewed about about their caregiving experience. Would you be willing to share your story, as well as talk about the help you received from Family Caregiver Alliance? If so, please complete the online form to be added to the list of FCA's caregiver media ambassadors. FCA thanks you in advance for considering this request. 
Advocacy Starts at Home: Strengthening Supports for Low-Income Older Adults and Family Caregivers

Justice in Aging (formerly the National Senior Citizens Law Center) has recently released a new special report and video exploring caregiving through the lens of senior poverty. The report details solutions that will aid seniors and caregiving families of all resource levels.
Correction: 2015 Gilbert Awards Recipients
The last issue of Connections incorrectly reported the winner for the Diverse/ Multicultural Communities Gilbert Award. The winner in this category is Arts & Minds. Information about Arts & Minds' programs can be found on their website. We apologize for any confusion. 
INFORMATION YOU CAN USE
Tip Sheet: Communication (for Dementia)
Communicating with someone with dementia is a learned skill that differs from everyday communication and requires practice. This is often counterintuitive, as logic and facts will be replaced by tone, nonverbal cues, simplicity, demonstration, and patience as the most effective tools for communication.
Wish of a Lifetime
Wish of a Lifetime is dedicated to fulfilling individual wishes for seniors across the country. By granting one wish, Wish of a Lifetime seeks to bring about long term physical and emotional benefits to its participants, while at the same time celebrating and honoring seniors. To learn more or to nominate a senior for this unique program, please visit their website.

Photo credit: Wish of a Lifetime
Low Cost Home Internet for Limited Income Seniors of San Francisco, Boston, and Palm Beach County
Comcast is running a new pilot program that offers home internet at a discounted price. Internet Essentials is available to seniors age 62 or older and receiving public assistance. Visit the Internet Essentials webpage for more details. 
FREE FCA WEBINAR
Keeping Safe From Financial Abuse
According to research cited by the Department of Justice, elderly victims of financial exploitation lose $2.9 billion per year. The purpose of this webinar is to help caregivers identify the signs of elder and dependent adult financial abuse, understand common strategies--by phone and in person--that scammers use to take advantage of their victims, and empower caregivers to protect the finances of their loved ones.

When: Thursday, February 25, 1 p.m. (PT)
Where: Online
Cost: Free
Registration: Click here
Contact: Calvin Hu, edprograms@caregiver.org, (415) 434-3388 x 313
ARTICLES FOR CAREGIVERS
Life After Brain Injury: Patients and Caregivers Cope With 'Hidden' Disabilities
Brain injury can occur after seemingly mundane "non-dramatic incidents," like falling out of bed. The signs and symptoms of these injuries are not always apparent even to doctors. Martha Ross, writing for the San Jose Mercury News, introduces a married couple that have both suffered brain injuries from accidentally hitting their heads against the body of a car.  
A Twist on Caring for a Parent: Move Into the Home
In an article for the New York Times, Paula Span writes about the uncommon solution Allen Geiwitz found to help care for his nearly 100 year old mother, move into the same retirement community. While this is not a popular option among long term caregivers, Mr. Geiwitz is confident his practical approach will be commonplace in the future. 
CAREGIVERS CONNECT: SF BAY AREA PARTNER EVENTS
Family Caregiver Education Series
The City of Fremont Family Caregiver Support Program is pleased to offer a series of eight workshops designed to provide training, education, support, and resources for those caring for elderly loved ones.  

Schedule:
1. February 22 - Caring for Loved Ones with Parkinson's Disease
2. February 29 - Stress Management for Caregivers
3. March 7 - Communication Strategies
4. March 14th - Taking Care of Yourself   
5. March 21st - Caregiving and Forgiveness
  
Pre-registration for this series is required. This program is available at no cost to all community members. Donations to City of Fremont are greatly appreciated.

When: Mondays, 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: Fremont Senior Center, 40086 Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont 94536
Cost: Free
Registration: Fremont Senior Center, (510) 790-6600
3rd Annual Alzheimer's Latino Conference
At this conference, presented by the Alzheimer's Association, you will have the opportunity to learn about the connection between Alzheimer's and diabetes, how to plan for long-term care, caregiver grief and guilt, how to manage difficult behaviors, and resources available in the community.

Breakfast and lunch will be provided. For adult and/or childcare during the event, contact Sandra (408) 372-9919.

When: Saturday, April 9, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Mayfair Community Center, 2039 Kammerer Avenue, San Jose 95116
Cost: Free
Contact: (800) 272-3900
6th Annual Caregivers Count! Conference
The Aging Services Collaborative of Santa Clara County is pleased to host Caregivers Count!, a free conference for families and friends caring for an aging loved one. At the conference, you will learn about self-care and stress management, dementia communication, navigating changes in care, and nutrition and wellness.

Respite grants may be available through the Alzheimer's Association with advanced notice. Call (800) 272-3900 for an application.

Seating is limited and registration is required. RSVP must be received by April 1.

When: Saturday, April 16, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where: Campbell Community Center, 1 West Campbell Avenue, Campbell 95008
Cost: Free
Registration: Click here
Contact: (408) 634-9708 
RESEARCH REGISTRY
OUR SUPPORTERS: 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 35 years.
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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