Winter 2011
Volume 1, Number 2
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(800) 445-8106
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Announcement
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Caregiver Update,
Learning Together, and News for Providers have been condensed into one
newsletter--Connections.
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Caregiving PolicyDigest-FCA's national briefing on current federal and state legislation, new programs and funding initiatives. Click to subscribe.
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Credits
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Editors
Michelle Venegas
Hilary Toyryla
Production & Graphics
Ron Bohn (production)
Melania Jusuf (graphics)
Contributors
Sean Coffey
Kathleen Kelly
Lana Sheridan
Tyler Stanley
Hilary
Toyryla
Michelle Venegas
Executive Director
Kathleen A. Kelly
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Board of Directors
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Officers
Ping Hao, President
Kathy Murphy, Vice President
Jeff Kumataka, Treasurer
Helen Sloss Luey, Secretary
Directors
Herman S. Brown
Claude Everhart
Moira Fordyce
Michael Malewicz
F. Burns Vick
Sue Wong
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 A Word from our Executive
Director, Kathleen Kelly
In the August 11, 2010 edition of Policy Digest, Family Caregiver Alliance alerted our readers that the Senate Appropriations Committee had approved its spending bill for the departments of Labor, Health, and Human Services with a number of provisions benefitting family caregivers. As part of Vice-President Biden's Caregiver Initiative, an additional $104.5 million was appropriated to support family caregivers through this legislation.
Read more...
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Caregiving Information
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Making Placement Decisions
The decision to place a loved one in a care facility may be the hardest decision families have to make in the course of caregiving. "I remember the ache in my heart as I left my father in the nursing home the day he moved there. And the ongoing conflict I felt when I visited him every week. Caregiving doesn't end when you move someone, it just changes," says a caregiver. Read more...
Introducing In-Home Care When Your Loved One Says "No"
Desperate though caregivers may be for a temporary respite from their care responsibilities, many care recipients are resistant to strangers coming into their home to help. The help may be perceived as an invasion of privacy, a loss of independence or a waste of money. Yet in-home assistance is often critical in offering caregivers a break and time to relax and rejuvenate. There are ways to make this transition easier. Here are some tips for making your loved one feel more comfortable with in-home help:
Read more...
Grandma Doesn't Remember Me. Helping Your Child Understand Dementia
How does having a family member with dementia affect children? The answer: It depends on the age of the child, the severity of the memory loss and the child's relationship to the person with dementia. The better you understand how the disease affects your loved one, and how you handle your own process of loss and adapting to change, the better you can help your child.
Read more...
Mediators Involved In Helping Families Resolve Conflicts Over Aging Parents
In many families, where the care of an elderly parent and decision-making extends to multiple family members who may be in discord with one another, mediators are increasingly being hired, not to provide solutions but to help establish a framework for making decisions that may involve finances, end-of-life treatment, and estate handling. Among some of the larger issues, discussion of which may have previously caused serious differences of opinions, conflicts leading to stalemates, and highly charged emotions. Mediators "focus on communication skills and
analyzing family dynamics, and trying to get everyone on board". Read more...
Boomers and Elder Care
With 40 million Boomers having already reached the age of 65, they are facing greater challenges than just paying attention to their own issues and needs, and in particular boomer women who will more than likely have the lion's share of care responsibility for their elderly parents. To meet the coming caregiving crisis head on, there needs to be more open discussion of aging and the needs of the elderly, more education about caregiving, and finding creative workable solutions. Read more...
Technologies Survey What Caregivers Want
The National Alliance for Caregiving and UnitedHealthcare released the results of a survey of caregivers about their interest in using technology to support their caregiving roles.
Read more...
California: Governor's Proposed Budget Eliminates And Reduces Services For Elderly And Disabled
Governor Jerry Brown released his budget proposal earlier this month and it calls for massive cuts to programs serving the elderly and disabled. While the budget passed in 2010 called for a 3.6% cut to In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program, Governor Brown's proposed budget includes an additional 8.6% reduction for IHSS. Read more...
Changes For Older Adults Under Affordable Care Act
A recent announcement by the Administration on Aging includes information on changes in the Medicare program under the Affordable Care Act. Read more...
Report On California's Paid Family Leave Program
California was the first state in the nation to pass a comprehensive Paid Family Leave (PFL) program in 2002. A recent research report surveyed 500 employees and 253 employers to determine the law's impact. Read more...
PBS NewsHour Focuses On Explosion Of Baby Boomers
A recent episode of PBS NewsHour focused on the implications of some of the first of 79 million baby boomers turning 65 in 2011. Judy Woodruff interviews Ted Fishman, author of "Shock of Gray" and Nicholas Eberstadt of the American Enterprise Institute about some of the impacts including increased utilization of Medicare and Social Security. Read more...
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An FCA Staff
Member Highlighted
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 Lois Escobar has her Masters of Social Work from San Francisco State University. She is currently working toward her clinical licensure. Lois has been with Family Caregiver Alliance as a Family Consultant for the past 18 years. She has proven to be an integral part of providing quality services to our caregiving clients. Lois has dedicated an impressive amount of her professional life as a Social Worker to serving the needs of caregivers. She has devoted countless hours to counseling, assessment, advocacy, psycho-educational classes, support groups and presentations. Her skill and impact is evident here in the words of a client, "Lois has provided and continues to provide an invaluable service to our family....she has given us outstanding referrals, information and support which has enabled us to provide excellent care for our father. Our entire family is grateful to Lois."
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Gifts
From the Heart
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Many thanks to our generous supporters who make the work
we do possible. Read more...
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For over
30 years, Family Caregiver Alliance has offered
programs to support and sustain the important work of families and
friends caring for loved ones with chronic, disabling health
conditions. FCA offers programs at national, state and local levels.
The National Center on Caregiving was established at FCA in 2001 to
advance the development of high-quality, cost-effective services and
policies nationwide. A wealth of caregiving advice, resource listings,
newsletters, fact sheets, research reports, policy updates and
discussion groups are available free on the FCA website. Visit www.caregiver.org or call (800) 445-8106 for more information.
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2011 Family Caregiver Alliance. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this newsletter may be reproduced without the express permission of Family Caregiver
Alliance. |
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A Word from our Executive Director, Kathleen Kelly
 In the August 11, 2010 edition of Policy Digest, Family Caregiver Alliance alerted our readers that the Senate Appropriations Committee had approved its spending bill for the departments of Labor, Health, and Human Services with a number of provisions benefitting family caregivers. As part of Vice-President Biden's Caregiver Initiative, an additional $104.5 million was appropriated to support family caregivers through this legislation.
The additional funding was projected to provide:
- An additional 1 million more hours of adult day-care
- 1.3 million more hours of personal care assistance
- Service and information for an additional 200,000 caregivers
- 3 million more hours of respite care
The legislation also provided the Department of Labor $10 million to provide grants to states to help them implement paid leave programs that could help employees who are caregivers.
While this bill was passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee in July, it was never voted on by the full Senate or by Congress. Instead, Congress just passed a spending bill that provides funding for Fiscal Year 2011 at FY 2010 levels and will have to be revisited in March 2011.
While this economy requires belt-tightening at all levels, we are disappointed that Congress couldn't see fit to better support family caregivers who provide the majority of long-term care in the U.S. Family Caregiver Alliance staff members talk daily with family caregivers who are over-extended, tired, stressed, and financially-strained. This legislation could have provided much-needed respite and adult day-care, additional personal care assistance, and information and referrals for caregivers who are attempting to navigate the maze of long-term services and support.
A report released in October, 2010, sampled 3,502 workers in the U.S. Based on the results of this survey, the authors found that 42% of employed Americans have provided elder care (defined as: "special attention or care for a relative or in-law 65-years-old or older helping with things that were difficult or impossible for them to do themselves") in the past five years. Forty-four percent of current and past caregivers reported that caregiving has had a negative impact on the way that they take care of themselves. And, of the 38% who reported taking time off or working fewer hours (in order to provide care), 48% report that they lost income as a result.
When Congress revisits the funding legislation in March 2011, we hope that our elected representatives will choose to replace the $104.5 million that would have provided much-needed support. Family caregivers are the backbone of our nation's long-term care system and we need to provide them with adequate support to do their jobs.
Special Thanks to Our Wonderful Donors!
Charitable contributions are a vital part of the community support for Family Caregiver Alliance. We are pleased to list the following donors whose gifts were received from October 1, 2010 through January 8, 2011. We thank our donors for their generosity and community spirit.
Special Gifts Campaign for the ‘Year of the Caregiver’ - We wish to give special thanks to the following for their generous contributions to Family Caregiver Alliance:
DONATE TO FAMILY CAREGIVER ALLIANCE
Jennifer Arthur
Karen Chow
Lotus Fong
Moira Fordyce
Amanda Hamilton
Susan K. Lang
Helen Sloss Luey
Jay Luxenberg
William Lynch
Kathy Murphy
Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Rieger
Margaret Wallhagen
In Memory of Robina Neilson Wallhagen
Debbie Wolter
On behalf of Karen Wolter
Sue Wong
‘Year of the Caregiver’ Gifts/Fall Appeal:
W. R. Abbott
Barbara Ann Ackerman
Evi Altschuler
Julie Alvarado
Shirley Amsbury
Phyllis Annett
Emil Arnold
Linda Artel
Jakob Atlas
Sandy Aulakh
Don R. Baker
William E. Barham
Maria Barrales
Sharona Barzilay
Olive Bavins
Estela Becerra
Joan C. Benjamin
Surinder Birak
Pauline Bishop
Ralph Black
Cindy Blackstone
Barbara Blomer
Terese Bogucki
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Booker
Faye Bostick
Laurel A. Botelho
Joceline Boucher
Gloria Braas
Jill R. Brindel and William Klingelhoffer
Seymour Bross, M.D.
Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Brown
Herman Brown
Judith Bryer
Salvatore Cagnina
Carol Callaway
Zenaida Camplis
Peter Carlson
Susan L. Castellanos
John W. Cavers
Leigh A. Hurst
Carol Inocencio
David Ishida
Christine Jarvis
Thomas Johnson
Julie R. Jordan
Linda and Thomas Kalinowski
Brent Kato
Colette Kelly
Kathy Kenny
Martha Kimmich
Kathy Klein and Scott Fink
Cheryl Kojina
Irene Korostyshevsky
William Kroll
Elaine Kudlick
Jeff Kumataka
Yukiko Kuno
Alan E. Kurtz
Philip M. Lally
Charles Landefeld
Mary P. Lavin
Kathryn Lee
Mr. and Mrs. Lansing Lee
Susan V. Lee and Gordon Reetz
John Leung
Shelly Lieberman
Joseph Lisha
Waverly Lowell
Heng Wei Lu
Irene Lucido
Patricia Lusse
Charles Maguire
Michael Malewicz
Ms. Liz Mamorsky and Mr. Mel Knox
Mr. and Mrs. Robert N. Mann
Carol Manning
Anny Maran
Cecile Marie
Marielos A. Martinez
Mr. and Ms. Michael Marx
Edward Mason
Terry McClain
Judith McCord
Harold A. McElroy
Brenda McGaffie
Barbara McGettigan
Phyllis Menefee
Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow Mertens
Judy Metzger
Juanantonio Molina
Dennis M. Monticelli
Marietta Moore and Bennie I. Moore
Leslie and Ricardo Morales
Kathleen Dutton Moriarity
Penny Nakatsu
Stephanie Neira
Alison Ng
Cleotilde Oceguera
Ingo Orlamunder
Rosemarie Ortega
Evelyn Owens
Mr. and Mrs. James Palmtag
Cayetana S. Paras
Susan Pasco
Bernice Pasero
Joy Pathak
Joan Pearson
Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Peck
Kay Pellicciarini
Lena Petty
Marianna Pieck
Floyd Pittman
Juanito Pizarro
Joyce E. Preston
Edward Pullen
James Brett Queen |
Ellen Champlin
Byron Chan
Florence Chan
Vivien Lou Chen
Susan Chew
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Childe
Victor Chu
Christine Clark
Kristopher Coffey
Kathleen Mandry Cohn
Jean Coleman
Gaylord J. Coleman
Elizabeth Cooke
Ventura Cortez and Family
Mary Anne Courtney
Maureen E. Crowe
Peggy daSilva
Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Davis
Juanita Dennis
Charles E. Dewey
Betty Diamond
Cynthia Diamond
Blanca Dominguez
Ann Dzuna
Mary Eagleton
Isabel Eichner
Joseph Eng
Kathy Erickson
George Estrada
Ruth Fallenbaum
Lynn Friss Feinberg
Mr. and Mrs. Roland Feller
Linda Ferrante
Laura Figueiredo
Doris R. Fine
Shirley Fitzgerald
Annette Fleishman
Lynn Fonfa
Carolyn Franklin
Stanley Friedman
Barry Friedman
Wynand A. Funcke
Peter Gascoyne
The Arthur B. & Miriam Gauss Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Community Endowment Fund
Arthur Gilbert
Lucille Gilcrest
Mr. and Mrs. David Goldsmith
Alice M. Gonnerman
Earline Grayson
Walter Grenn
Charles Habib
Pierre M. Hahn
Angela Hall
Dolores Hansen
Patrick V. Harvey
Kirsten Havrehed
Albert H. Heller
Angela L. Hickey
The Elaine A. Hilp Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Community Endowment Fund
Susan Hoey
Fair Ho-Fung
Susima Holgado
Mr. and Mrs. Victor Honig
David A. Hubbard
Ruth Hughes
Shirley Hunter
Maya L. Tussing
Sharon Udkoff
Carol Van Steenberg
John A. Walker
Marilyn Walker
Mary-Ann Wallace
Beulah Watson
John Watson
Debra J. Webb
Karey Wehner
Ted Weinstein
Lisa Wenger
Billee Werby
Doris Whitt
Clay Wiens
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Wilen
Alan B. Wilson
Mary L. Wilson
Art Wolf
Susie Wong
Norma L. Wynn
Roberta Yamagami
Susan Yamamoto
Ms. Eva Yarmo and Mr. David Rosenthal
Sharon L. Yow
Rose Zimbardo
Gust H. Zumas
The Zupsan Family Foundation of the Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund
Marilyn G. Reiss
Barbara Riley
Glen Risdon
Jane J. Risk
Luisa Robaina
Dirkje Rook
D.V. Ruben
Elizabeth Ruiz
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Rutledge
Becky Saeger and Tom Graves
San Fransisco Bay CCC
Julie A. Schablaske
Carol Schmidt
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Scholten
Katharine Schultz
Kristine Elliott Schwabacher
William L. Schwartz
Laurence Schweitzer
Shirley Schwoerer
Dev Singh
D. Clifford Smith
Margaret Smith
Gerald Spindel
Susan Stull
Mr. and Mrs. George Takata
Eller M. Taylor
The Teichman/Relyen Fund of the Pasadena Community Foundation
Jennifer A. Terukina
Betty Thibeaux
K.M. Thompson
Kathe Thompson-Gonzales
Maria Tindall
Gail Todd
Ms. Nancy Toder and Mr. Daniel McClosky
Wesley W. Tom
Alicia Toyooka
Tony Tran
Jacques Trudeau
Hillary Turner
Paul Rasmussen
Patricia Reese |
Gifts were made in memory of:
Anne Bashkiroff
By Mr. and Mrs. Nori Yoshida
Marian M. Bayard
By Marcy and David Albert
Fred Ferguson
By Kelsey Barrett
George
By Joyce McGowan
Lois Marie Goldsby and Minnie Belle Williams
By Stacy Goldsby
Arthur Harrison
By Joyce Harrison
Irving Levy
By Judith Levy-Sender
Her mother, Gon Wah Lum
By Janet Lum Moore
Lee Lustig
By Ruth Lustig
Lee Lustig
By Barbara O'Hay
William Gilbert MacNaughton
By Ruth MacNaughton
Marjorie & Bruce Mallin
By Ms. Diana Petty and Mr. John P. Bosshardt
June McNamee
By Sheldon McNamee
Her husband, Jack Messmer
By Elizabeth Messmer
Pauline Stevens Morrison
By Mr. and Mrs. Duane L. Stevens
Becky Parker
By John Parker
John Pattison
By Margaret V. Peterson
Jane Prantis
By Robert Prantis
Arthur Noel Richardson
By Kristi Sloan
Fran Salen
By Laurie Salen
Edith H. Webber
By Alice Webber and Stephen Tobias
Gifts were made in honor of:
Lois Escobar
By Laurie Salen
Marilu Ferguson
By Kelsey Barrett
Marjorie Ford
By C.Y. Ford
Amanda Hartrey and Donna Schempp
By Iris B. Berman
Christina Irving
By Victor Y. and Susan Lam Tsai
Rosner House
By David Nathan Perreira
Donna Schempp
By James Gabby, M.D.
Donna Schempp
By Dore Selix-Gabby
Carroll Webber and Donna S. Schempp
By Alice Webber and Stephen Tobias
Gifts were made on behalf of:
Jennifer Arthur
By Andrew Lederer
Cheryl
By J. C. Houser
Steve Cohan
By Claudia Cohan
Linda Grazier and her mom (now deceased)
By Deborah Bertola
The daughters of Tomi Iino
By Terrie Gottesman
We also wish to thank the following for providing matching funds:
Aetna Foundation, Inc. Employee Giving Campaign
AT&T United Way / Employee Giving Campaign
BlackRock Matching Gift Program
Chevron Corporation/Chevron Humankind Matching Gift Program
Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund
National Semiconductor Employee Directed Giving Program of the Silicon Valley Community
Foundation
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A special thank you to the following for their generous support:
The Margaret A. Cargill Foundation
Home Instead Senior Care
© 2011 Family Caregiver
Alliance. All Rights
Reserved. No portion of this newsletter may be reproduced without the express permission of
Family Caregiver
Alliance.
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