KIRC extends a huge THANK YOU for making this a year worth celebrating…

Here we are folks, rapidly approaching the end of another year. Am I the only one who feels as if each passing year the time is moving faster? You’re chuckling and nodding your head in agreement, right?

It reminds me of that Bonnie Raitt song, Nick of Time:

“…I see my folks are getting on and I watch their bodies change. I know they see the same in me and it makes us both feel strange. No matter how you tell yourself, it’s what we all go through. Those lines are pretty hard to take, when they’re staring back at you – scared you’ll run out of time. When did the choices get so hard with so much at stake? Life is mighty precious when there’s less of it to waste…”

However, I do hope that all of you have been able to accomplish some of the items you wanted to for 2021 and are not wasting any moments!

For me, the creation of Keeping it REAL Caregiving is what will define my 2021.

It is a personal and professional honor to be able to have taken an idea born from my own experiences of caring for my mother, Miss Nellie in her final years of life, and evolve it into a platform to hopefully help others.

For this KIRC update, let’s take a quick look back at some of the highlight moments in 2021 and what I hope (with all of your help) will evolve even more for 2022.

Gerontological Society of America

Your correspondent started the year completing a fellowship with the Gerontological Society of America.

The organization selected 15 journalist from all over the country to produce work specific to topics within the field of aging. My project included three news segments about the California Master Plan for Aging and the people directly impacted.

PASSAGES

Those segments caught the attention of a member of PASSAGES, the local Area Agency on Aging for Butte County and surrounding regions in Northern California. An invite to present a webinar, The Accidental Caregiver soon followed.

Keeping it REAL Caregiving – the website

I’ve always believed in the power of fate and of paying attention to signs. Because my personal journey in caregiving had taught me a great deal, and as a lifelong journalist/storyteller, it felt almost like a calling to work to educate others and raise awareness. So I set out to create Keeping it REAL Caregiving.

I started writing and sharing stories and experiences I did not see being talked about elsewhere, like REAL blog topics such as When Bathrooms go Bad, and Vanishing Sibling Syndrome. I believe it is the kind of stuff we should be discussing and sharing. Practical and real.

Meta Bulletin

Courtesy: Bulletin Screen Shot

Shortly after the website launch, KIRC was invited to join a select group of writers featured by Facebook/Meta in launching our bi-weekly newsletter. Notice how I say OURS — because really, this effort is about and for all of us!

BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE to stay up to date & share with your friends and family!

Stories, articles, and information began hitting your in-boxes in late August. Since then, our KIRC family has grown to a little more than one-thousand strong.

I could not be more thrilled, humbled and honored to use my journalism skills to share stories involving eldercare and family caregiving. I believe Miss Nellie would be surprised yet proud of what we are accomplishing.

Nellie Yarbough & Julia Yarbough/2011

2022: What next?

My hope is to connect and engage with more of you:

  • To hear and share your stories.

  • To encourage more of you to join KIRC as a guest essayist.

  • I would like to drive more advocacy efforts.

  • To feature more of your local programs & virtual events.

  • And… I want to learn what information and topics YOU want to see more of.

These goals will take all of us working together to learn and grow. So, be on the lookout for a KIRC survey in the coming days.

Last but not least…

Grab your favorite cup of coffee or tea and get ready to ‘re-set’ for the new year!

You’re invited to join our second Facebook Live event – The KIRC Sunday Coffee Chat & Support Hour!

When: Sunday, January 2, 2022

10:00 AM – 11:00AM PACIFIC

1:00 PM – 2:00PM EASTERN

Where: Facebook/Online

How: Join here

Before the date, send me ideas, questions or topics you think we should include [email protected] or join the discussion here!

Can’t wait to see what we all create for 2022 – Happy Holidays!

Julia

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*Header Image Courtesy: Adobe Stock/Premier

Questions or Comments about KIRC and our content📮? [email protected]m

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Have a story idea, topic or event you would like to see covered and/or featured? Jump into the discussion and let me know!

Check out 📽 Videos & 📡 Podcasts at the Keeping it REAL Caregiving website

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