Caregiving Calendar plus REGISTER for a KIRC presentation with San Diego State University
Moments of trying to make sense of the events across our nation the past several weeks have left me exhausted and empty. Anyone else feeling the same?
Reading and/or watching news reports have me questioning, ‘What type of insidious rot is eating through our society?’
Three mass shootings in California – the most recent just this weekend – and if statistics show a pattern, we are off to a grim start for our humanity in 2023.
A steady flow of dismal economic forecasts and massive job cuts.
The horrific and downright heinous death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of Memphis police.
When will it stop? Where are we headed when these events seem to have become the norm?
Commentary at Substack Steady offers a thoughtful perspective, capturing much of what I’m feeling but honestly, unable to craft into words.
For those of you living in California, all of this is also coming off the heels of our state getting hammered by severe and deadly storms.
That widespread destruction should serve as a reminder to all caregivers: we must plan ahead and prepare for the unexpected, because the reality of ‘getting out of harms way fast’ looks and feels different when caring for an elder.
Residents of a nursing home in the Central Valley can attest to this
Trauma support
It all feels just too much. My heart is heavy. My heart hurts for all of us. At times like these, I am reminded of the importance of recognizing when we or those around us are hurting and may need additional support services.
There is a Crisis Recovery Guide created by the CA Health & Human Services agency that Keeping It REAL Caregiving would like to share with you.
This guide is available in English and several additional languages. It includes FREE resources and information on various agencies offering help and support, with additional resources for those feeling directly impacted by the mass shootings in both Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay.
Crisis Recovery Resource Guide in English
Upcoming caregiver events
Hoarding & Caregiving
Tuesday, Jan 31, 2023
2:00 PM Pacific
Presented by: USC Leonard Davis Family Caregiver Support Center
Event description: Join us as we discuss the difference between collecting and hoarding. What are some signs that “collecting” has become out-of-control? How do we help our loved ones reduce clutter in their homes? How can clutter become a health hazard, and what can we do to keep it under control?
In Case You Missed It…
California Master Plan for Aging Kick-Off 2023
Check out the slide presentation here
Watch the session here:
As California continues building out resources for our aging population, be sure to turn to the Aging in California Resource Guide.
It includes a directory of resources and links to available services in different regions of the state and is available in English, and can also be accessed in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean.
Apply: 2023-2024 AHA Next Generation Leaders Fellowship Age-Friendly Health Systems Cohort Scholarships
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
12PM Central
Informational webinar
Description: The American Hospital Association (AHA) is accepting applications for The John A. Hartford Foundation Age-Friendly Health Systems Cohort Scholarships as part of its 2023-2024 Next Generation Leaders Fellowship.
The AHA Next Generation Leaders Fellowship focuses on developing leaders and empowering them to bring about real and lasting change in the hospital and health systems in which they serve. The program will help emerging leaders tackle key issues and challenges affecting health care affordability, cost, quality and safety.
Informational Meeting – register here
Can we agree to… agree?
A recent national survey by the John A. Hartford Foundation provides a glimmer of positive news in our tumultuous world of political bickering, grandstanding and divisiveness.
Bipartisan Support for Policies that Aid Family Caregivers
The John A. Hartford Foundation asked adults living in the U.S. for their opinions on policies to help family caregivers. Agreement is near-universal: Action is needed to support family caregivers
One result indicated 93% of those surveyed support bringing in professionals to help family caregivers.
Want to learn more about what fellow Americans of all political stripes are thinking about family caregiving? The results just might surprise you
Read more of the findings here
To see an easy-to-read breakdown of some of the other results, click here.
Advancing Mental Health Equity Among Older Adults: A Call to Action
Monday, January 30 – Thursday, February 2, 2023
12:00 PM – 1:15 PM Pacific // 3:00 PM – 4:15 PM Eastern
Hosted by: American Society on Aging
Event description: Mental health services aimed at older adults must improve. Too many older people are unable to access quality mental health services when and where needed. The lack of mental health services can be devastating—especially for communities of color and those residing in rural areas.
During this Generations Forum, we will bring together advocates, experts and community-based providers to highlight gaps in mental health services for older people, and elevate solutions to fill those gaps.
For more information and to register
Looking ahead…
Keeping It REAL Caregiving Presents to the Intergenerational Gerontology Alliance (IGA)
Thursday, February 16, 2023
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM Pacific
Where: Hybrid (Zoom AND the Aztec Student Union Park BLVD Rm# 141)
Keeping It REAL Caregiving is proud to join the Intergenerational Gerontology Alliance (IGA) to speak and present at the 2nd IGA-sponsored event series in the
E. Percil Stanford Lecture & Seminar Series on Caregiving in association with San Diego State University.
This is a hybrid in-person and virtual FREE event.
This is the third of four hybrid events sponsored by the Intergenerational Gerontology Alliance, exploring issues in the field of aging.
KIRC is honored for the opportunity to share personal experiences, and information learned from all of you with some of the next generation of health leaders. I would also like to extend a thank you to fellow American Society on Aging ASA Rise Fellow, Dr. Norman Jackson, for the invitation to offer insight during this event.
*Please register here for the no-cost event
*Be sure to visit the Keeping It REAL Caregiving website for more upcoming events
*Do you have personal caregiving experiences you believe students in the Gerontology field should hear about and learn from? Leave a comment that I can pass along*
News missed by mainstream…
We’ve all heard it said, ‘We are what we eat.’
New research indicates where we live may directly impact our health – and for people of color statistics indicate those impacts are generally not good.
Take a look at this except from Patient Engagement HIT which reads:
A new study out of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research is shedding light on the racial disparities in certain social determinants of health, particularly neighborhood and built environment.
The study found that neighborhoods that are predominantly Black are more likely to have poorer built environment than neighborhoods that are predominantly White, a relic of the 20th Century’s racist redlining practices.
To read the full article click here
Coming up…
Coming up as part of the Keeping It REAL Caregiving February Black History Celebration, KIRC will re-introduce you to a family caregiver we’ve heard from in the past, who has now turned her ‘care’ lens towards enhancing the health and well-being of her community.
Look for this special article and video in an upcoming post
Note: If you are not already a KIRC family member, plesae consider subscribing. KIRC is my one-woman effort to bring you nuggets of news, information, guidance and support. Having lived the role of family caregiver, I wish that I knew then, what I know now.
KIRC appreciates your input, feedback, and leaving your thoughts in the comment section.
Remember, you can also follow me – Julia Yarbough – at my Facebook Page: Julia Yarbough Media Group to leave comments and interact.
Until next time~
Julia
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