READY FOR SUMMER TRAVEL? KIRC is taking a swing through New York
Hello everyone!
Before we dive into a selection of upcoming events you might find useful, I would like to welcome our newest members to the tribe.
If you are just joining us, a quick bit of background on the Keeping It REAL Caregiving newsletter and website.
My name is Julia Yarbough. I created this platform with the goal of sharing news and practical information in the space of family caregiving.
Julia Yarbough/Keeping It REAL Caregiving – Rochester, NY/July 13, 2022
I am a career broadcast journalist, having worked as a news anchor and reporter in major markets around the country; Miami and Los Angeles. Now I serve as a Communications Consultant working with other local news professionals.
However, the work which put me down this path, was that of caring for my mother, Miss Nellie.
I spent 20 years as the primary point-person for helping her as she aged and declined due to a number of health issues. From 2016 through 2020 my mother lived with me in Northern California.
It was during that time I experienced many of the challenges and pitfalls of finding services, help, adequate care, managing my own life/work balance (and sanity) all while providing what I hoped was the absolute best care possible for my mother.
*Read much more about this journey in previous Keeping It REAL Caregiving posts, and I encourage you to check out our series of articles
*Have an upcoming event others should know about? Submit your information here!
New York State
For this week’s calendar, in honor of a recent work-related visit to Rochester, New York, let’s take a look at some of the resources and offerings from The Empire State designed to have a positive impact.
None of us can forget the ravages of Covid-19 and news reports of a horribly failed approach to caring for our most vulnerable citizens – those who perished in nursing homes.
Relatives Of Seniors Who Died Of COVID-19 In Nursing Homes Hold An Anti-Cuomo Rally**
However, I hope those tragedies have forced those in policy and decision-making roles to see and acknowledge many of the challenges our communities face when it comes to caring for an aging population.
If you live and or work in New York and are (or believe you will soon become) a family caregiving, start your information search with the New York State Office for the Aging.
Find information on:
Available programs
Connecting with assistance
Latest information for care providers
News and events
One of the tools I found most interesting, is a web-based support platform for unpaid family caregivers.
Here’s the official description:
Trualta’s evidence-based caregiver training and support platform helps families build skills to manage care at home for loved ones of any age. It also connects to local resources and support services by delivering personalized education, training, and information links.
New Yorkers can access the service here
For more information on the program, read the full press release here
I encourage you to spend some time exploring this portal. Or, if you know someone who is a caregiver who simply doesn’t have the time or energy to do so, sift through the information for them. Remember, we’re all in this together.
LGBTQ Services
Keeping It REAL Caregiving recently focused attention on the realities and unique needs of the LGBTQ community at the intersection of aging.
What’s pride got to do with it? Everything for the KIRC Calendar of events
New York State offers a resource guide for agencies and organizations providing services and support.
Business support
Tuesday – Wednesday, August 9 – 10, 2022
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Eastern)
Supporting Working Caregivers – A Business Imperative – NY Statewide Conference
Event description: All New York State employers, HR professionals, aging services providers, non-profits, and partners are invited to a free conference on Supporting Caregivers: A Business Imperative.
This program will help businesses who are facing challenges with current employees that have caregiving responsibilities, a situation that impacts one in six employees at an annual cost to businesses of over $50 billion annually.
In person or remote – Register here
Did you know?
New York is one of a handful of states which provides Paid Family Leave in order to care for a family member.
While the challenges and realities of caregiving impact millions of Americans in each and every state, to date there is no federal program dictating such assistance be offered and lawmakers have yet to enact such legislation.
There are specific guidelines, but it is important to know this option may be available to you.
Click here to learn more about what New York State offers.
New York recently enacted a law requiring minimum nursing staffing for care facilities.
This law is already facing push back from many within the care industry, notably nursing homes.
Are you a family caregiver based in New York? Keeping It REAL Caregiving would love to hear some of your experiences of navigating your state’s services and programs: what works? What does not? What could be tweaked to make it better?
Jump into the discussion and share!
Plus: visit our website of the same name, where you’ll find:
**NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 25: Family members of seniors who died in nursing homes of COVID-19 hold a rally and demand Governor Cuomo’s resignation or impeachment, March 25, 2021 in Foley Square, New York City. The New York Governor is accused of increasing the senior death toll by returning sick seniors to their nursing homes, and then under counting the resulting deaths by listing the place of death as a hospital, rather than the senior center where they caught COVID. (Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)
Until next time~
Julia
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