4 simple steps to let a caregiver know you care!
Hello Keeping It REAL Caregiving family!
A belated THANK YOU to honor all the caregivers out there, as this past Friday, February 17, 2023 we marked National Caregivers Day!
Your correspondent was traveling for work this past week, clear on the other side of the country in Delaware. I was at 30,000 feet most of Friday returning to California.
National statistics indicate there are 53 million family caregivers in our country. Those of us who are living the role understand what that reality means. We are more than just numbers. Caregiving impacts every aspect of our lives.
So, thank you for:
Caring for others
Meeting daily needs
Running errands
Losing sleep
Tackling the shopping, cleaning, and food prep
Scheduling doctor’s appointments and managing medications
And really, the list goes on and on. I have lived it – I know.
Each and every one of you is appreciated. Stay strong and keep your spirits high. I promise you – whatever challenges you are going through now, you will one day look back and be so incredibly thankful you had the opportunity to care for your loved one.
For those of you who are not caregivers, there are some simple steps you can take to make a difference.
Take this opportunity to lend a hand to someone who is a caregiver.
Offer to run errands for them.
Sit with their loved one or better yet, visit and just ‘be’ with them!
For no reason at all, tell them ‘THANK YOU.’
Let a caregiver know you recognize them and honor their commitment to a loved one or friend by being an excellent friend. Offer to help ‘before’ they ask.
Now, a couple of upcoming events and ‘need to know’ tidbits KIRC believes might be worthwhile. Carve out the time to sign up and take part. Your voices and input are needed!
Friday, February 21, 2023
11:00 AM Pacific
Using California’s Home Safe Program to Get and Keep Older Adults Housed
Event description: Home Safe is a program that provides housing services and resources for Adult Protective Services (APS) eligible clients who need to stabilize their current housing, find alternative safe housing, or get help to become housed. Home Safe is overseen by the CA Department of Social Services and administered at the county level.
This one-hour webinar will cover the expanded eligibility and funding available for the Home Safe Program, and how APS eligible clients and those in the intake process can get a wide range of services and assistance to stabilize their housing.
Registration is limited to the first 1,000 participants.
Did you know?
For those of you approaching the age of enrolling for Medicare coverage, or if you are helping a loved one navigate their enrollment, there are some changes you should know about.
Ongoing advocacy efforts of Justice in Aging have made an impact in the form of the BENES Act.
From JIA: On January 1, new rules took effect that will help people eligible for Medicare avoid gaps in coverage and costly late enrollment penalties.
To learn more of what these changes mean for you and your loved ones, click here to read the National Center On Law & Elder Rights practice guide.
California Bay Area Aging & Housing Event
Friday, February 24, 2023
8:45 AM – 12:30 PM PST
Making a Difference in 2023: Striving for Equity at the Intersection of Health, Housing and Aging in the Community
Hosted by: Senior Services Coalition of Alameda County
Event description: In 2023, CalAIM expands its populations of focus to include people who are in – or at risk of entering – long-term care facilities. How can we embrace this opportunity to rewrite the maps that lead too many older people to unnecessary institutionalization? How might we address the historic inequities that leave so many without home and support?
Register for this FREE event here
Looking ahead
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
6:00 PM Eastern
The Future of Paid Leave
Event description: Join Family Values @ Work Executive Director Josephine Kalipeni and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) for a community townhall to discuss the 30th anniversary of the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the reintroduction of federal paid leave legislation.
KIRC would like to thank our family members who regularly read our newsletter and say ‘welcome’ to new members.
This journey remains an evolving ‘work in progress’ and as such, I am exploring some upcoming changes to the format and frequency of publication. There are several exciting developments taking place and I’ll fill you in on those later this week. Some of these changes will provide greater opportunity for you to share YOUR voices for advocacy and awareness!
*Note: In between newsletters, be sure to stay connected! Join and follow my Facebook Page at Julia Yarbough Media Group.
Until next time~
Julia
Like our content? We invite you to leave a comment and say hello!