What
Employers Are Doing To Help Family Caregivers As employees inch their
way back to the office, are employers acknowledging that
caregiving for aging parents, spouses, partners and close
relatives is a front and center concern for their workers? It looks like it. At the very least,
based on my reporting talking with employers, workers and
benefits professionals, the issue is starting to garner
attention. Thank goodness. Sadly, most workers
I've talked to keep any elder
care responsibilities under wraps in
the workplace. The pandemic has made that harder, though. I'm a self-employed
journalist and author and cared for my 91-year-old mother with
dementia last year in my home and am keenly aware of the strain
and responsibility it takes, and how that impacts our work. At
times, I was hanging by a thread. I longed for a service that
could help me find caregiving options near me or provide a helping
hand when I struggled or had questions. |
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From Forbes | July 30, 2021 |
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There’s
an innovation gap in caregiving Caregiving for elders is an ancient practice,
echoing back to the dawn of human history. Although the need
for care may be immutable, the fundamental math involved is
changing. Longevity gains — the triumph of more than a
century’s worth of public health and nutritional victories —
have resulted in a growing population of older adults in
the United States and
many other countries. Meanwhile, the aging of the
sizable baby boomer generation and declining fertility rates
mean that the elder population is growing not only in absolute
terms but also relative to the young. In 2020, there were about
56.1 million people aged 65 or older in the United States — 17
percent of the population. In 2034, there
will be more Americans aged 65 and older than children. These
shifting demographics will lead to a drop in what’s known
as the caregiver support
ratio: the number of adults ages 45 to 64 who are
available to provide care to those 80 and older. Between 1990 and
2010, the caregiver support ratio hovered at around 7
caregivers per care recipient, but by 2030 the ratio is
estimated to decline to 4 to 1, hitting 3 to 1 by 2050. One major caregiving question faced by aging
countries is whether technological innovation can help make up
for the demographic shortfall. It’s a concern not only for
professional caregivers, but also for the 42-million-and-rising Americans
who provide informal care to family members and loved ones. From:
The Boston Globe | July 19, 2021 | |
| 1 in 5
adults are caregivers. Here's how employers can better support
them. While half of Americans have received the
Covid-19 vaccine and businesses continue to reopen, the
pandemic has left a devastating impact on the caregiving
economy, where the industry lost one-third of its workforce. According to AARP, more
than 1 in 5 Americans now identify as caregivers, either
providing for an adult or child with special needs at some
point in the last 12 months. The worsening caregiver crisis has
affected business productivity, turnover and the ability for
employees – especially women – to stay in the promotion
pipeline. In an effort to address this, TIME’S UP CEO Tina
Tchen recently spoke with Know Your Value contributors Daniela
Pierre-Bravo and Cat Rakowski about the advocacy group’s newest
initiative, the Care Economy Business
Council. Launched in May, the growing coalition of more
than 300 Fortune 500 companies, small businesses,
entrepreneurs, and investors has been working to reimagine the
caregiving infrastructure – and make sure women are not held
back in the workforce – through public policy solutions that
center caregiving and advance best practices. From:
NBC News | July 16, 2021 | |
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Powerful
Tools for Caregivers: Virtual Edition July 14 - August 25, 2021 | 6 PM EST | Online The six-week Powerful Tools for Caregivers Program
helps people who are caring for an aging loved one. This could be
a parent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, neighbor or friend. This
virtual, interactive workshop will help caregivers learn
techniques to help them take care of themselves while taking care
of a loved one, manage stress and understand the complex emotions
that often come with caregiving. The class will help you: · Find
resources · Learn
relaxation techniques · Manage
emotions, including depression, guilt and resentment · Find
confidence in dealing with the demands of caregiving Click
the red link below to learn more and register by calling (833)
262-2200 or email wellnessprograms@aaa1b.org. |
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C-TAC
Policy Update Webinar August 4, 2021| 2 PM EST | Online The current political landscape has created a
unique policy window to significantly improve care for those
living with serious illness. Join us on August 4th from 2:00pm - 3:00pm ET as
our team of policy experts dive into the implications of the
legislative and executive branch's priorities as they pertain to
serious illness. C-TAC's involvement in various regulatory and
legislative effort have ranged from commenting on major proposed
rules on behalf of those living with serious illness to helping
draft new bills for their care. You won't want to miss out on
this opportunity to hear about our current policy and advocacy
efforts! Topics include: · Advance
care planning access via interoperability efforts · The
impact of recently proposed regulatory rules on care for those
with serious illness · Opportunities
for enhanced payment models Click here to
register for the webinar, Click on the red button below to learn
more. |
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The Circle
of Care Guidebook for Caregivers of Children with Rare and/or
Serious Illnesses Release Webinar August 5, 2021 | 2 PM EST | Online This webinar will introduce the National Alliance
for Caregiving's new resource, The Circle of Care Guidebook
for Caregivers of Children with Rare and/or Serious Illnesses.
Created with support from Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals and in
partnership with Global Genes, this guidebook provides
specialized information, support and website links to various
resources for caregivers of children with rare and/or serious
illnesses. Click
the red link below to learn more and click HERE to
register. |
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Building
and Maintaining Relationships After a Dementia Diagnosis:
Dementia Care Partners and Social Isolation (webinar) August 24, 2021 | 1 PM EST | Online Social isolation has a detrimental impact on the
millions of persons living with dementia and their care partners
in the United States. Conversely, we generally see greater
satisfaction with support when emotional and social support are
present for the caregiving dyad. In this webinar, the presenters
will discuss the importance of emotional and social support, why
it may “dry up” after diagnosis, why dyads may self-isolate, and
propose some ideas for the families to foster support. Participants in this webinar will be able to: · Understand
the importance of emotional and social support for care partners
of people living with dementia; · Become
familiar with the difference facets of isolation that often
occurs with dementia and cognitive impairment; · Be able to
critically think about preparing families and care partners of
people living with dementia to reduce the frequency and impact of
isolation; and · Be able to
identify actionable items to recommend to care partners of people
living with dementia. Click here to
register for the webinar, Click on the red button below to learn
more. |
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Submit
Nominations to Health Information Technology Advisory
Committee (HITAC) Deadline: August 24, 2021 The 21st Century Cures Act established HITAC to
provide recommendations to the National Coordinator for Health
Information Technology on policies, standards, implementation
specifications, and certification criteria relating to the
implementation of a health information technology infrastructure
that advances the electronic access, exchange, and use of health
information. The Act gave the Comptroller General of the United
States, head of the General Accountability Office (GAO),
responsibility for appointing a portion of HITAC’s members. GAO is now accepting nominations for HITAC
appointments. From these nominations, GAO expects to appoint at
least five new HITAC members, focusing especially on health care
providers, ancillary health care workers, health information
technology developers, and patient advocates. Members serve
3-year terms beginning January 1, 2022, with the terms subject to
renewal. Interested
nominees should submit letters of nominations and resumes to HITCommittee@gao.gov by August
24, 2021. |
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Caring
For Those Who Care: Meeting The Needs Of Hispanic Caregivers
(webinar) August 26, 2021 | 2 PM EST | Online This webinar will help providers further their
understanding of the experiences of Hispanic caregivers, and
improve their multicultural capacities to meet these caregivers’
needs. This webinar is part of the cultural competency training
curriculum created by the staff of the Diverse Elders Coalition
and its six member organizations, with the support of a grant
from The John A. Hartford Foundation. Much of the research and many of the statistics
cited in the training were the result of a 15-month planning
grant, during which the coalition completed a literature review,
a survey of diverse family caregivers and a series of focus
groups with family caregivers in diverse communities. The
research was conducted nationwide, in eight languages, and was
led by the older adults and caregivers represented by the
coalition. Participants in this webinar will be able to: · Identify
and address the unique needs and caregiving realities of Hispanic
caregivers; · Gain an
understanding of how culture impacts Hispanic caregivers’
perceptions of care and their health outcomes; and, · Develop
skills to deliver Hispanic–competent, person-directed care to
improve health outcomes among Hispanic caregivers. To
register for this webinar, click here. To
learn more, click on the red button below.. |
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The
Arc’s 2021 National Convention will be held in New Orleans from
September 27 - 29 Deadline to register at standard rate: August 27, 2021 The Arc’s National Convention is an unmatched
opportunity to connect and learn with advocates, professionals,
people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and
their families. If you are interested in employment, education,
advocacy, housing, criminal justice, and more – our sessions are
sure to challenge, inspire, and motivate! To learn
more about the convention click on the button below. Click here
to register. |
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The
National Home-Based Primary Care Learning Network is
accepting applications for its year-long participatory learning
experience Deadline to apply: August 30, 2021 The goal of the Learning Network is to
improve the care provided to homebound patients while promoting a
culture of better care and continuous learning in home based
medical care practices. The Learning Network experience starts and ends
with in-person meetings commencing and concluding the program.
Between in-person meetings, the Learning Network will facilitate
a series of video conference interactive learning sessions,
technical assistance, and access to web-based quality improvement
tools. Teams will complete an initial assessment of their current
practice, identify opportunities for improvement, and will work
between learning sessions to meet their aims. To apply for this program, click here. To
learn more about it, click the button below. |
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IN CASE YOU
MISSED IT... |
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Experiences
in Caregiving during COVID-19: What have we
learned? Watch this webinar presented by AGE-WELL
NCE about the experiences in caregiving, and how the pandemic has
affected caregivers. What has the last year taught us―and what
can make it easier for people who care for family members and
friends? Speakers: -- Ron Beleno, Caregiver Advocate, Chair of
AGE-WELL’s Older Adult and Caregiver Advisory Committee -- Dr. Janet Fast, Professor, Department of Human
Ecology, University of Alberta and AGE-WELL researcher -- Catherine Suridjan, Director of Policy and
Knowledge Translation, Canadian Home Care Association and Carers
Canada Moderator: Nora Spinks, CEO, The Vanier
Institute of the Family Click below to view the video. |
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The ability to take time off when we’re sick and
need to rest. To accompany a loved one to a dialysis appointment.
To spend time with a newborn or adopted child. Some of us have
this option, but far too many people in the United States do not. The National Partnership for Women & Families
brought together cross-sector business leaders who have been
advocating for paid leave — Airbnb, Levi’s, Patagonia, Seven
Seven Six, Sun Life, Thinx, ThirdLove, Brew HaHa! (a main street
business in Delaware), and Melinda French Gates. The message is loud and clear from business
leaders: no one should have to choose between our families and
our jobs — and paid leave is what every business needs to thrive. Watch our new video as
these leaders each share why they think ensuring all workers can
take time off work to care for themselves or a loved one is why
the time is now for paid leave. And join them in
the call for paid leave for all. Click here to
learn more or click on the red button below to view the video. |
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Dementia
care providers database |
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Best Practice Caregiving is a free online
database of proven dementia programs for family caregivers. It
offers a searchable, interactive, national database of vetted,
effective programs that offer much-needed information and
support. The database is an invaluable tool for healthcare and
community-based organizations, as well as funders and policy
makers to discover and share high quality programs for
caregivers. In the Best Practice database you will find
detailed information about: · focus of
each program · (e.g.,
reducing stress, understanding dementia, planning care,
skill-building, health & wellness, etc.) · program
implementation · research
findings · direct
utilization experiences of delivery sites · program
developer information. Click here to
learn more about the database or click the button below to access
it. |
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Home is
where the care is |
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What if you were one of the 2 million adults who are
homebound in the United States? Wouldn’t you want care to come to
you? With the nation’s older adult population increasing,
home-based primary care is quickly becoming the future of health
care for patients who are medically complex. New resources share
needed information about delivering primary care in the home: · The Better
Care Playbook’s Home-Based Primary Care Collection provides
research, resources and tools for delivering care at home.
The collection includes blogs from Rush@Home detailing its care
model elements and implementation insights, and the Department of Veterans Affairs highlighting
its successful program. · A Home Centered Care Institute (HCCI) House
Calls 101 course offers a simulated educational
experience to help you get started with home-based primary care. Click here to the
online course. Click the button below to browse the collection. |
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Report:
The United States should recognize and support caregiving youth |
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In the United States, more than 5.4 million
children and adolescents under age 18 provide care for family
members who are aging or have chronic illness, disability, or
other health conditions that require assistance. In this policy study published in the Society for
Research in Child Development's Social Policy Report, the
authors describe youth’s care for the family and highlight the
increasing prevalence, global challenges, and uneven successes of
measurement and categorization. They briefly summarize research
on how caregiving affects youth’s academic, social, and emotional
well-being. Next, they present novel, emerging evidence from the
public school-based 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey for the State
of Florida, which suggests that as many as 24% of middle school
students and 16% of high school students provide at least some
care to the family on a regular basis. Drawing on this evidence,
the authors' discuss targeted social programs which have been
shown to promote the well-being of caregiving youth outside of
the United States, as well as a 13-year-old school-based intervention
in The School District of Palm Beach County, Florida. The report concludes with specific recommendations
for a path toward recognizing and supporting caregiving youth via
policy and practice in the United States. Its aim is to increase
the awareness and feasibility of identifying and supporting
caregiving youth and their families via government-organized data
collection and targeted social policies. |
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Rosalynn
Carter Institute Report: Caregiving
in Military Families The Rosalynn Carter Institute (RCI) has
released a new report that
highlights the challenges experienced by the military-connected
caregiver population, in partnership with Blue Star Families
(BSF) , the nation’s largest non-profit dedicated to supporting
military families. The new research sheds light on the burdens
faced by caregivers in military families experience, including
greater financial stress, mental health challenges, and
inadequate sleep compared to their civilian counterparts. |
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Search.
Find. Help. Connecting Organizations To Resources
That Help Older Adults And Their Caregivers
During Emergencies |
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Today, a new resource is available to help leaders
and staff at organizations serving community-dwelling older
adults and their caregivers find resources to support these
populations during public health emergencies. Search.
Find. Help. is a searchable online library that connects
organizations to approximately 300 existing resources that can
help older adults and caregivers—ranging from tip sheets to
prepare older adults for public health emergencies to tools to
identify individuals in a community who need support following a
disaster. The resources focus on addressing social isolation,
chronic conditions, elder abuse and neglect, caregiver support,
delayed medical care and emergency preparedness. Search. Find. Help. was born out of the need to
connect organizations to existing resources that can help older
adults and their caregivers before, during, and after an
emergency. A recent formative research study found
hundreds of resources that could help older adults and their
caregivers—but there was a need to centralize the resources and
connect them to organizations that could use them. Search. Find.
Help. organizes hundreds of resources and offers easy-to-use
search features for organizations to identify and learn more
about resources that can meet the needs of their populations. |
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New
Materials on COVID-19 Vaccination for People With IDD
and Caregivers |
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COVID-19 is challenging to explain, live through,
and communicate about. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention’s (CDC) National Center on Birth Defects and
Developmental Disabilities has developed a new set of COVID-19
vaccine materials specifically designed for people with IDD who
have extreme low literacy and their caregivers. These free
materials use simple illustrations and easy-to-read messages to
explain how to get a COVID-19 vaccine. |
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2021
Global State of Caring Report |
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The International Alliance of Carer
Organizations’s 2021 Global State of Care report provides an
in-depth profile of the issues, approaches, policies, and
innovations that are needed to support carers. It profiles
the carer policies and practices in 18 countries. This
interacting tool features carer initiatives addressing six
universal carer priorities: · Recognition:
Legislation and awareness campaigns · Financial
support: Income support, pensions, and benefits · Work
and education: Carer-friendly workplaces and educational
initiatives · Health
and well-being: Health and social supports · Information
and knowledge: Resources and education · Evidence-informed
practices: Innovative policies and practices |
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AHEAD
Study Join a
trial that aims to help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, funded
by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Eisai Inc.,
which is testing an investigational treatment aimed at delaying
memory loss before noticeable signs of Alzheimer’s disease begin. |
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LEAF:
Life Enhancing Activities for Family Caregivers |
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Researchers
at UCSF and Northwestern University are testing a program for
family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's
Disease designed to increase levels of positive emotion,
which in turn can help lower stress and support ways of coping
with the stresses of caregiving. Click the red link below to learn more and click HERE to take
the pre-screening survey. | |
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Veteran
User Experience Research Study |
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Are you
a Veteran? Active duty or Reserves? A caregiver? A family member?
The Department of Veterans Affairs wants to make it easier for
you to explore, apply for, manage, and track your VA benefits.
Teams at the VA want to hear your feedback about improvements
they are making to VA websites, mobile applications, and other
digital tools -- to ensure that these services are usable and
relevant for you. Click the
red link below to learn more and click HERE to
register. |
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NEW
Centralized Guidebook for Caregivers of Children and Adolescents
with Crohn’s Disease |
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The
National Alliance for Caregiving is proud to present a Circle
of Care Guidebook for Caregivers of Children and Adolescents
Managing Crohn’s Disease, a new resource designed to help
caregivers navigate their journey caring for a child or
adolescent with Crohn’s disease. The centralized guidebook offers
effective information and tools that have helped other caregivers
in similar situations. If you or someone you know cares for a
child or adolescent living with Crohn’s disease, make sure to
check out the guidebook at www.caregiving.org/guidebooks. You’ll
learn about: · Everyday
tips on caring for a child or adolescent with Crohn’s disease; · Understanding
Crohn’s disease from a medical perspective; · Information
on treatment and care coordination; · Understanding
the cost of care and access; · Empowering
your child to manage their Crohn’s disease; and · Caring
for yourself and your family. There is
also a section with a comprehensive list of other online and
print resources for caregivers, the child living with Crohn’s
disease, and his or her family that are referenced throughout the
guidebook. Visit www.caregiving.org/guidebooks to
learn more and access important resources. The
guidebook was developed with support from The
Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. | |
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The John
A. Hartford Foundation's Dissemination Center |
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Employers play a vital societal role by providing
employment, work experience, employee benefits, and the ability
for workers to save and invest for a secure retirement. This
report examines the pandemic's impact on employers across
company, their response, and timely opportunities. A strong
employee benefits package, including retirement benefits, health
insurance, workplace wellness programs, and caregiver support,
can create a win-win situation for employers and their employees.
Especially now, as our nation is emerging from the pandemic,
employers need support from policymakers to continue paving the
way for their recovery and to make it as easy as possible to
enhance their business practices and expand their benefits
offerings. |
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Navigating
the Pandemic: A Survey of U.S. Employers |
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Employers play a vital societal role by providing
employment, work experience, employee benefits, and the ability
for workers to save and invest for a secure retirement. This
report examines the pandemic's impact on employers across
company, their response, and timely opportunities. A strong
employee benefits package, including retirement benefits, health
insurance, workplace wellness programs, and caregiver support,
can create a win-win situation for employers and their employees.
Especially now, as our nation is emerging from the pandemic,
employers need support from policymakers to continue paving the
way for their recovery and to make it as easy as possible to
enhance their business practices and expand their benefits
offerings. |
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The American Society on Aging has released a
12-week webcast series that will feature interviews with diverse
legendary pathfinders who have spent decades in the field of
aging, health and social services. Each interview will be
conducted by Ken Dychtwald, to capture the wisdom and character
of gerontology’s pioneers to inform, inspire and guide current
and future professionals in the fields of aging and related
services for years to come. | |
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Can We
Talk About Caregiving? Tips to Support Family Caregivers |
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Caregivers are an essential part of our healthcare
system. Many people, though, don’t see themselves as a
“caregiver” and, as a result, don’t realize the critical role
that they play. Here are five tips to help caregivers recognize
their role, learn about the resources that can support their
specific needs and feel more prepared for the challenges of
caregiving. | |
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Brain
Guide By UsAgainstAlzheimer's |
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UsAgainstAlzheimer's
has released a new resource for you and your
family's brain health. It’s never too late to take action on
brain health. BrainGuide is a
first-of-its-kind platform that empowers people with knowledge
and resources to take the best next steps in managing their own
or a loved one’s brain health. The
BrainGuide memory questionnaire does not provide a diagnosis, but
it can help guide you toward information and resources that
inform the next best steps you or a loved one can take. No
information is recorded or shared with anyone other than the
person completing the questionnaire. The BrainGuide memory
questionnaire can be completed as a self-administered
questionnaire or filled out by a caregiver or someone close to
you. Questionnaires are not recorded or shared with anyone other
than the individual completing the questionnaire. Click
the red link below to take the memory questionnaire. | |
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FOLLOW US
TO STAY CURRENT ON CAREGIVING! |
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