Improving the caregiver experience for yourself means taking action for all
What advocacy steps are you willing to take? By: Julia Yarbough
Hello KIRC fam~
March is when we recognize Women’s History Month. I would like to propose this: EVERY month of the year women all over our country and globe make history.
They do it in the everyday tasks carried out to ensure their families and communities are strong and healthy. Women who are caregivers know this perhaps even more than others. Keeping It REAL Caregiving extends a huge THANK YOU to all who have been, are, or will be caregivers.
To that end, it is a busy time in the fields of health care, aging, and caregiving. For those of you doing the heavy lifting of caring for a loved one, clearly you know the demands. You may at times feel as if you are all alone and wonder, ‘Does anyone care?’
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First, you are not alone. Platforms like Keeping It REAL Caregiving, and a growing list of individuals sharing information, resources, and support are popping up seemingly daily.
There is also growing awareness and need for action at regional, state, and national levels.
I am happy to share that Keeping It REAL Caregiving (a.k.a. Julia Yarbough) now officially holds a role of State Volunteer aligned with AARP California. I am excited and honored for this opportunity. I’ll share more details as events evolve.
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Since launching this platform three years ago this month, KIRC has grown enough to reach thousands of readers all across the country. THANK YOU for the continued support in this effort!
Plus - a warm welcome to all of our newest subscribers! As you get into the mix, I invite you to drop me a line, leave a comment, offer up suggestions. You might even want to consider becoming a Guest Essayist!
Remember, KIRC hosts online support sessions and informational interviews. We have the unique opportunity to deliver REAL caregiver needs/experiences direclty to those guiding policy.
That point is crucial. Why? Because turning the direction of the caregiving policy ship takes time. I know… it can sometimes feel like an entire lifetime may pass before things change.
As family caregivers many of us can point to a long list of items that need improving, changing, or eliminating - NOW! However, it takes all of us working as advocates to make that change.
It takes gathering data. In other words, putting the daily challenges all of us inherently know, into numbers and charts. (What is REAL to us must be backed up with stats).
It takes writing policy.
It takes getting that policy in front of lawmakers.
It takes those lawmakers understanding and supporting the issue to drive change.
Keeping It REAL Caregiving is also proud and exicted to announce joining the California Family Caregiver Equity Plan Advisory Group. This is a team of researchers at the University of California, Davis. This research will help guide direction of the California Master Plan for Aging.
This is why we must all work together. When you respond to KIRC Calls to Action for information, or sharing your experiences, talking about your needs - I can curate that information and submit it as part of larger data collection processes. So let’s start today with a poll to begin gathering some ‘data.’
I encourage all of you to consider that your role as family caregiver goes much deeper than caring for your loved one. It drives to the reality of your own aging journey.
It is up to us, right now - to ensure the landscape is improved for when we reach the age and point of possibly needing assistance.
Until next time~
Julia
