Surviving the Summer Heat with Care
Heat health safety, a live webinar event, and an incredible fellowship opportunity!
Hello KIRC fam!
A few questions for all of you as our focus is on keeping ourselves and others safe during the extreme heat. This week it seems many of us - all across the country - are struggling to get through the heat.
I grabbed the above screen shot several days ago and I thought THAT was bad. NOPE! My high temp for 7.6.24 logged at 111° - OMG - SMH - NOOOOOOOO!
How hot is it where you live? Would love to hear from you - let’s all compare and swap ‘how we stay cool’ stories!
Are you staying hydrated? What is your ‘go to’ cooling off beverage?
Are you checking on friends and neighbors? Any specific steps you have taken?
Are you leaving your pets at home and NOT inside hot cars?
On a lighter note, what are some of your favorite hot weather memes?
We’ll talk a bit more about the heat in a moment, but first…
Caregiver Support Event
We Are Advocates by Default – Presented by Black Family Caregivers
Thursday, July 11, 2024
Event Details:
Keeping It REAL Caregiving and Caring Across Communities will join fellow family caregivers for a supportive, informative, and encouraging live seminar event. Consider this: we are advocates by default!
This online event is hosted by Black Family Caregivers. KIRC is honored to take part as we continue connecting and elevating our voices!
In this group session, Keeping It REAL Caregiving’s Julia Yarbough will discuss the importance of advocacy. Family caregivers take on many duties. One of those tasks is to view ourselves as advocates.
When: Thursday, July 11, 2024
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Pacific // 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Central
Where: Online – join from anywhere via ZOOM – Register for FREE
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwvdeupqz4oGN3mVQB7UdVD0RETwupM8uHG
Fellowship Opportunity (Deadline extended)
Gerontological Society of America
Journalists in Aging Fellowship
The 2024 Program Application Deadline is Friday, July 12.
Details:
The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) and the Journalists Network on Generations are welcoming applications — from journalists who represent general-audience or ethnic/community news outlets in the U.S. and who are covering/wish to cover issues in aging — for the 15th year of the Journalists in Aging Fellows Program.
Support is provided by grants from Silver Century Foundation, The John A. Hartford Foundation, and National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation (NIHCM). More than 800 stories have been produced by 231 alumni over the past 14 years.
By 2030, one-fifth of the country’s population will be age 65+, with the fastest growing segment being ethnic minorities. Older people will soon equal the number of children under 18 as the U.S. becomes an “every generation nation.” The effects of this demographic shift permeate every aspect of American life — with important social, economic, and health implications. As we age, we develop unique needs but also make unique contributions to society.
For more information and to apply, click here
Summer Heat and Safety
Whether you are in California, other states in the west, or many states in the east, you may be experiencing extreme heat conditions.
It is always good to remind ourselves of some of the basics for heat safety.
The California Department of Aging is sharing these resource reminders:
This week, temperatures are expected to hit triple digits in parts of California. Older adults, children under four, people with existing medical conditions, and those without access to air conditioning are most at risk for extreme heat and heat-related illnesses. Here’s a list of trusted resources to keep you and your loved ones safe, healthy, and cool this week and throughout the summer. Please share these resources with your family, friends, and communities.
Extreme Heat Resources:
Monitor the weather forecast in your area by zip code (weather.gov)
Learn how to prevent heat-related illness (Centers for Disease Control)
Find a cooling center near you (Cal OES)
Learn about Heat and Older Adults (Centers for Disease Control)
Be Informed - Extreme Heat (California Department of Public Health)
Heat Ready California (Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications)
Extreme Heat Resource Hub (LISTOS California)
Subscribe to Flex Alerts and help keep the power on in California.
If you are a family caregiver, the last item is especially important. Pay close attention to the weather and heat conditions which might impact energy and/or power outages. Do you have a plan for yourself and your loved ones if you lose power?
Keeping It REAL Caregiving and our non-profit division, Caring Across Communities, Inc. is proud to have been selected as a grantee for the 2024 Power Saver Rewards Program.
Sign up for FREE, and when the state issues a Flex Alert, you’ll be notified to voluntarily reduce energy usage during the Flex Alert and you can earn a credit on your energy bill.
*OUTSIDE OF CALIFORNIA? Check with your local power company, as many states offer similar programs for customers
Just how HOT is it this season and what are the health impacts?
You can add this resource to your arsenal from the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It is a heat tracker, with regular data-driven updates and information all focused on the heat.
And finally…
REAL Caregivers
From fellow journalist and family caregiver Kat McGowen comes this story about dementia care and technology.
Background
I wrote about the roboticists and dementia activists creating "warm technology" that embraces the humanity of people with dementia. The story begins with my own efforts to help my parents live fully as their dementia changed them, and ends up with robot-makers in Indiana and in the Netherlands who forge collaborations with people who have dementia.
My Parents’ Dementia Felt Like the End of Joy. Then Came the Robot
Thanks for being on this Keeping It REAL Caregiving journey and a warm welcome to our new subscribers - glad you are here!
Be sure to check out our video archives for caregiving interviews and stories!
Do you have a unique story or DIY caregiving hack you would like to share? We would love to hear from you! Feel free to drop comments here - OR - consider contributing as a Guest Essayist!
*WERE YOU EXPECTING A PAYWALL? NOPE!
The KIRC newsletter is on a mission to create a more informed and engaged public within the space of aging and caregiving. This is a one-woman, independent journalist effort to create, curate, and share nuggets of knowledge for other caregivers, from the practical, tactical, and emotional aspects of family caregiving. Will you consider supporting our work with a paid subscription and share with your friends!
Until next time~
Julia
