This week ahead: California raising the bar on aging awareness, the scientific voice of Covid-19, climate reminders and more
The KIRC round-up of news nuggets you can use: week of September 12-18, 2022
Hello KIRC family!
There’s no time like well… NOW, to think about being prepared for whatever may come your way. As caregivers it pays to think ahead and have a plan.
National Preparedness Month
Whether you live in an area prone to wildfires (like your correspondent, based in Northern California), along the coastlines where hurricanes often churn, or regions which experience flooding, remember: do not take Mother Nature for granted.
September is National Preparedness Month
You’ve heard me say this before, but if you are a family caregiver, I urge you think ahead and pack a ‘go bag’ for you and your loved ones, especially if you care for an older person.
Consider essential items such as: additional clothing, a pair of shoes, toiletries, perhaps a two to three day supply of any medications, adult diapers, hand sanitizer, body cleansing wipes and liquid soap.
During the thick of my caregiving, I also made sure to keep several jugs of water in the car at all times.
I didn't just talk about being prepared. I took action! I prepared a ‘go bag’ for myself and a second specifically for Miss Nellie.
At the time, I was thinking about the reality of wildfire. I knew if there was an emergency there would be no time to grab anything.
Not sure where to start? Check out this information from ready.gov/plan
Discuss your needs and responsibilities and how people in the network can assist each other with communication, care of children, business, pets or specific needs like operating medical equipment. Create your own personal network for specific areas where you need assistance. Keep in mind some these factors when developing your plan:
*Different ages of members within your household
*Responsibilities for assisting others
*Locations frequented
*Dietary needs
*Medical needs including prescriptions and equipment
*Disabilities or access and functional needs including devices and equipment
*Languages spoken
*Cultural and religious considerations
*Pets or service animals
*Households with school-aged children
With extreme temperatures gripping many parts of the country, also be sure to educate yourselves about heat related illnesses paying close attention to older individuals.
Learn more information about extreme heat here
Looking ahead, to later this month on Tuesday, September 27th, 2022. The California Department of Insurance will hold a special town hall to discuss ways all of us can and should think about preparing before there is an emergency.
Register for this upcoming event here
Thursday, September 15, 2022
10:00 AM Pacific
Alzheimer’s and Money Management
Online event
Hosted by the Inland Caregiver Resource Center
Event description: How much do you know about managing money? In this workshop, the Alzheimer’s Association will help you learn about the costs of caregiving and the benefits of early planning, and teach you how to avoid financial abuse and fraud.
Nursing home problems -what should we do?
There is new information out from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that should give all of us a moment of pause. Their work is shining a light on practices of some facilities to collect fees for services; practices which may not even be legal.
How can we protect ourselves and what steps can we take? Check out this guide shared via Justice in Aging. I downloaded this material for review and I can tell you, it is filled with valuable guidance. Take the time to download, print and save this informaiton!
25 Common Nursing Home Problems – and How to Resolve Them
California leading the way in the field of aging
Next week, Keeping It REAL Caregiving will be joining stakeholders from around the state (and country) for the California for All Ages and Abilities Day of Action event.
What is this event and who should take part?
Join the California Master Plan for Aging stakeholders to elevate Aging, Disability, and Equity in statewide cross-sector planning to achieve the Governor's vision of a California for ALL. You are invited to be part of the progress as we envision 21st century readiness for the Golden State.
Register and join us on September 20th for a full day of conversations with national and state leaders in aging and disability, presentations by the MPA stakeholder committees, as well as a call to action as we enter into years three and four of the Master Plan for Aging.
Here’s the great news. So many people have registered that in-person attendance is now closed but you can join the event from anywhere, because it will be live streamed from the state capitol, Sacramento.
You can register here to get information on that live stream
From COVID to Monkeypox: A Conversation with Dr. Anthony Fauci
Save the date because the man who became a household name and face as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci, will be joining health reporters for a conversation and we are all invited.
Tuesday, October 4, 2022
11:00 AM - 11:45 AM Pacific
Hosted by USC Annenburg Center for Health Journalism
Event description: The nation's top infectious disease specialist will join us for a conversation with national health reporter Dan Diamond of The Washington Post. We’ll talk about the evolving threat posed by monkeypox, the current state of the COVID pandemic, and broader lessons on how we respond to emerging diseases.
In case you missed it
KIRC would like to give another shout-out to the September Keeping It REAL Caregiving Caregiver of the Month.
If you missed this update, check it out here:
A son's love like no other - Introducing the KIRC September Caregiver of the Month
And finally…
I would like to say thank you to all of you who reached out to offer condolences for the loss of my beloved KitKat and also having to saying goodbye to my quirky, fun and lovable chickens.
My heart is still broken, but it is healing. I appreciate all of you!
A caregiver no more: What happens when you lose your entire family in 24-hours?
🐓🐓🐓🐓🐓
Thanks also to all of you who have subscribed to and read this newsletter.
Feedback is welcome and feel free to jump into the discussion box with questions, ideas, and suggestions for future coverage!
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Until next time~
Julia
