CAPS
and National Alliance for Caregiving Cosponsor Forum and Town Meeting
on Family Caregivers
Children of Aging Parents and
the National Alliance for Caregiving sponsored a one day special program
entitled: Meeting the Needs of Family Caregivers-Today and Tomorrow: A
Forum and Town Meeting held prior to the First Joint Conference of the
American Society on Aging and the National Council on the Aging in New
Orleans, Louisiana. The event was generously funded by the AXA Foundation.
Over 170 leaders in caregiving
support from around the country participated and represented Area Agencies
on Aging, non-profit and proprietary caregiver support providers, the
newest dot. com initiatives, policy advisors, government agencies, foundations
and health systems.
Pulitzer prize nominated author,
Beth Witrogen McLeod, author of Caregiving: The Spiritual Journey of Love,
Loss and Renewal, opened with a keynote address which centered on the
journey of the caregiver and the importance of self care and reflection
during that journey.
A session entitled Does Virtual
Caregiving Meet the Needs of Real Caregivers? included presentations by
Kathleen Kelly, MPA of the Family Caregiver Alliance, Danny Cher, MD of
CareThere.com, Peter Juhn, MD of Carepanion.com, and John Geoghegan of
CareGuide.com. The discussion reviewed the latest advances in on line
caregiving assistance and emphasized the importance of integrating high
touch with high tech.
Robyn L. Golden, MA, LCSW of
the Council for Jewish Elderly in Chicago provided a review of innovative
programs across the country during a presentation entitled: Innovation
and Inspiration: Latest and Greatest Caregiver Programs. At the state
level, government agencies and other service providers are collaborating
or creating innovative means of assistance for caregivers. Successful
programs established in several states were reviewed. The presentation
ended by advocating for those in attendance to become aware of state provided
assistance and to advocate for caregiver support.
Lynn Friss Feinberg of the
Family Caregiver Alliance provided an overview of the need for caregiver
advocacy and of existing public policy initiatives during a presentation
entitled: Shaping Caregiving Policy: The Legislative and Advocacy Agenda.
An emphasis on the incorporation of the family perspective into future
policy is essential according to Ms. Friss Feinberg. She issued a call
to action, which inspired those in attendance to return to their communities
and advocate on behalf of family caregivers.
During the luncheon, several
new initiatives were announced including:
- a national PBS(Public Broadcasting
System) series on family caregiving scheduled for Broadcast in the Fall
of 2002 being created by Wiland-Bell Productions
- a web site, CaregiversCount.com
that enables communication on the latest advocacy and policy issues.
- first research findings
by The Caregivers Advisory Panel (TCAP) which focuses on research with
caregivers to gather meaningful information on caregiver needs and communicate
that information to product manufacturers and service providers.
- the Third International
Carers meeting which will be held in Washington, DC in October 2002
and hosted by the National Alliance for Caregiving.
- distribution of a CD entitled,
Where do we find the music? produced by Dick Wilson in association with
the Saint Paul area Council of Churches
The most important part of
the day followed. Participants gathered approached the microphones around
the room and shared what they see as priorities for the future. Among
those comments shared were:
- The importance of increasing
awareness of the caregiver in American society.
- The need to help family
caregivers as they face barriers of chronic or terminal disease
- The enhancement of assessment
practices which help to define caregiver need
- Advocacy for increased fiscal
resources dedicated to caregiving
- Collaboration between the
many organizations providing assistance and care to the caregivers
- Need to aid corporations
around the country to assist the working caregiver
- The need for programs which
provide skills training to caregivers
- The need to continue to
promote the story of the caregiver in meaningful ways
- A focus on the family in
the creation of policy and delivery of care
- The need for intergenerational
education programs to promote the needs of persons in need of care.
And help remove the stigma experienced by caregivers.
- Need for enhanced funding
to aid those caring for persons with mental challenges
- Recognition of the different
types of caregiving characterized by age and situation.
Children of Aging Parents was
pleased to join with other national organizations in continuing to identify
effective ways to address the needs of family caregivers. We are grateful
to all that participated in this noteworthy event.
If anyone is interested in
further information please contact Brian Duke at the CAPS office, 215-945-6900.
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