Caregivers Count! 13th Annual Conference
Virtual Event - 4 Part Series
September 9, 16, 23 and 30, 2023 - 10am to 12pm
Session Descriptions and Speaker Bios
Click Here for 2023 Conference Packet
Click Here for 2023 Session Recordings
SESSION 1 - September 9, 2023 - Keynote: Making Tender Memories: How Family Caregivers Can Connect with Others and Replenish Themselves
Session 1 Description:
Family caregiving is often described as a difficult time of tasks, frustration, and burnout. But caregivers can create moments of tenderness with their care receivers through simple gestures of affection that will become cherished memories. In this webinar with Barry J. Jacobs, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist, author, and healthcare consultant, we’ll discuss how connecting emotionally in this way can rekindle caregivers’ sense of purpose and replenish their energies.
Dr. Barry J. Jacobs is a Philadelphia area-based clinical psychologist and family therapist whose passion for enhancing support for family caregivers led him to author several books and dozens of articles on the topic as well as present and speak nationally and internationally to organizations, associations, and providers.
He is the author of The Emotional Survival Guide for Caregivers—Looking After Yourself and Your Family While Helping an Aging Parent (Guilford, 2006) and co-author of AARP Meditations for Caregivers—Practical, Emotional and Spiritual Support for You and Your Family (Da Capo, 2016), and Love and Meaning After 50—The 10 Challenges to Great Relationships and How to Overcome Them (Hachette, 2020). He also writes a monthly self-help column for family caregivers for AARP.org.
Dr. Jacobs has given more than 700 presentations about caregiving for family caregivers, community groups, and medical and mental health professionals. He is an honorary board member of the Well Spouse Association and was previously a national spokesperson on family caregiving for the American Heart Association. In 2017, he appeared on “The Dr. Phil Show” as a family caregiving expert.
Dr. Barry J Jacobs
AARP
SESSION 2 - September 16, 2023 - Ambiguous Loss: Coping with Grief That Occurs before a Loss
Session 2 Description:
We will explore the dynamics of Ambiguous Loss and how it manifests in our behaviors, emotions, and our thoughts. We've established tools to manage this loss and we will discuss ways towards health through acknowledging, expressing, acting and reconnecting.
Dr. Janet Childs
AAETS Diplomate
For 47 years, Janet Childs has been actively providing crisis intervention counseling and education focusing on the dynamics of loss, illness, crisis and grief. As a founding member of the Centre for Living with Dying, born in 1976, Janet has worked with thousands of individuals, groups and professionals on the front lines. Janet has provided educational programs for healthcare providers, first responders, law enforcement, fire and EMS as well as social services personnel. Janet is a founder of the Bay Area Critical Incident Stress Management Team. She has personally facilitated response to many major critical incidents such as 9-11, the Garlic Festival Shootings and most recently, the COVID 19 Pandemic and the VTA Mass shooting. She is the co-author of the book, Experiential Action Methods: Tools for Healing Grief and Loss Related Trauma: Life Death and Transformation. Combining her personal and professional experience with loss, she creates a safe and healing environment to gently examine these difficult life issues.
SESSION 3 - September 23, 2023 - Caring for Someone Who Didn't Care for You
Session 3 - Description:
It's not uncommon for family caregivers to provide care for someone they have a difficult relationship with. Whether you're caring for someone who may have a more difficult personality, or someone who has been abusive in the past, these complicated relationships can make the caregiving journey even more challenging. There are many reasons why someone may step in to care for a family member who did not care for or support them, and these caregiving experiences can bring up many emotions while trying to navigate their care needs. Angela will discuss with participants practices to cope with these caregiving dynamics and approaches caregivers can take to support their own well-being.
Angela Dickson, MSW, CMC
Aurora Care Management & Consulting LLC
Angela is a dynamic and proficient Social Worker, possessing more than 15 years of knowledge and real-world experience in Elder Care. Combined with a lifelong passion for helping seniors, she uses her considerable talents to help meet a range of needs – from resolving short-term crises to successfully managing long-term care plans focused on wellbeing and independence.
She began working with the aging population at the age of sixteen within an Independent Living environment, which drove her to continue her education - first a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, then a Master’s degree in the same field. Angela has augmented her skillset over the years, developing a strong background in both inpatient and outpatient services while providing ongoing case management and crisis intervention to populations in need throughout the developmental spectrum.
Angela has obtained her Care Management Certification (CMC) through the National Academy of Certified Care Managers and is a current member of the Aging Life Care Association. Angela is continuously working toward advancing her skillset to best assist the geriatric population.
SESSION 4 - September 30, 2023 - Making the Most Out of Your Medical Visit
Session 4 - Description:
How to talk to your doctor about Dementia typically feels like an overwhelming topic. We will discuss how to organize your questions and concerns to make the visit as valuable as possible. It is important to create a list of targeted questions most appropriate for a physician such as the diagnosis, course and progression and type of treatment options available. The need for other specialists should be reviewed as well as asking for a referral to community groups that can provide advice, support and respite services. Your doctor is a great resource for medical and health information, but other people can provide support and education as well. Knowing what to ask your doctor will help you organize your thoughts and address your loved ones care needs.
Dr. Melinda Lantz
Chair of Psychiatry, NYC Health and Hospital, Lincoln Hospital
On July 1, Dr. Lantz moved into her new position of Chair of Psychiatry at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx, NY, part of NYC Health and Hospital. Previously she was Chief of Geriatric Psychiatry at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center.
Session 1 Recording
Thank you to our Session Sponsor, AARP California.
To enter AARP California Caregivers Count Sweepstakes 2023, click here.
Making Tender Memories In Caregiving
Session 2 Recording
Thank you to our Session Sponsor, Santa Clara Family Health Plan
Ambiguous, Anticipatory & Disenfranchised Grief/Loss The Art of Compassion for Caregivers
Session 3 Recording
Thank you to our Session Sponsor, Family Caregiver Alliance
Caring for Someone Who Didn't Care for You
Session 4 Recording
Thank you to our Session Sponsor, Sourcewise
