Caregivers Count! 15th Annual Conference
3-Part Series on Saturdays
September 6, 13, and 20, 2025 - 10am to 12pm
Session Descriptions and Speaker Bios
Click Here for 2025 Conference Packet
Click Here for Session Recordings
SESSION 1 - September 6, 2025 - Seven Questions About Transitions That Worry Caregivers (virtual)
Keynote Session 1 Description:
From their first days of caregiving to their last and then afterwards, family caregivers face a series of unfamiliar challenges and difficult questions. They worry about what they should do, how they should do it, and how to get others to work effectively with them. They wonder if they should feel guilty about some of the negative emotions they have. They ask themselves when exhausted how they can find the will to go on. In this highly interactive session with two clinical psychologists, co-authors, and former caregivers, we’ll discuss possible answers to seven of these questions about caregiving’s transitions and then open the discussion to grapple with other pressing questions that attendees have.
Barry J. Jacobs, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist, family therapist, and a healthcare consultant. A former magazine journalist, 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 coauthor with his wife, Julia L. Mayer, PsyD, of AARP Meditations for Caregivers: Practical, Emotional, and Spiritual Support for You and Your Family (Hachette, 2016), AARP Love and Meaning After 50: The 10 Challenges to Great Relationships—and How to Overcome Them (Hachette, 2020), and The AARP Caregiver Answer Book (Guilford, 2025). He has also written a self-help column for caregivers for AARP.org since 2013. An honorary board member of the Well Spouse Association and a former director of behavioral sciences for the Crozer Health Family Medicine Residency, he maintains a psychotherapy practice in Media, Pennsylvania, specializing in supporting individuals with chronic and serious illness and their caregivers.
Barry J. Jacobs, PsyD
Julia L. Mayer, PsyD
Julia L. Mayer, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Media, Pennsylvania, who has specialized for three decades in helping women in caregiver roles, as well as those with troubled marriages and histories of sexual trauma. She is the author of the novel A Fleeting State of Mind (2014) and coauthor of AARP Meditations for Caregivers and AARP Love and Meaning After 50. She is a former president of the board of PSCP—The Psychology Network. Since 2016 she has cohosted the podcast Shrinks on Third on psychology and social justice.
SESSION 2 - September 13, 2025 - Tailoring Care and Support Transitions (virtual)
Session 2 Description:
As our loved one's needs change, so do the services and supports they need. Learn to recognize signs that somebody may need more help, and tips for transitioning through support services.
Vanessa Souza, LCSW
Vanessa is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a focus on supporting older adults. She has a particular interest in ensuring people living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and their family and friends have the knowledge needed to prepare for the future. She has worked as an assisted living administrator, memory care director, and as a social worker in adult day healthcare. Today, she works as the Senior Manager for Community Engagement at the Alzheimer's Association of Northern California and Northern Nevada. Vanessa holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Seattle University and a Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University.
SESSION 3 - September 20, 2025 - Care Transitions and Technology (in-person event)
Session 3 Description:
Join us in-person at the Campbell Community Center where we'll have 2 panel discussions on care transitions and technology by industry experts.
In-Person Event Address:
Campbell Community Center
Roosevelt Room Q-80
1 W. Campbell Ave, Campbell, CA 95008
Click here for a map of Campbell Community Center
Panel Discussion #1:
1. In-Home and Residential Care. Presentation details coming soon.
Dedra Jize, OT, CSA
Dedra Jize holds a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University and is a Certified Senior Advisor and is the Geriatric Care Manager at the Law Office of Litherland, Kennedy & Associates for over ten years. She helps families as they may be struggling with the care or plan for a loved one. This involves assessing (physical, psychological and social health), advocating (not all family members or health professionals agree, assures that the senior’s wishes and voice is being heard) and assisting (providing resources and finding payment options such as Medi-Cal) senior’s and their family members. Combining Geriatric Care Management (GCM) with an Elder Law Attorney under the same roof provides a unique approach to helping seniors and their families.
Katie Cooney,
MA, MBA, CSA
Katie Cooney is a Certified Senior Advisor with a career spanning high-tech, start-ups, non-profits, and senior living. Drawing on her background in counseling, communications, and project management, she helps families navigate senior placement with compassion and expertise. She has worked on-site in senior living communities before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Katie holds a Master’s in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling and an MBA in Global Business from Saint Mary’s College, as well as a BS in Human Development with a minor in Psychology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Her extensive professional network includes trusted partners in home care, hospice, counseling, senior support services, estate and trust law, fiduciary services, real estate, and relocation.
A dedicated community leader, Katie is a past president of the Palo Alto/University Rotary Club, current Rotary District 5170 Vocational Chair, and an active member of Peninsula Executives Association, the Woman’s Club of Palo Alto, and The Thrift Box on Lincoln Avenue. Her global experiences—living in a Japanese orphanage, teaching in a Tibetan children’s village, and participating in eco-tourism efforts in Africa—reflect her lifelong commitment to service. She is also the author of Wrestling the World: The Life and Times of Rodeo Champion Jack Roddy.
Katie lives in Silicon Valley with her rescue dogs, Ajax and Scout, and enjoys swimming, yoga, gardening, photography, and connecting with people wherever she goes.
Panel Discussion #2:
2. Bridging the Tech Divide: Empowering Caregivers with Digital Tools and Practical Low-Tech Solutions
This topic acknowledges the growing role of technology in caregiving while also recognizing that not all caregivers or care recipients are tech-savvy, and that low-tech solutions often remain essential. It emphasizes empowerment, suggesting that the conference will provide actionable strategies for both approaches.
Tools for Enhanced Care Management:
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Caregiving apps for medication reminders, appointment scheduling, and task management (e.g., Google Docs, Google Calendar).
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Telehealth and remote monitoring devices: what's available and how to use them (phone consultation w/PCP, BP monitor with/bluetooth)
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Digital record-keeping and sharing for care coordination ( Mychart)
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Adaptive equipment and assistive devices (e.g., grab bars, specialized eating utensils, dressing aids).
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Home modifications for safety and accessibility (e.g., bedside rails, Ring cameras).
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Communication aids for individuals with cognitive or physical limitations (e.g., communication boards, picture schedules).
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Simple organizational strategies for medications and supplies (pill organizer, medication list w/checklist, medical station)
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DIY low-cost solutions for common caregiving challenges (e.g., brighter, energy efficient lights, non-slip mats, clear pathways)
Trinh D. Nguyen
Trinh D. Nguyen is a highly accomplished and dedicated leader with over 15 years of experience across diverse sectors including commercial, non-profit, corporate, recreation, and health services. He holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Kinesiology with a specialization in exercise physiology from San Jose State University.
As the Manager of the Blanca Alvarado Community Resource Center at Santa Clara Family Health Plan, Trinh has significantly improved healthcare access by establishing a comprehensive resource navigation program with over 50 partners. His expertise includes designing wellness programs, scaling recreation initiatives, and fostering strong partnerships. Trinh is known for his strategic, analytical, and results-focused approach, consistently delivering superior outcomes such as pioneering health and wellness strategies and metrics.
Notably, Trinh collaborated with Stanford and Google on AI-powered dermatology tools, which enhanced patient-provider communication and layperson decision-making through studies involving over 2,500 participants. He is deeply committed to advocating for and promoting accessibility, working to create a more equitable and inclusive society by ensuring marginalized individuals and families have access to essential services like affordable healthcare, food, shelter, and education.
Neil Tantingco
Neil Tantingco has over 24 years in healthcare and technology. He started his career during the dot.com days in Silicon Valley at Netscape, Yahoo and VMware, taking on leadership roles in Sales, Channels and Marketing.
In 2000, Neil left his hi-tech career and acquired an Assisted Living community in Central California, which he remains as co-owner and licensee. It is at Evergreen Residence where Neil began to leverage assistive technology including telehealth and fall safety to improve patient care and staff efficiency. Tantingco founded Connected Home Living in 2015, and currently holds the CEO role where he grew the company in the US and Canada as one of the leading Telehealth and Fall Safety Turn-Key provider, caring for remote patients who prefer to age and heal at home, prolonging the need for more higher and costly care.
Session 1 Recording
Thank you to our Session Sponsor, Sourcewise.
Seven Questions About Transitions That Worry Caregivers
Session 2 Recording
Thank you to our Session Sponsors: Sourcewise, Family Caregiver Alliance, and Santa Clara Family Health Plan
