We invited Denise M. Brown to author an article for Senior Care Corner® because we believe her conference is a valuable opportunity and resource for family caregivers. In addition, in the article she offers a number of resources family caregivers will find valuable sources of support now and in the future.
Denise began working with family caregivers in 1990 and launched CareGiving.com in 1996 to help and support them. She’s the author of several books including The Caregiving Years, Six Stages to a Meaningful Journey.
We often hear that we need to take regular breaks from our caregiving responsibilities. Often those suggested breaks include ideas for self-care which mostly focus on pampering.
Pampering is more than manicures and pedicures.
Our National Caregiving Conference feels like pampering for your heart and soul. When you join us at our conference, you join a community that understands you and that welcomes you.
Often during our caregiving experience we can feel disconnected, wondering where we belong because our lives feel so much different that our friends, co-workers and neighbors.
At our conference, you connect with others in a similar situation and with those who totally get it.
Connecting and Learning
Because you connect with those who understand, you can develop deep and meaningful relationships with other attendees.
Elizabeth Miller, who helps care for her mom and operates her own business, HappyHealthyCaregiver.com, returns to our conference every year to re-connect with friends she met at our first year conference. She also will present for the third straight year because she wants to share what she learned the hard way about self-care.
Sharon Hall, who cares for her husband and cared for her mom until her mom’s death in March, presents at our conference to share what she’s learned about her husband’s disease, frontotemporal degeneration. She knows how confusing the FTD behavior can be and wants others to know that they can manage the difficulties. If you care for a family member with FTD, networking with Sharon will provide a sense of relief that only someone who truly understands can give.
At our conference, we’re not just educating each other. Professionals and researchers attend to learn from us what caregiving is like. Last year, researchers from Purdue University and Johns Hopkins University attended our sessions to hear directly from family caregivers about their experiences.
We’re the experts in caregiving which is why health care professionals and researchers attend our National Caregiving Conference – to improve their work by receiving our expertise.
This Year’s Conference
This year’s conference, which will take place November 7-10 at the Chicago Marriott O’Hare, will honor our amazing difference to our family, our carees, our community and ourselves.
This year, we want to create an experience that leaves you feeling different, either about yourself, your caregiving experience or your future.
We also want you to return home with new relationships which continue to pamper your heart and soul until our next conference in 2020.
Caregiver Resources
We understand that attending our conference can present a financial hardship. Visit CareGiving.com regularly to learn about contests you can enter for a chance to win cash and free nights at our conference hotel. Each year, we’ve given away at least $4,000 to help family caregivers and former family caregivers attend our conference.
In addition, you can check out these organizations if you need to hire or have help for your caree so you can attend:
- Check with your local Area Agency on Aging to find out about programs which help you get a break.
- Call the Department of Veterans Affairs National Caregiver Support Line at 1-855-260-3274.
- Hospice offers a five-day respite benefit so the primary family caregiver can take a break.
- Contact your local assisted living facilities and nursing homes to learn about short-term placement for your caree while you attend the conference.
- Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Relief Grant Program, created by Hilarity for Charity, offers in-home help to all you to get a break.
- Disease-specific organizations, like the Alzheimer’s Association and ALS Association, may offer respite programs.
- Search for help through ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center.
- Our three-part series, Get a Caregiving Break, has ideas and suggestions.
- Easter Seals offers programs for adults and children with disabilities.
- National Association of Adult Day Services may offer services to help you take a break.
- National Volunteer Caregiving Network may have volunteers who can help.
- Shepherd’s Centers of America also may be help to guide you to local services which can help you get a break.
- Volunteers of America may have a volunteer who can give you a break.
If you cannot join us in Chicago, we hope you’ll watch our live, free broadcast of select conference sessions on November 8 and 9. As you watch our live broadcast, you’ll feel connected to a community that understands.
To learn more about our conference, please visit our conference webpage.