SBP is an evidence based program aimed at helping family caregivers who are caring for a person with dementia or chronic illness(es).
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PEOPLE WHOSE EARLIER MARRIAGE TO A PERSON OF THE SAME SEX MAY NOW BE ELIGIBLE FOR SOCIAL SECURITY SPOUSAL OR WIDOW’S BENEFITS AND SHOULD APPLY.
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Stepping into the role of being a family caregiver is often met with an overwhelming amount of questions: Where do I start to look for information? What are my options? Where do I go for resources? How do I cope with caregiver stress? What are legal issues surrounding caregiving?
The USC Family Caregiver Support Center has developed a Family Caregiver Checklist to help prepare family caregivers to navigate through common questions and topics.
This checklist will help you identify which areas you are knowledgeable about and which you may need assistance with handling.
LAST CHANCE TO URGE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TO KEEP $3 MILLION IN THE BUDGET
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Advocates for African American Elders (AAAE) & Expo Center/Ahmanson Senior Center Invite you to get your questions answered about the Coordinated Care Initiative (CCI)
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LEGISLATURE APPOINTS BUDGET CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS BEGIN
MONDAY, JUNE 1
URGENT ACTION NEEDED TO SUPPORT ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL FOR INCLUSION OF
$3.8M TO RESTORE FUNDING TO THE CRCS
The near-final stage of the state budget process has arrived, with the State Senate and Assembly announcing the appointment of six members to the Budget Conference Committee, the joint committee that will work to reconcile the differences between the two houses’ versions of the budget. They are:
Senator Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) Chair
FAX 916-651-4911 (Capitol) | TEL 916-651-4011 (Capitol) |
TEL 415-557-1300 (San Francisco)
Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego) Vice-chair
FAX 916-319-2179 (Capitol) | TEL 916-319-2079 (Capitol) |
TEL 619-531-7913 (San Diego office)
Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens)
FAX 916-651-4933 (Capitol) | TEL 916-651-4033 (Capitol) |
TEL 562-256-7921 (Long Beach office)
Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber)
FAX 916.651.4904 (Capitol) | TEL 916.651.4004 (Capitol) |
TEL 916.772.0571 (Roseville office)
Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica)
FAX 916-319-2150 (Capitol) | TEL 916-319-2050 (Capitol) |
TEL 310-450-0041 (Santa Monica)
Assemblymember Melissa Menendez (R-Lake Elsinore)
FAX 916-319-2167 (Capitol) | TEL 916-319-2067 (Capitol) |
TEL 951-894-1232 (Murrieta office)
Conference Committee Begins on Monday June 1 – Please Take Action Immediately! The Budget Conference Committee will weigh many important priorities for California’s health and human services safety net. The restoration of funds for the CRCs is only one item in these discussions and it is uncertain that it will be retained in the final budget version.
IT IS URGENT that all Conference Committee members and the leadership of both houses hear from family caregivers and providers that you support the Assembly action on restoring funding to the Caregiver Resource Centers so families have access to services that support their efforts to care for their relatives at home – a choice that reflects their values and preferences for care.
The Assembly recommended a request of $3.8M to partially restore funding lost in 2009 when 74% of the budget for the statewide system was eliminated. However, the Senate did not take action on this item. The Conference Committee needs to hear from everyone that this item – the Assembly recommendation of $3.8M restoration of funding, is a priority for the budget.
After the Budget Conference Committee finalizes the Legislature’s budget proposal, Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins and Senate President Pro Tem Kevin De Leon will negotiate with the Governor on what restorations and funding increases will remain in the budget plan before the Legislature passes it on or before June 15th.
PLEASE FAX AND CALL MEMBERS OF THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE NOW URGE THEM TO ADOPT THE ASSEMBLY RECOMMENDATION TO RESTORE $3.8M FOR THE CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTERS
YOUR ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED!
California’s Caregiver Resource Centers have seen a 74% cut in funding since 2009! Budget Committees and Sub-committees will be meeting this week and now is the time to FAX letters to express your support for restored funding. A sample letter to Senator Holly Mitchell and Senator Tony Thurmond follows (you may click here to download a MSWord version of the letter). A list of committee members and FAX numbers follows the letter below. If you are short on time, and you are able to make phone calls, legislators’ phone numbers are also included. Thank you, as always, for your support!
| May 19, 2015
The Honorable Holly Mitchell The Honorable Tony Thurmond RE: Restoration of Funding Levels for the California Caregiver Resource Centers: $2.9 million GF Dear Senator Mitchell and Assemblymember Thurmond: I am writing on behalf of California’s Caregiver Resource Centers (CRCs) to express my support for the budget restoration of the statewide Caregiver Resource Centers which have endured a 74% cut since 2009. This partial restoration estimated at a modest $2.9 million, will be used to ensure that unpaid family caregivers caring for those with Alzheimer’s and related dementia, stoke, Parkinson’s or other cognitive and physical disabilities receive the care they need and deserve. It is essential to restore the funding level for the CRCs so that Californians can live in their own homes with dignity and independence rather than using more costly institutional care. The reduction in funds had a major impact on unpaid family caregivers, cutting off or reducing CRC services and eliminating the safety net where services ceased. Restoring core CRC services is needed to serve working caregivers, aid the increasing aging population of baby boomers and their parents, and support the federal & state movement to receive care in the home – not an institution. These family caregivers are the invisible but essential long-term care workforce in the state providing up to 80% of support services at a value of over $47 billion per year. The tasks family caregivers provide range from household assistance to care coordination to personal care and performing medical tasks to those who need the most assistance. The CRC’s are the indispensable cornerstone for families as their needs change. A typical unpaid caregiver provides assistance at an average of over 20 hours per week for five years or longer. Baby boomer woman, the majority of whom (64%) are in the workforce are the face of caregiving today. CRC services include those that help families plan care, provide direct care and include self-care for those unpaid caregivers who mostly care alone. The CRCs are the eldercare resource for small and medium size business in the state that directly reduces employee costs in health and absenteeism. Working is essential to women who head households and to those two-income families for economic stability now and for retirement savings and income in the future. As the State moves to managed care for the dually eligible Medi-Cal population, family caregivers are a critical component for success. The vast majority of older adults receiving LTSS services through waiver programs have unpaid supports that are critical to staying at home. The CRC’s work with all unpaid caregivers regardless of income status and provide additional support to those using other public services targeted to the person with disabilities. We respectfully request your support for the $2.9 million restoration for the Caregiver Resource Centers to help California’s family caregivers. Please contact Family Caregiver Alliance if you have any questions at 415-434-3388. Sincerely, Your name _________ cc: The Honorable Kevin De Leon, President Pro Tempore |
Assembly Budget Subcommitee #1 Health & Human Services
CHAIR
The Honorable Tony Thurmond
FAX 916-319-2115
TEL 916-319-2015 (Capitol office; 510-286-1400 (Oakland office)
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Rob Bonta, Oakland
FAX 916-319-2118 (Capitol office)
TEL 916-319-2018 (Capitol office); 510-286-1670 (Oakland office)
David Chu, San Francisco
FAX 916-319-2117 (Capitol office)
TEL 916-319-2017 (Capitol office); 415-557-3013 (SF office)
Shannon Grove, Bakersfield
FAX 916-319-2134 (Capitol office)
TEL 916-319-2034 (Capitol office); 661-395-2995 (Bakersfield office)
Brian W. Jones, Santee
FAX 916-319-2171 (Capitol office)
TEL 916-319-2071 (Capitol office); 619-441-2322 (Santee office)
Alternate Melissa Melendez, Murrieta
FAX 916-319-2167 (Capitol office)
TEL 916-319-2067 (Capitol office); 951-894-1232
Chair of Budget Committee and Speaker
CHAIR ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE
Shirley Weber, San Diego
FAX 916-319-2179 (Capitol office)
TEL 916-319-2079 (Capitol office); 619-531-7913 (San Diego office)
SPEAKER
Toni Atkins
FAX 916-319-2178 (Capitol office)
TEL 916-319-2078 (Capitol office); 619-645-3090
Senate Budget Subcommittee #3 Health & Human Services
CHAIR
The Honorable Holly Mitchell
FAX 916-651-4930 (Capitol office)
TEL 916-651-4030 (Capitol office); 213-745-6656 (Los Angeles office)
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Bill Monning, Monterey
FAX 916-651-4917 (Capitol office);
TEL: 916-651-4017 (Capitol office); 805-549-3784 (San Luis Obispo);
831-657-6315 (Monterey); 831-425-0401 (Santa Cruz); 408-847-6101 (Gilroy)
Jeff Stone, Murrieta
FAX 916-651-4928 (Capitol office)
TEL 916-651-4028 (Capitol office); 760-398-6442 (Indio); 951-894-3530 (Murrieta)
Chair of the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee and President Pro Tempore
CHAIR SENATE BUDGET AND FISCAL REVIEW COMMITTEE
Mark Leno
FAX 916-651-4911 (Capitol office)
TEL 916-651-4011 (Capitol office); 415-557-1300 (San Francisco)
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE
Kevin De Leon
FAX 916-651-4924 (Capitol office)
TEL 916-651-4024 (Capitol office); 213-483-9300 (Los Angeles office)
PBS will premiere a new documentary on caregiving, “Caring for Mom & Dad” on May 7th (check local listings for times). The documentary seeks to answer the questions of caregiving and explore the everyday emotional, health, and financial challenges that caregivers face.
Narrated by Meryl Streep, the film tells the stories of caregiving families and their experiences. The film will be available for online streaming within 24 hours of the premiere. Please visit the website for more information: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/caringformomanddad/, or watch the trailer here:
