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Caregiver Conference Held in Los Angeles
By Roseanna Jamison on November 23, 2009 7:50 AM
- Caregivers perform stress-relieving exercises at a workshop at the 10th annual Caring for the Caregiver Conference.
- Photo/Emanuel Alvarez
Caregivers from Los Angeles County gathered downtown at the Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral on Nov. 7 for the 10th annual Caring for the Caregiver Conference.
Early arrivals were welcomed by staff and volunteers of the Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center, co-hosts of the event, and from Gerald C. Davison, dean of the USC Davis School of Gerontology.
Housed at the Andrus Gerontology Center, the Caregiver Center is committed to helping families and communities throughout Los Angeles County to master the challenges of caring for persons with brain-impairing conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, Parkinson’s disease and traumatic brain injury.
This year’s theme, “Empowering Caregivers,” focused on encouraging family caregivers to be in control of their choices and to speak up about their needs.
“We believe that empowerment begins with recognizing that your voice makes a difference and can cause great change; you are your own best advocate,” said Shawn Herz, director of program development at the Resource Center. “Over 400 people attended the event to learn more about the resources and various services available to them, and they left feeling energized, motivated and definitely more empowered.”
Representing the various services available to those caregivers were 45 vendors, including USC’s Memory and Aging Clinic, Bet Tzedek Legal Services and Silverado Senior Living.
Following a panel presentation featuring a social worker, an elder law attorney and a caregiver advocate, attendees were invited to spend the rest of the day visiting the information and resource fair and attending their choice of educational workshops, which covered topics such as prescription assistance, paid family leave, laughter yoga and myths of Medi-Cal.
“The day was full of energy, optimism and the kind of social support that helps caregivers do the kind of job that is among the most stressful in our society,” Davison said. “It was an honor to spend some time with them.”
TAGS: aging
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