Siskin Children's Institute’s Post

Presentation Alert! Jess Paul Ambiee, LCSW-S, ACHP-SW and I will be presenting for the WellMed Caregiver Teleconnection caregiver support series. Join us for our talk "When Decisions Are Left Undecided." We'll discuss the ethical dilemma of making end-of-life care decisions for family members or friends who no longer hold the capacity to make these decisions independently, and talk about what to do next.

November is National Family Caregivers Month. "Celebrated every November, National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM) is a time to recognize and honor family caregivers across the country. It offers an opportunity to raise awareness of caregiving issues, educate communities, and increase support for caregivers." Accordingly, the Administration for Community Living the national observance is led by Caregiver Action Network (CAN), a nonprofit that provides free education, peer support, and resources to family caregivers. CAN selected the 2024 theme, I Care..., to highlight the importance of self-recognition and self-identity — key factors in caregivers’ access to essential support. According to CAN, more than half of those providing care in the U.S. don’t recognize themselves as caregivers. As a result, many do not connect with supports that can make a difference throughout their caregiving journeys. Therefore, many do not know of respite programs (these programs provide paid relief for family caregivers). Because caregivers play a vital role in supporting women and families battling breast cancer we love keeping them informed. For more information on free caregiver trainings and resources reach out to us. We can help. #wecare #caregivers #community #care #breastcancer #support

When you live the problem you're trying to solve, the work becomes more than just work. Today we announced the evolution of Tender to tendercare, something that hits particularly close to home. (And yes, no more confusion with that dating app! Finding support for aging parents is challenging enough without having to explain that we're not trying to find them dates 😉) I've had the unique privilege of watching this platform grow from an idea into something helping thousands of families. But I'm not just helping build it - I'm using it. Like millions of others, I'm part of the sandwich generation supporting both aging parents and young kids. This holiday weekend's visit with my mom and my father-in-law, both of whom are battling Alzheimer's, was another stark reminder of why we do what we do. The technology we're building at tendercare isn't just about getting organized, having smart reminders, or getting much-needed guidance. It's about giving families confidence when they need it most – something I understand deeply from both sides of our platform. Whether I'm wearing my tendercare hat or my son hat, I see daily how crucial this support is becoming - especially as we face a future where adults 65+ will outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history. We've come far, but we have so much more to build. Every family's story, including my own, drives us to keep innovating and improving. As someone living this journey both professionally and personally, I couldn't be more excited about what's ahead. And, for Giving Tuesday, we're donating $5 to the Alzheimer's Association for every new user who signs up through Sunday (up to $5,000). If you or someone you know is juggling family care responsibilities - and chances are you do, since more than 54 million Americans are - please share tendercare with them: https://lnkd.in/eykr9C7h #FamilyCare #HealthTech #AgeTech #Innovation #GivingTuesday #AlzheimersAwareness #Startup

I appreciate today's article by Dana Territo in The New Orleans Advocate about our efforts at the Louisiana State Capital. The State Advocacy Day, organized by the Alzheimer's Association Louisiana Chapter and Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM), brings advocates from Louisiana together to meet with policymakers. Their goal is to share personal stories and push for policies that enhance the lives of those affected by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. This annual event, which occurred on April 25 this year, saw Governor Jeff Landry declaring it Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Awareness Day. Advocates like me, who have lost family members to the disease, emphasized the urgent need for support and research. They rallied on the Capitol steps, urging legislators to support Senate Bill 46, which aims to establish an advisory council to prioritize Alzheimer’s and related dementias as public health concerns in Louisiana. Senate Bill 46, if passed, will create the Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Advisory Council, fostering collaboration between private sectors and state agencies. This initiative aims to raise awareness, improve healthcare, and support caregivers amidst the growing impact of Alzheimer’s on Louisiana's health systems and budgets. With projections indicating a significant increase in affected adults by 2025, addressing Alzheimer’s is crucial. The Alzheimer's Association® and AIM are committed to ongoing advocacy efforts, working with policymakers to tackle the dementia crisis and ensure coordinated responses at the state level. To learn more about their advocacy work and efforts in Louisiana, visit alzimpact.org/louisiana. #AlzheimersAdvocacy #StateAdvocacyDay #ENDALZ #ENDALZLA The Times-Picayune | Nola.com https://lnkd.in/g8yTHU7u

I appreciate today's article by Dana Territo in The New Orleans Advocate about our efforts at the Louisiana State Capital. The State Advocacy Day, organized by the Alzheimer's Association Louisiana Chapter and Alzheimer's Impact Movement (AIM), brings advocates from Louisiana together to meet with policymakers. Their goal is to share personal stories and push for policies that enhance the lives of those affected by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. This annual event, which occurred on April 25 this year, saw Governor Jeff Landry declaring it Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Awareness Day. Advocates like me, who have lost family members to the disease, emphasized the urgent need for support and research. They rallied on the Capitol steps, urging legislators to support Senate Bill 46, which aims to establish an advisory council to prioritize Alzheimer’s and related dementias as public health concerns in Louisiana. Senate Bill 46, if passed, will create the Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Advisory Council, fostering collaboration between private sectors and state agencies. This initiative aims to raise awareness, improve healthcare, and support caregivers amidst the growing impact of Alzheimer’s on Louisiana's health systems and budgets. With projections indicating a significant increase in affected adults by 2025, addressing Alzheimer’s is crucial. The Alzheimer's Association® and AIM are committed to ongoing advocacy efforts, working with policymakers to tackle the dementia crisis and ensure coordinated responses at the state level. To learn more about their advocacy work and efforts in Louisiana, visit alzimpact.org/louisiana. #AlzheimersAdvocacy #StateAdvocacyDay #ENDALZ #ENDALZLA The Times-Picayune | Nola.com https://lnkd.in/gt8XndVe

PROGRESS REPORT | NASHP | National Academy for State Health Policy has released a new online report, "National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers Progress and Impact Report 2024: State and Community Actions." Read to learn about the actions that state and local governments, philanthropies and communities have taken to support #caregivers: https://ow.ly/KjJv50TM8PE

❓ True or False: In Texas, adoptive parents can receive financial assistance to help with the costs of adoption. True! 💰 The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) offers several adoption assistance programs to support families who open their hearts and homes to children in need. These include: - Reimbursement for certain adoption-related expenses, up to $1,200 per adoption - Monthly financial assistance based on the child's needs and the family's circumstances - Medicaid healthcare coverage for the adopted child, often until their 18th birthday - Tuition waivers at Texas public colleges and universities for eligible adopted children At Forever Families, we believe that every child deserves a loving family - and finances shouldn't be a barrier. If you're considering adoption in Texas, know that support is available. Visit our website to learn more about these assistance programs and how to qualify. #AdoptionAssistance #TexasAdopts #ForeverFamilies

We're excited to announce some big news: our evolution to tendercare! For us, the change of our name to tendercare reflects our mission and exactly what we strive to deliver: smart, compassionate support to help families care smarter for the people who matter most. It’s simple, heartfelt, and most importantly, easy to find when families need us (and, no more confusion with that dating app! 😉) tendercare comes at a crucial moment – by 2030, adults aged 65+ will outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history. Our AI-powered platform can help all families confidently navigate supporting loved ones with step-by-step guidance, smart organization tools, and community support. While our name evolves, our mission remains to stand beside anyone as they care for loved ones. Your stories have shaped tendercare, and we will continue to grow with your feedback. You've taught us what families truly need – like having critical emergency information at your fingertips, which inspired our one-tap Emergency Info pdf. Or the ability to track and care for multiple family members at once, which inspired unlimited family vaults. Stay tuned for new features to make family caregiving smoother, simpler, and better than ever. Thank you for believing in us, for trusting us, and for being part of this remarkable journey. Your support has given tendercare its true meaning, and we’re endlessly grateful. If you haven’t yet, download tendercare today to check us out. Direct link to app store here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eykr9C7h And, in honor of this name change and what it means, for Giving Tuesday, we're donating $5 to the Alzheimer's Association for every new user who signs up through Sunday using this link (up to $5,000). So, please share this message and this link with anyone you know who could use tendercare. #FamilyCare #FamilyCaregiver #Caregiver #Aging #HealthTech #Innovation #GivingTuesday #AlzheimersAwareness

This week, the National Alliance for Caregiving and 25 of our partners voiced our support for a vital Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed rule that would stop medical debt from harming credit scores. This matters for family caregivers for two crucial reasons: ✅ It safeguards caregivers from unjust credit penalties caused by medical debt they incur while caring for loved ones. ✅ It helps maintain their ability to access credit for essential needs like housing, employment, and future financial stability. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gwW-peT4 We extend our gratitude to our partners (listed below) for joining us on this critical issue. Together, we're fighting to ensure that the financial sacrifices made by family caregivers don't threaten their future well-being. Alzheimer's Association® Alzheimer's Impact Movement Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging Cancer Support Community CancerCare Caring Across Generations Child Neurology Foundation Dignity Alliance Massachusetts Diverse Elders Coalition East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging Elizabeth Dole Foundation Family Caregiver Alliance / National Center on Caregiving Family Caregiver Center of New Mexico Grantmakers In Aging (GIA) GREATER WISCONSIN AGENCY ON AGING R ESOURCES, INC. HAWAII FAMILY CAREGIVER COALITION Justice in Aging Krishnan Family Foundation MTO Cares NAMI MIDDLESEX INC National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship One Family Foundation Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers USAging #Healthcare #medicaldebt #actonraise #policy #health #financialhealth #economicinclusion

May is Caregiver Awareness Month! Did you know there are more than one million unpaid family and friend caregivers in British Columbia? 🦽 Caregiving doesn't come with a crystal ball. Given its complexity and ever-changing role, caregivers often feel better when they are prepared and supported. Organizations like Family Caregivers of British Columbia are there to help. For Caregiver Awareness Month, they are sharing three steps to guide you in understanding and meeting your loved one's needs. 👪️ Click to read more! https://lnkd.in/eGiawmyd