Villages & Caregiving

Village Movement California is building our movement’s capacity to support caregivers, including those who are caring for partners with dementia. This work is funded by the Arthur N. Rupe Foundation.

Embracing the Caregivers in Our Midst

Villages are uniquely positioned to give care to their caregiver members, supporting them and welcoming their loved ones to village activities. Public health guidelines and shelter-in-place orders have isolated caregivers and care receivers. As a result, staying connected to caregivers has been especially important during the COVID 19 pandemic. Zoom and online programs that enable people to make contact have opened doors to support that was previously unavailable and may well continue in post-pandemic times.

A Conversation on Care

VILLAGES AS COMMUNITIES OF CARE; a conversation with Donna Benton, PhD, Director of the USC Family Caregiver Support Center & Kate Hoepke, Executive Director of San Francisco Village from our 5th annual statewide conference in June 2023 in Oakland, CA.

 

Workshop Series

The four part series features a range of topics covered by noted experts and village leaders. All workshops are recorded. There is no cost to register.

Family Caregiver Challenges and Opportunities features Dr. Donna Benton, Director of the USC Family Caregiver Support Center and Professor at USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology (Video recording here)

Developing a Caregiver Support Group features Esther Gillies and Monica Hubbard, founders and members of the Pasadena Village Caregiver Support Group (Video recording here).

Caring from the Heart: Caregiving for a Loved One with Dementia will feature Wayne April, former caregiver and retired Kaiser Permanente gerontology social worker. (Video recording here).

Love in the Time of Chronic Illness: Active Strategies for Caregivers and Care Receivers will feature Barbara Kivowitz, author, caregiver, and health care consultant.  (Video recording here).

Support Group Toolkit

The Village Caregiver Support Group Toolkit offers guidelines for organizing a village social support group, along with information and resources offered by caregiving organizations. A village-based group has many advantages as it is founded on the affinity group members have developed through being a part of the village community. Having group members who know their partners or family members may add an extra dimension of compassion and support. It is available to members of Village Movement California. Scroll down to join.

Resources

We recommend that villages build relationships with organizations serving caregivers. Here are some national and statewide organizations. The Toolkit contains regional and local organizations.

Join to get a copy of the Caregivers’ Support Group Toolkit

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Community Care Connections members provide support through transportation assistance

Member Spotlight

Care Connections Network, Huntington Beach

Care Connections Network is a vibrant, active village located in suburban Huntington Beach, California. It is a faith-based village and its membership is comprised of both congregation and community members.  Members are focused on educational and social opportunities and the most popular of these is the monthly educational seminars with a free lunch. Seminar presenters are sourced from local community partners and vetted vendors or other organizations serving older adults often sponsor the lunch.