Category Archives: Caregivers

4th Annual Parent and Caregiver Conference March 17

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Image Credit: Pixabay/geralt CCO Creative Commons

DATE: MARCH 17, 2018
TIME: 9AM – 3PM

NAMI Los Angeles County Council invites the public to its 4th Annual Parent and Caregiver Conference.

This is a free event to the public (donations welcome).

LOCATION:

CENTER AT THE CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS
555 W. TEMPLE STREET
LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

Parking is available; Public transportation is accessible on the Purple/Red Line.

Topics that are expected to be presented include:

  • School-based mental health programs
  • Individualized Education Program plans
  • Foster/kinship program services
  • Benefits services – SSI/SSDI
  • Communication skills
  • Crisis response
  • Ask the doctor session with a child psychiatrist
  • Panel session: “My Family Member Has Been Arrested”

In addition, we will have opportunities for the following discussions:

  • Family Support Group (offered in English and Spanish)
  • Advocacy
  • Signs and symptoms of mental illness
  • Integrated care for co-occurring disorders
  • Conservatorship
  • Legal help for parents and families

For more information contact Alecia Ojinaga at alecia_ojinaga@yahoo.com or (310) 299-2973. Here is the evitebrite link to the conference https://www.eventbrite.com/e/parent-and-caregiver-conference-tickets-41398535133

Third Annual Parent and Caregiver Conference

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Saturday, February 11, 2017 at St. Anne’s Center in Los Angeles

A one day conference featuring speakers, a panel of experts, and round table discussions and workshops for parents and caregivers who have a loved one with mental health condition of any age.

Saturday, February 11, 2017 from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM (PST)
St. Anne’s
155 North Occidental Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90026

CLICK HERE TO ATTEND

Morning Program:

  • Jonathan E. Sherin, M.D., Ph.D., Los Angeles County Director of Mental Health
    Looking Ahead
  • Steve Pitman J.D., President, NAMI National Board
  • Sandy Banks, Mental Health Advocate, Journalist, former L. A. Times columnist
    Finding Hope & Health Along the Journey
  • Panel Presentation – Tool Box of Communication
    Moderator, Helena Ditko, LCSW , Los Angeles County Dept. of Mental Health
    How can we equip caretakers with the communication tools they need? Our panel will cover some of the family experience, the treatment experience and resources are helpful and available.

Roundtable Discussions over lunch:

  • Caring for Ourselves
  • Why I chose LPS Conservatorship
  • Communication Tips – (English & Spanish)
  • My Family Member has been Arrested
  • Advocating for Care in Crisis – (English & Spanish)
  • Navigating the Dept. of Mental Health

Afternoon Sessions:

  • Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Mental Illness – Lora Illig, ExecutiveDirector, NAMI Pomona Valley and Leola Johnson, NAMI Antelope Valley, NAMI State Trainer
  • Patients Rights’ – Jaime Walker, Health Program Analyst, Los Angeles County Dept. of Mental Health
  • Trauma Informed Care – Celeste H. Ryan, Ph.D., Juvenile Justice Mental Health Program Coordinator, Los Angeles County Dept. of Mental Health
  • Creating a Community of Care to Heal Hidden Wounds – Gail Soffer, Founder, Executive Director

NAMI South Bay Meeting-Monday, July 18, 2016

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Please join us for our July monthly meeting with Caring and Sharing Support Group at 6 PM and Speaker Meeting at 7:30 PM.

The speaker for this month is Bishop Bonnie Radden presenting on “Taking Care of the Caregiver”.  She will help us to discover and recognize our own personal burnout when caregiving for our ill relative whether they live with us our not and ways to lessen our own personal stress.

 
Unfortunately, caregivers often are so involved in taking care of the needs perceived or real of their loved one that they don’t take care of themselves which may lead to poor health and stress.  Further, the burdens of caregiving may make it difficult for the caregiver to help their loved one.  Please don’t miss this important presentation. 
The Speaker Meeting will be held in Faith Hall.  There will be the Caring and Sharing Support Group is at 6 PM in the Faith Hall.

2nd Annual Parent & Caregiver Conference

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conference love treeThe NAMI Los Angeles County Council and Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health is presenting the 2nd Annual Parent & Caregiver Conference at St. Anne’s, 155 N. Occidental Blvd., Los Angeles, 90026, on Saturday, February 20, 2016, from 8:30 a.m. through 2:30 p.m.

The conference is to feature expert speakers and workshops for parents and caregivers who have one or more loved ones of any age with a mental illness. Attendees will gain knowledge on how to provide stability and guide their loved one(s) to a healthy and exceptional life.

Registration is $10.00 (which includes lunch and parking) Limited scholarships are available.

To register, go to THIS SITE, or email Letty Baldaro, In Our Own Voice & Education Coordinator, NAMI LACC.

NAMI Los Angeles County Council (LACC)  is the leading countywide organization composed of grassroots-based affiliates that promotes health, equality and dignity for those affected by mental illness.  It provides leadership in advocacy, legislation, policy development, education and support throughout Los Angeles County. CLICK HERE to visit NAMI LACC on Facebook.

Advice and Resources for Caregivers

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Caregivers face challenges of every type. Caregivers help persons with physical disabilities, aged persons, injured individuals, and persons struggling with a mental illness. Regardless of the cause, it is important, whether you have volunteered for the role, or it has been thrust upon you by circumstances unfortunate and unexpected, to learn how to deal with the issues that arise in a way that reduces stress and strengthens preparation and flexibility.

NAMI provides help for caregivers of persons with a mental illness. To get started with NAMI’s resources, START HERE..

Other resources are also available. Although NAMI South Bay can’t endorse or guarantee these other sources, they are available by various means, including the internet. Caregiver.com is one such resource. It includes articles, resources and advice for caregivers of all varieties, including caregivers dealing with the symptoms of psychosis. For instance,  Its advice article about dealing with psychotic symptoms associated with schizophrenia begins:

Try to encourage them gently, never forcefully, to be a part of social gatherings when appropriate. Keep gatherings small and intimate, with one or two relatives or friends over for dinner instead of an all-day affair with the entire clan, like a wedding or family picnic; this may cause frustration and stress, helping to set the stage for another episode. Always discuss your plans with them, and suggest going on an outing once a week, like a drive or a walk in the country; go somewhere peaceful and quite, not hectic and noisy like a city…

The rest of the article can be found HERE.

Caregivers.com is not associated with NAMI. Do your own diligence. NAMI South Bay shares this information because it has become aware of the resource, but is not in a position to recommend, endorse or guarantee services or outcomes. 

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Researchers Seeking to Pay Persons with Schizophrenia and Caregivers for One-Hour Interview

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?????????Adept Consumer Testing, a National Market Research Firm is looking for Patients that have been diagnosed by a physician as having “Schizophrenia” and Caregivers of Patients diagnosed with Schizophrenia to participate in a paid medical market research study.

These individual interviews will last approximately 60 minutes on Wednesday, February 25th in the Beverly Hills area. A generous honorarium will be provided to all those that qualify and participate.

If you would like to participate, please contact Adept Consumer Testing at the following phone number so they can ask you the qualifying questions.

Tell them NAMI South Bay sent you.

Call Adé @ 310-279-4343 extension 372

Photo Credit
Ocskay Mark | DPC

Tips for Caregivers

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Most of us will be at some point in our lives, or are, caregivers. A person with a severe mental illness may require a caregiver. Or as loved ones age, health conditions or frailty can soon follow. While some persons requiring assistance can rely upon paid providers, most rely on unpaid assistance from families, friends and neighbors. Following are a few tips for a caregiver to keep in mind.

Avoid Placing Blame or Guilt

Recognize that you are a loving family member and/or friend and not a magician. None of us can change anyone else; we can only be supportive of ourselves and our loved one as each of us attempts to find ways to manage mental illness. Focus on the good things that happened during each day. Realize that we all have physical and emotional limits. Do not blame yourself or others if that limit is reached.

Seek Relief From Stress

Find pleasurable places to go each day. Find a place where you can be alone. Use it whenever you need it. Be gentle with yourself. Spend some time away from the person with mental illness. Avoid activities that increase your levels of tension. Inject humor in your life.

Learn to Gain Control of Your Life

Learn to set limits and to make choices. Learn to say “no”, what is your “yes” worth? Use the expression “I choose to” rather than “I have to,” or “I should.” Learn to say “I won’t” rather than “I can’t.” Take care of your own nutritional and sleep needs. Establish short term and long term goals for yourself. You may find it useful to keep a journal.

Continue Outside Interests

Realize that you should continue your leisure activities, your relationships with others and your hobbies. Enjoy your life!

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