In this Issue

In the News

Survey: Family Caregiving Reported as Rewarding

According to a recent article in the medical journal Archives of Internal Medicine, friends or family served as informal caregivers to nearly three-quarters of disabled adults living in the community in their final year of life, and more than two-thirds of these caregivers reported that their role was "rewarding." Read More

Technology Firm to Serve Up Virtual Family Dinners

A technology consulting company is developing a teleconferencing system designed to bring older adults who live alone back into the family dinner, however far away they may live. Read More

That Delicious Curry May Have a Fringe Benefit

Speaking of dinner, turmeric, that yellowish root integral to Indian curry dishes and notorious for staining your clothes, now appears to offer benefits beyond its characteristic color and taste: Researchers have pinpointed the spice and its active ingredient, curcumin, as a balm for diseases ranging from arthritis to Alzheimer's. Read More

Children Caring for Parents with Disabilities

More than 1.3 million children aged eight through 18 care for a family member with a chronic illness or disability, and a study reports that this number is only expected to grow in the coming years. Read More

Identifying Safe Drivers with Dementia Proves Difficult

Researchers at the University of Ottawa have concluded that there is no reliable, simple test that can be routinely given in doctor's offices to determine the safety of drivers with dementia. Doctors are looking to more comprehensive evaluations as an alternative. Read More

In the Spotlight

Link2Care: A Support System No Matter Where You Are

Caregivers for people with dementia face many challenges, especially change in family roles, daily hands-on care and meeting the high cost of care. Link2Care is an internet-based information and support system for family caregivers that provides an electronic link to both web-based and community-based services to assist caregivers in these challenges. Read More

Policy Update

States Move to Expand Health Care Coverage

States across the nation are considering a variety of proposals to expand health care coverage to America's 40 million uninsured, including many family caregivers who have quit their jobs to give care and lost their health insurance in the bargain. Read More

Rate of U.S. Health Care Growth Slows for Third Consecutive Year

The rate of health care spending growth in the United States has decreased for the third year in a row, according to a new government report. Most of the slowdown can be attributed to a reduced rate of prescription drug spending growth. Read More

New Fact Sheets on Federal Long-Term Care Financing; Family Caregivers' Contribution "Sizable"

The Georgetown University Long-Term Care Financing Project recently released two newly revised fact sheets, one of which recognizes the contribution of the "families of individuals with long-term care needs," including "the indirect costs associated with family caregiving, including time away from paid work and other activities," as "sizeable." Read More

On the Calendar

Information on events throughout California of interest to caregivers and their families. Read More

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