Submitted by Melissa Favela, Community Educator, Southern Caregiver Resource Center

Southern Caregiver Resource Center hosted a workshop on Thursday, August 29th at the County of San Diego facility in El Cajon.

The in-person workshop featured presentations from experts on caregiving and Alzheimer's disease such as Dr. Christina Gigliotti from UCSD Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Melissa Favela, a community educator from Southern Caregiver Resource Center.

The workshop also included representatives from other senior and caregiver support organizations, some of them Live Well San Diego Partners themselves, such as Grossmont Healthcare District, St. Paul's Senior Services, George G. Glenner Alzheimer's Family Centers, and the Alzheimer's Association, alongside staff from the County's Aging & Independence Services.

The presence of these organizations allowed attendees to learn about Alzheimer's and dementia while also asking questions and connecting to resources in their communities. San Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson was also in attendance, who - along with the San Diego County Board of Supervisors - declared August 29th "Southern Caregiver Resource Center Day."

The goal of hosting a free workshop for family caregivers who care for someone with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias was to inform, empower, and connect these caregivers to accessible information, resources, services, and each other.

• In San Diego County, there are approximately 245,000 family caregivers caring for someone with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia
  • By 2030, this number is estimated to increase to 300,000 family caregivers
• 60-80% of family caregivers who receive services from Southern Caregiver Resource Center are currently caring for someone with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia
• 78% of Southern Caregiver Resource Center program participants felt more confident as caregivers after participating in their educational programs
  • 81% of participants felt that they were ablet o manage the care-receiver's care better

Southern Caregiver Resource Center collaborates with other community organizations that strive to provide support and services to family caregivers and those they care for.  

To connect with Southern Caregiver Resource Center, many options are available, such as: learning about family caregivers and relevant topics via monthly livestream classes, signing up as volunteers, or reaching out for SCRC to participate in events.  

To learn more, visit www.caregivercenter.org. 

Images from Southern Caregiver Resource Center's Caring for the Caregiver Workshop

UCSD Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center's Dr. Christina Gigliotti, Southern Caregiver Resource Center's Executive Vice President Martha Ranon, and Community Educator Melissa Favela.

Service providers present: Southern Caregiver Resource Center, San Diego County - Aging & Independence Services, Grossmont Healthcare District, St. Paul’s Senior Services, Geroge G. Glenner Alzheimer’s Family Centers, Alzheimer’s Association, and UCSD Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. 

Southern Caregiver Resource Center’s Clinical Providers: Tina Imada, Kirstie Uranga and Brent Duster.

Southern Caregiver Resource Center's resource table and East County Community Outreach Workers Rosanelly Victoria and Tina Imada.

UCSD Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center's Dr. Christina Gigliotto presenting at the workshop.