Kate Washington is a Northern California writer whose book Already Toast chronicles her experiences caring for her husband Brad, seriously ill with a rare cancer. We sat down with Washington to talk about the gender politics at work in her story and hear her perspective on how to ease the struggles of unpaid family caregivers. Read More…
Java Group Programs were created by Dr. Kristine Theurer. We sat down with Kristine to talk about the different components of the program and a new partnership with LeadingAge California kicking off in Spring of 2022. What is Java all about? Prolonged loneliness and social isolation are a silent tragedy in nursing homes. One resident Read More…
By Kathryn G. Kietzman, PhD, MSW and Imelda Padilla-Frausto, PhD, MPHUCLA Center for Health Policy Research; UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Department of Community Health Sciences In 2012, the Institute of Medicine issued a report that documented the mental health needs of a rapidly growing aging population, and highlighted concerns about the preparedness and Read More…
By Brandon Masashige Leong, Director of Development & Communications, Keiro The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant changes to our daily lives. This new normal, with various lockdowns and restrictions, has also increased the psychological burdens of so many individuals. However, the struggles people are facing have ultimately increased awareness of the importance of good mental Read More…
By Tracy Carson, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Tracy Carson Therapy This past Thanksgiving my entire family gathered in Florida to celebrate together after a long pandemic-induced separation. As my father sat with my four boys, his only grandchildren, he remarked that they were having the inaugural meeting of the “Florida Boys Club!” It was such Read More…
By David Bain, Executive Director, National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) Sacramento Throughout the country, Peer Support Specialists are providing mental health services to individuals impacted by brain health issues. Peer Support Specialists are people with “lived experience” with mental illness – either living with it or a as a family member of someone living Read More…
By Dr. Kathleen M. Sullivan, Executive Director, Openhouse Findings from a recently released longitudinal study indicate that Openhouse’s Community Engagement Program reduces isolation and loneliness while improving quality of life for LGBTQ+ older adults. Founded in 1998, Openhouse works to center the voices and experiences of LGBTQ+ older adults by providing opportunities to make social Read More…
By Jason Shoultz, Director of Communications, Steinberg Institute The signs of a mental health crisis worsened by the pandemic can be found throughout California: in our families, on our streets, and in our schools. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, at the height of the pandemic in 2020 more than three in ten adults in Read More…
By Brenda Klutz, Policy Consultant, LeadingAge California Living under the pandemic the past two years has been extraordinarily stressful to both residents and staff. Until recently, and to provide protection from preventable infection, residents were severely restricted from having visitors, thereby eliminating a major source of joy and well-being. Opportunities to dine in restaurants, join Read More…
By Eric Dowdy, Chief Government Affairs Officer, LeadingAge California As we continue to deal with the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the pandemic’s impact can be felt in nearly every aspect of senior living and care. Tremendous strain has been placed on our caregivers, nurses, food service, transportation, and all other areas of our Read More…