The Caregiver`s Advocate - The Rosalynn Carter Institute for

Volume 2, Issue 2
The Caregiver’s Advocate
Support and Promote the Work of Georgia’s 12 CARE-NETs
Quarterly News
From the
Director’s Desk
Dr. Leisa Easom, Executive Director
A lot has been going on at the
RCI these past few months. We
have been extremely busy preparing for two summits this year.
The inaugural OFC Summit for
our military caregiving program
was a great success. We anticipate our RCI Summit to be wellattended. This year’s conference
will focus on caregiving in a
broader sense. We will be looking
at caregivers across the lifespan.
We hope you will be joining us!
Our staff has been working hard
to complete the newest edition of
the Caring for You, Caring for Me
program guide. It looks amazing
and I highly encourage those who
conduct trainings for caregivers to
purchase one.
I am humbled to say our programs are getting noticed and
taking on national attention. We
are traveling all over the country
to represent the RCI at important
events and raise awareness of
the need for caregiver support.
As always, I want to commend all
of our CARE-NETs for their hard
work and dedication to supporting
Georgia’s caregivers. Your tireless efforts to provide resources
and trainings for them do not go
unnoticed. I am so proud to work
with such a great team of caring
individuals!
Sincerely,
Leisa Easom
Summer Edition, 2016
RCI TO HOST ANNUAL SUMMIT
“Thriving in Today’s Caregiving Journey”
The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving is hosting its 29th
Annual National Summit & Training Institute on Friday, October
21st. Today's
CARE-NET
caregiver must
traverse many
pathways to
“This year’s
seek solutions
conference
and proven
effective supwill focus on
ports to thrive
caregiving in a
in today's caregiving journey. broader sense.
This one day conference will explore caregiver needs who are
We will be looking
caring for others with diverse chronic illnesses and disability
at caregivers
across the lifespan.
across the lifespan.”
Our audience of family and professional caregivers,
service providers, and volunteers will hear from experts on
~ Dr. Leisa Easom,
topics that are on every caregiver's mind: Communicating
Assertively and Respectfully; Dealing Effectively with
RCI Executive Director
Depression and Grief; Preventing Fraud and Financial
Exploitation; Understanding Prescription Medications; Financial Planning for
Family Caregivers; and Legal Considerations for Family Caregivers.
The summit will kick off with a Networking Reception on Thursday, October 20th at
the historic Windsor Hotel where heavy
hors d'oeuvres and cocktails will be served.
Friday's summit will include breakfast and
lunch. The day will conclude with a formal
dinner and a national award recognizing
"Leadership in Caregiving" as well as our
Georgia Caregivers of the Year.
REGISTER NOW >>
INSIDE
this issue
RCI Charitable Recipient.……....pg 2
Caring for You, Caring for Me….pg 2
Interviews with Mrs. Carter.........pg 3
CARE-NETs ………………..pgs 4, 5
Announcements…………….......pg 5
QUICK RCI UPDATE
Volume 2, Issue 2
Spring Edition, 2016
RCI Named Charitable Recipient at 2016
First Lady’s Luncheon in D.C.
The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving was delighted to be
chosen as the Charitable Recipient of the 2016 Congressional Club
104th First Lady's Luncheon on May 12th. We are extremely honored
and want to thank First Lady Michelle Obama and Vivian Bishop,
Rep. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.'s wife, for their recognition of our
organization.
Ryan Coleman Foundation Donates $5,000 to CARE-NETS from RYNO 5-K & Fun Run
Words cannot express the gratitude we have for The Ryan Coleman Foundation for donating close to $5,000 to the RCI. All the
proceeds from the 3rd Annual RYNO 5-K and Fun Run held back in March went to the CARE-NETs which funds the
‘Caregivers of the Year’ awards. This was a cause that Ryan held near and dear to his heart. The race is held every year in
memory of a former RCI employee, Ryan Coleman, whose life ended too soon. Pictured above are his two beautiful daughters,
Reagan and Avery, presenting the check to RCI Executive Director Leisa Easom. The next race will be held in Americus of
November 2017 so mark your calendars.
Caring for You, Caring for Me 3rd Edition Now Available
The program guide to our Caring for You, Caring for Me program has been updated to its third
edition in full color and simplified making it more user-friendly. The program guide is designed for
health care and human service professionals who lead groups and/or conduct educational training
programs for caregivers across diseases/disability groups and throughout the lifespan. It comes with
a scripted narrative of the content and suggested activities, handouts for program participants, a USB
containing slides to support the presentation, and much more. Order Now >>
Easom Invited to Speak at Elder Abuse Summit
Dr. Leisa Easom, RCI Executive Director, spoke at the Elder Abuse Summit - “There’s No Excuse
for Elder Abuse: Collaborating to Eliminate Abuse in Later Life” - in Macon, GA on June 10th. She
discussed "Strategies for Caregivers on Coping with Frustration and Prevention of Abuse".
In observance of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15th, Georgia Legal Services Program,
Inc. hosted the summit in hopes to bring together service providers, caregivers and senior citizens to
discuss the issues surrounding elder abuse in the community.
Volume 2, Issue 2
Spring Edition, 2016
QUICK RCI UPDATE (cont.)
Latini Delivers Keynote Address at Caregiver’s Symposium
Naomi Latini, RCI Training & Implementation Specialist, was
invited to be the keynote speaker at Norton Cancer Institute’s
Caregiver Symposium in August at the University of Louisville
in Kentucky. The symposium addressed the caregiver’s role and
present discussion on why support for caregivers is important.
Naomi spoke on how the RCI seeks to change the landscape of
caregiving. Rather than a fee for service model, an outcomes
model where caregivers and agencies know the programs that the
RCI provides has the evidence to support them.
Alston Hosts Dealing with Dementia Workshop at the Carter’s Hometown Church
Gayle Alston, Director of RCI Training Center for Excellence,
led a Dealing with Dementia family caregiver workshop to over
twenty area residents at Maranatha Baptist Church, the Carter’s
hometown church, in Plains, GA on July 30th.
To date, Gayle has trained 356 Dealing with Dementia trainers.
These trainers, in turn, have provided workshops to 304 family
caregivers and 145 expert consultants.
RCI Welcomes Japanese Delegation
The RCI was pleased to welcome students from the Japanese
Delegation who were here in Americus during August to learn
about south Georgia culture. The students are posing in the
Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Garden on the campus of Georgia
Southwestern State University (GSW) with Dr. Leisa Easom, RCI
Executive Director, and Charles Patterson, GSW Interim President.
Rosalynn Carter Featured in two Magazines - Healthy Attitudes & Pain Pathways
< Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, also known as the "First Lady of Caregiving",
was featured in Healthy Attitudes magazine after being interviewed by one of our RCI
REACH sites in Los Angeles.
<< Read
article
Read article >>
> In June, she also was featured in Pain Pathways relating to caregivers and people
who have been affected by cancer. Mrs. Carter reflects on her time as a caregiver
throughout her entire life and talks about the RCI.
LOCAL CARE-NET HAPPENINGS
Volume 2, Issue 2
Spring Edition, 2016
Quarterly CARE-NET Coalition Meeting
(L-R) David Pilgrem, AARP Georgia Associate State Director
for Advocacy; Myrtle Habersham, AARP Georgia Executive
Council Member and Lead Volunteer Macon-Bibb; Former
First Lady Rosalynn Carter; Leisa Easom, RCI Executive
Director; Alice Bennett, AARP Georgia Associate State
Director for Community Outreach
The CARE-NET Coalition gathered in Macon on June 13th for their quarterly meeting. Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter
surprised attendees from the CARE-NETs as she does once a year. The meeting began with a warm welcome from Dr. Leisa
Easom, RCI Executive Director, followed by an update from Mrs. Carter. Gayle Alston, Director of the RCI Training Center for
Excellence, discussed the Dealing with Dementia Behaviors program that has taken flight throughout the state of Georgia.
Each of the CARE-NETs provided presentations to highlight their goals and accomplishments for the year. Each gave a glimpse
into their world of making an impact to expose individuals to resources that enhance the lives of caregivers in their areas.
The group was able to fellowship during lunch with each other. Leesa Rickman, Middle Georgia CARE-NET Coordinator,
introduced the speaker, Myrtle Habersham, AARP Georgia Executive Council Member and Lead Volunteer Macon-Bibb. Mrs.
Habersham provided an insightful and informative presentation on how A A RP Georgia Provides Programs and Resources
Needed to Support Caregivers. AARP staff accompanying Mrs. Habersham were David Pilgrem, Associate State Director for
Advocacy, and Alice Bennett, Associate State Director for Community Outreach. Closing remarks were given by Dr. Easom.
Atlanta CARE-NET
The Atlanta Regional Commission AAA completed a Dealing with Dementia Family Caregiver Workshop on August 13th.
Cobb Senior Services sponsored the event with Pat Baker of Gwinnett Senior Services leading the training session for caregivers
and their family members. The session was well attended and remains in high demand. A total of twenty-two caregivers attended
the event. In some instances, care receivers attended the event as well with their loved-ones. Due to the high demand for training
and space limitations, a waiting list for fourteen caregivers was created. One attendee’s response on the program evaluation form
noted, “Since my husband is in the early stages of dementia, it gave me the confidence that I am going in the right direction”.
The ARC AAA looks forward to planning additional sessions for caregivers and the Atlanta CARE-NET by September 2017.
Coastal Georgia CARE-NET
Paula Hudson, Coordinator for the Steward Companion Program and Edel
Caregiver Institute, is also the Coastal Georgia CARE-NET Coordinator.
Paula was interviewed by Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) for a
special, W ho Cares for Family Caregivers?, on caregivers and the Edel
Caregiver Institute which opened last year. Read more >>
LOCAL CARE-NET HAPPENINGS (cont.)
Volume 2, Issue 2
Spring Edition, 2016
Northeast Georgia CARE-NET
NEGA CARE-NET meeting held on April 19, 2016
NEGA CARE-NET meeting held on July 12, 2016
West Central Georgia CARE-NET
The West Central Georgia
Care-Net met on April 19th
at the Columbus office of the
River
Valley
Regional
Commission/Area Agency on
Aging for their regular
meeting. Dr. Jonathan Liss, a
local neurologist, presented
the latest information on
Alzheimer’s and the exciting
research being done locally.
Three Rivers CARE-NET
Three Rivers held their Quarterly Care-Net Meeting at
Benton House located in Newnan, Ga on August 24th.
They had great attendance and their main speaker for the
day was Jaami Rutledge, DNP, ARPN, Ageless Grace
Trainer/Educator/Presenter. The topic covered 21 Simple
Tools for Lifelong Comfort and Ease that are based on the
science of Neuroplasticity. The exercises promote joint
mobility, upper body strength, and using the five areas of
the brain.
IMPORTANT DATES
October 21, 2016 — 29th Annual RCI National Summit & Training Institute in Americus, GA
Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving
Georgia Southwestern State University
800 GSW State University Drive
Americus, GA 31709
Phone: 229-928-1234
Fax: 229-931-2663
www.RosalynnCarter.org
QUICK LINKS
Donate to RCI
E-News Sign-Up
Monthly Newsletter Archive
Read Last Issue
DDB Trainings/Workshops
Register for Summit
Click on the map to contact
the CARE-NET Coordinator
for each region.
December 6, 2016 — CARE-NET Coalition Meeting in Macon, GA 10 am - 2 pm
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Ke (Kelly) Wang is the new Data Manager at the Rosalynn Carter
Institute for Caregiving (RCI) at Georgia Southwestern State
University (GSW). In this role, Ke oversees the Institute’s data
systems development, statistical analysis of the Institute’s
intervention programs, and statistical training for RCI staff and
program site personnel.
Ke completed her doctoral degree in Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania
(UPenn) in 2014. Before joining the RCI, Ke worked as an analyst at the School of Medicine
at the University of California at San Diego (UC San Diego), a teaching assistant at the
University of Pennsylvania, and a research assistant at Marquette University.
Ke originally comes from Jinan, a beautiful city on the eastern peninsular province of China.
After living in the Midwest (Milwaukee), the East coast (Philadelphia) and the West coast
(San Diego), she has recently moved to Americus with her husband who teaches as an
assistant professor at GSW, and her twin children and parents. Ke enjoys everything that she
does with her family and friends, and is excited to start a new chapter in the lovely city of
Americus.
CONNECT WITH US
Do you know
someone that
would like to
receive this
share it with them.
Encourage others to sign
up for our monthly and
quarterly e-newsletters
so they don’t miss out on
future editions.
Questions or Comments?
Email Chelsea Collins.
Help us continue to
improve the newsletter
by
Would you like to make a contribution?
YES! I want to make a tax-deductible contribution to The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving.
Enclosed is my donation of $_____________.
Tax ID 58-1386358
Name ________________________________________________________________________________
Address ______________________________________________________________________________
City/State/Zip __________________________________________________________________________
Phone (mobile) ________________________________
I am making this gift in
memory of
(work) _________________________________
honor of
Name ________________________________________________________________________________
Address ______________________________________________________________________________
Please make check payable to the Rosalynn Carter Institute and send to: 800 Georgia Southwestern State
University Drive, Americus, GA 31709. You may also contribute online at www.rosalynncarter.org/support.
This gift is to be used as follows: (check one below)
Endowment Funds
CARE-NET
Undesignated Funds
Development
Education and Training