Episode Description
Hey Caregiver!
I have learned so much on this caregiving journey and one of the things that I have witnessed, and have learned from others, is that middle-class people (folks that have worked all of their lives, have assets, but do not have access to 10s of thousands of dollars/disposable income) find themselves depleting ALL of what they have to get adequate health care, equipment, activities, etc. or going without. Those that make too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to write a check for a $5000 Barton Chair or pay an agency $35/hr for around-the-clock care. And, what about the family caregiver?! Well, that's what Dr. Donna Benton, Director of the USC Family Caregiver Support Center (FCSC) and the Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center (LACRC), and I will discuss in this episode.
Dr. Benton has over 30 years of experience in providing direct service, advocacy and programs for families caring for persons with dementia. Her research focus is on the development of online evidence-based interventions for family caregivers to improve mental and physical health and well-being and prevention of elder mistreatment. She also serves as a mentor to students interested in advocacy for caregivers.
Dr. Benton is with us today as a representative of the California Caregiver Resource Centers, which is a network of 11 centers throughout California which annually serve over 18,000 family caregivers who are caring for adults affected by chronic and debilitating health conditions, degenerative diseases, or traumatic brain injury.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Dr. Benton's CRC (LA CRC):
fcsc.usc.edu
Instagram & Twitter: @uscfcsc
Dr. Benton's Personal Twitter: @donnabentonphd
Statewide CRCs:
caregivercalifornia.org
Instagram & Twitter: @caregiver_ca