The 17th Annual Striking A Balance Caregiver Conference will be held on Saturday, August 25, 2018, at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Austin (6505 N Interstate Hwy 35, Austin, TX 78752), from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. AGE of Central Texas and the Area Agency on Aging of the Capital Area come together every year to co-host the largest, longest-run free caregiver conference in Central Texas.
During this free annual conference, family caregivers discover local resources, learn new skills to meet the needs of their caregiving situation, and connect with other caregivers and local experts on aging. The day also includes a keynote talk by a nationally-renown expert in aging and caregiver concerns, workshops on topics related to caregiving with experts available for questions, along with a complimentary lunch and opportunities to visit with leading senior services non-profit organizations and companies.
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Barry J. Jacobs
Barry J. Jacobs, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist and family therapist, is one of the country’s leading thinkers, writers, and educators on family caregiving. For his first book, The Emotional Survival Guide for Caregivers: Looking After Yourself and Your Family While Helping an Aging Parent, he has pulled together several strands from his life – the knowledge gained from personal experiences as a child of a family caregivers, the writing skills honed in his years as a magazine journalist, and professional expertise gleaned during nearly 20 years as a clinician specializing in families and illness. During the past 16 years, Dr. Jacobs has continued to bring attention to the needs of the underserved by devoting himself to families coping with chronic and traumatic illnesses. Since 1994, he has been a faculty member of the Crozer-Keystone Family Medicine Residency Program in Springfield, PA, where he is responsible for teaching budding family physicians about basic psychiatry, interviewing skills, and being attuned to the needs and emotions of patients’ family members.
2018 “Striking a Balance” Caregiver Conference Schedule:
8:30 a.m. – Registration and Resource Fair
9:00 a.m. – Breakout Sessions #1 (Choose 1):
Working Family Caregivers Can Find the Right Balance – Dr. Julia L. Mayer, Psy.D.:
Strategies for better balancing work and caregiving – and finding joy in both – including ideas for sustaining a positive outlook, receiving validation, and caring for yourself.
Real Men Are Family Caregivers, Too – Dr. Barry J. Jacobs, Psy.D.:
A frank discussion about the special challenges – and privileges – of being a male caregiver and the particular ways that men can best gain support in order to fulfill their caregiving missions.
I’m a Caregiver: Now What? – Lori Hill:
Useful information about what to do early on in your caregiving journey, the importance of self-care, and different options available for respite care.
10:15 a.m. – Break and Resource Fair
10:30 a.m. – Breakout Sessions #2 (Choose 1):
Sleep Changes Through Aging and Behavioral Approaches to Improve Sleep –
Dr. Patricia A. Carter:
Understanding how sleep patterns naturally change with age, and how to overcome caregiving challenges.
Nutrition and Aging: Challenges and Solutions –
Audrey Bludau Poche, Licensed Dietitian:
Meeting nutritional needs as individuals’ age presents a variety of challenges; learn how to approach nutrition challenges and discover practical solutions for caregivers.
11:45 a.m. – Break and Resource Fair
12:00 p.m. – Lunch and Keynote Presentation:
Finding Gratitude and Positive Meaning in Family Caregiving
Dr. Barry J. Jacobs, Psy.D., and Dr. Julia L. Mayer Psy.D.:
We’ll share stories and strategies for finding caregiving’s positive rewards, including personal and spiritual growth, an enhanced sense of purpose, and the gratification of knowing you are making a vital difference in the life of your family.
1:15 p.m. – Question and Answer Sessions (Choose 1):
Male Caregivers, Working Caregivers, and the Rewards of Caregiving
Dr. Barry J. Jacobs and Dr. Julia L. Mayer
Facilitator: K.C. Lawrence, LMSW
Sleep Changes and Effective Behavioral Approaches
Dr. Patricia A. Carter
Facilitator: Katie Sammann, LMFT-A
Strategies for Balancing Good Nutrition and Quality of Life
Audrey Bludau Poche, LD
Facilitator: Jessica Martone
2:00 p.m. – Conference Ends
Registration Is Now Open — Click Here to Register for FREE
2018 Conference Sponsors:
Breakfast Sponsor:
Lunch Sponsor:
Bag Sponsor:
Gold Sponsors:
Silver Sponsors:
Bronze Sponsors:
Media Sponsors:
