Striking A Balance Caregiver Conference

Save the Date for the 20th Annual
“Striking a Balance” Caregiver Conference:
August 16-21, 2021

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the annual Striking a Balance Caregiver Conference – the largest, longest-run free caregiver conference in Central Texas, co-hosted by AGE of Central Texas and the Area Agency on Aging of the Capital Area.

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.

For 2021, participants will experience 3 days of virtual expert presentations on August 17th through 19th, followed by celebratory luncheon on Saturday, August 21st, at Norris Conference Center in Austin.  The luncheon will feature special guest and television star Chet Garner, from The Daytripper, and will include an in-person Information & Resource Fair.

Registration will open on June 15th, so check back for updates and more information!

PRESENTING SPONSOR:

– 2020 Conference –

Monday, August 17th:
Tuesday, August 18th:
Wednesday, August 19th:
Keynote Presentations by author, national speaker, and caregiving expert Marty Richards
Thursday, August 20th:
Conference Resources:
Keynote Speaker: 
Marty Richards, MSW, LICSW

For more than 40 years, Marty Richards, MSW, has worked with older adults in their families in long term care facilities and in the community. She taught at the UW School of Social Work and with the Certificate Program in Gerontology for more than 30 years.  She currently serves on the WA state Dementia Action Collaborative.  She is the author of the book Caresharing: A Reciprocal Approach to Care Giving and Care Receiving in the Complexities of Aging Illness or Disability.  During her career, she has worked with family carers and staff of many workplaces to look at and cope with stress.  She believes that keeping a sense of hope is critical in taking care of ourselves and those with whom we share in our work.  She currently lives in Port Townsend, WA.

– Featured Speakers –
Patience Buchanan, LMSW
Accountable Aging Care Management

Patience has been helping individuals and families navigate healthcare and other systems for more than 15 years.  She received both a Bachelor of Science in Education degree and a Master of Science in Social Work degree from the University of Texas in Austin.  Patience worked in health and human services for the State of Texas for ten years.  She also has extensive experience as a case manager, skilled nursing admission and discharge planner and hospice social worker.  Prior to joining Accountable Aging, Patience served as Director of Care Management at ProperCare Care Management.  Her forte is building trusting relationships with individuals and families facing decisions about healthcare needs.  Her guiding principal is to enrich lives by connecting people to comprehensive support systems that promote successful living.  She and her husband (and their spunky Sheltie) live in Dripping Springs.

Amy Goyer, AARP Caregiving Expert

Amy Goyer is AARP’s national family and caregiving expert and moderates AARP’s Family Caregivers Discussion Group on Facebook. Amy has more than 35 years of professional experience serving and advocating for older adults, children and families, and people with disabilities. She has been a family caregiver her entire adult life, caring for her grandparents, parents, sisters and other relatives and friends. She writes extensively for AARP about her experiences caring for her mother, Patricia, who died in 2013, and her father, Robert, who lived with Alzheimer’s disease for 12 years before his death in 2018. Amy has written three books and appears regularly as a caregiving authority on network news shows, including more than a dozen times on NBC’s Today. She has been a guest on Dr. Phil and The Doctors and been interviewed by CNN, NPR, the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and People, among other media outlets.

Virginia Sampson, Attorney at Law

Virginia Sampson has been an attorney for 34 years. She was a litigation attorney for most of her career, and spent a few years as a judge. She recently focused her practice on helping seniors, Veterans, and their families as a result of her experience helping her own aging parents. She currently practices Elder Law in Austin and the Central Texas area. Virginia is accredited with the Veteran’s Administration to handle claims. She is admitted to practice law in Texas, Arizona, California and Pennsylvania.  Virginia became involved in elder law and estate planning as a result of helping her parents and their friends navigate the aging process. She understands the challenges and emotional issues we face as we age. She also lost her husband to ALS and understands what it means to face a devastating, life changing illness. Virginia not only brings to her clients many years of legal expertise, but also a deep compassion for them as they navigate these difficult life events.among other media outlets.

2020 Conference Sponsors

PRESENTING SPONSOR:

GOLD SPONSORS:

SESSION SPONSOR:

MEDIA SPONSORS:

Senior Resource Guide logo new