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November is just around the corner and with it comes National Caregiver Month. Every year the Maui County Office on Aging celebrates the incredible work of family caregivers at the Maui Family Caregiver Conference. Registration opens Tuesday for the for the Friday conference at the Grand Wailea.
"Drift Away for a Day" is this year's theme and it reminds caregivers that respite and self-care are essential for long-term caregiving. Just before takeoff, flight attendants tell us that in the event of an emergency we must first put on our own mask before helping others. This principle is true for caregivers also -- they can't provide safe and quality care for others if they are exhausted, sick or burned out.
It's not selfish to prioritize your own physical, mental and emotional needs. In fact, doing so is a loving act to the person for whom you are caring. It says, I'm investing in my health so I'm here for you long term.
This year's conference is sponsored by Maui County Office on Aging, AARP Hawaii and the Maui Adult Day Care Centers, and attendance is expected to include 325 caregivers. Caregivers will enjoy high quality speakers, the beautiful and relaxing surroundings of the Grand Wailea and networking opportunities with over 30 exhibitors at the resource fair portion of the conference.
Equip yourself for your continued caregiving journey with information and tools from speakers and panelists from Hawaii and the Mainland. Come, listen and learn. Registration cost includes conference materials, continental breakfast, buffet lunch and chance to win prizes. For family caregivers, seniors and students, the registration is just $35, and for professionals it is $50. Limited scholarships are available to qualified individuals, and bus transportation from Central Maui is available through MEO on a first-come, first-served basis.
Amy Goyer is this year's keynote speaker. She is a nationally acclaimed speaker and author who has specialized on aging and caregiving issues for more than 30 years. Since the age of 23 she has also been a caregiver to her grandmother and later to her parents and other family members. If you haven't heard her speak before, you are in for a real treat. She blends her personal and professional experiences together to inspire, encourage and support family caregivers. To learn more about Goyer, visit her website at amygoyer.com.
Caregiver Talk Story is new to this year's conference. A panel of local family caregivers will talk about their challenges, worries and triumphs as they candidly talk about what it means to be a family caregiver. This talk story session will feel like you are joining an open and honest living room conversation in which they invite you to reflect on your own experiences and find the joy, fulfillment and support you need.
Frances Kakugawa is an advocate for family caregivers and will be the conference's afternoon speaker. She is an award-winning writer and poet who used her talent for the written word as a tool for self-care and understanding while caring for her mother who had Alzheimer's disease. To this day she leads a poetry-writing support group and inspires caregivers throughout the Mainland and Hawaii with her words. Her motto is "Take care of yourself first." To learn more about Kakugawa, visit her website at franceskakugawa.wordpress.com.
Rosalynn Carter, the former first lady, perfectly describes not only our relationship to caregiving, but also those who would benefit from the 18th annual Family Caregiver Conference. She said, "There are only four kinds of people in the world: Those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers."
Whether you are one of those who will be caregivers or are currently caregiving, this annual conference offers opportunities to learn and practice skills that lead to healthy and supported family caregivers.
Registration begins Tuesday for the 18th annual Family Caregiver Conference, and you can choose from three different registration options:
1. Online at www.mauicountyadrc.org.
2. Mail in the registration form from any conference flyer.
3. Sign up in person at the Maui County Office on Aging in the J. Walter Cameron Center, Room 20.
A limited number of scholarships are available; contact Sharon Nobriga at 808-270-5559 for scholarship details. Seats are limited, so register today!
* Heather Greenwood-Junkermeier is with the University of Hawaii Manoa Cooperative Extension, Maui Aging and Intergenerational Programs. Today's column was written jointly with Heavenly Quintero, an intern in UH Maui College's Human Services Program. "Aging Matters" covers topics related to older adults and their families and appears on the third Saturday of each month.