LONG BEACH — On Saturday, April 7, The Institute for Healthy Aging at Keiro, Long Beach Japanese Cultural Center, and Long Beach Pioneer Project will co-present Genki Conference: Caregiver’s Edition, a free conference and resource fair to be held at Long Beach Japanese Cultural Center, 1766 Seabright Ave., Long Beach.
Sponsored by Keiro Senior HealthCare’s Endowment Fund with partial funding from the Takayama Foundation, the conference will offer tools and practical resources with compassion for current and future caregivers.
Through the presentation “Alzheimer’s Disease Basics — Warning Signs, Winning Strategies, and Potential Prevention” by Patty Barnett Mouton, vice president of outreach and advocacy at the Alzheimer’s Association Orange County Chapter, participants will learn what to look for, what they can do, and how they can reduce their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by making healthier lifestyle changes.
They can also learn what private and public resources are available for caregivers through the presentation “Navigating the Rough Waters of Caregiving” by Donna Benton, Ph.D., director of the Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center.
Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed FY 2012-13 budget calls for $4.2 billion in spending reductions, including large cuts to programs serving family caregivers. With the potential elimination of caregiver resource centers, Keiro’s work to support caregivers through conferences like these becomes even more important to the community.
At the conference, families can receive answers to difficult questions through complimentary attorney, pharmacist, and dietician consultations, available by appointment. They can equip themselves to be better caregivers with the information and services found at the resource fair, or manage their own wellness with health screenings by SCAN Health Plan and HealthCare Partners. A bento lunch will also be offered at no charge to participants.
Registration starts at 8:30 a.m., and the program runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Space is limited and reservations are required. To register, visit www.keiro.org/genki-conference-registration, email institute@keiro.org, or call Kanako Kusano at (323) 980-2353.