Earlier this week Boad Member Cris Charbonneau Attended an event with AARP and Duke Health about a Moonshot for Caregiving! She shares her impressions below! What’s your moonshot for caregiving for people with dementia?
I am a caregiver. In North Carolina, approximately 1.3 million family caregivers provided an estimated 1.11 billion hours of care in 2017 — worth a staggering $13.1 billion — according to AARP. Earlier this week, I attended an event facilitated by MSNBC / NBC News anchor, author and filmmaker, Richard Lui and hosted by AARP North Carolina and Duke Health, with leaders, advocates and researchers engaged in meaningful, inspiring dialogue about caregiving moonshots and the future of caregiving. I felt hopeful and energized by the ideas in the room and as I reflect on the conversations, I continue to feel excited. 🙇🏻♀️When I began my journey as a caregiver in the midst of crisis, whether it was for my daughter needing a kidney transplant, helping to navigate long-term care for my brother, who is a disabled veteran, or moving and supporting my parents with advancing dementia, I felt unprepared, overwhelmed and alone. Now, I work for Fidelity Investments, a company that sees me at this stage of life. I have benefits that provide me access to a care coordinator, a wealth of educational and mental health resources, including 12 counseling sessions, legal services and financial advisors to help me navigate estate planning, and back-up dependent care (for both children and my aging loved ones). Fidelity also invests in and provides space for 10 employee resource groups, including caregiver group RAISE, to help find solace and share resources and experiences with a community who are in the same season of life. But that’s access that not everyone has, either because of their socio-economic background, culture or geographic location. ✨I want to see that change. We need to provide greater access to intergenerational, culturally competent community-driven caregiving education and financial and emotional support.✨ A moonshot, as it’s coined, is possible. We need bold solutions in caregiving—solutions that transcend barriers of geography, culture, and access so no one feels unprepared or alone on their caregiving journey. 🚀 What’s your moonshot for caregiving? #fidelityassociate #caregiving #alzheimers Dementia Alliance of North Carolina, CareYaya, Patti Williams, Heather Burkhardt, Heather Hooper, Heather Altman, Neal K. Shah, Roxy Garrity, Nirvana Mansour Hosseini Tari