Caregiver Support
AAA Director to Speak at National Aging Conference
Don Smith, United Way Community Development Division Vice President and Director of United Way’s Area Agency on Aging, will showcase part of United Way’s Live Well initiative at the national Aging in America Conference in Washington, D.C.
The invitation to speak at the March 28 conference came from the prestigious Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving (RCI). The Institute establishes local, state and national partnerships committed to building quality long-term, home and community-based services. “We at the RCI are excited about the great work being done in Texas to support caregivers,” said RCI Director of National Initiatives Laura Bauer Granberry in an email to Don.
Don (pictured at right) will speak at the conference about the partnership United Way’s Area Agency on Aging has developed with the Alzheimer’s Association – North Central Texas Chapter to enhance the health and resilience of people who care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease or other severe memory loss.
Together the organizations are teaching caregivers specific skills related to home safety, stress management and other topics that are proven to improve the lives of caregivers and those in their care. During the last year, 381 local caregivers received education and support.
The free program, called REACH (Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer’s Caregiver Health), is based on extensive research conducted at the Stanford School of Medicine and other sites.
Joining Don in the national spotlight at the Aging in America Conference will be Susanna Luk-Jones, Director of Program Services at the local Alzheimer’s Association chapter; and Dr. Alan Stevens, Centennial Chair in Gerontology and Director, Center for Applied Health Research, Scott & White Healthcare in Temple, Tex. Dr. Stevens was a REACH consultant and co-authored the “Caregiver’s Notebook” used by the Area Agency on Aging and Alzheimer’s Association.
REACH is one of several services that make up United Way’s Live Well healthy aging and independent living initiative. Goals of the three-year Live Well initiative include:
• Caregivers better prepared to care for loved ones—and themselves
• Fewer hospital visits and nursing home admissions
• People who know how to manage their diabetes and reduce the risk of complications
Our Vision
Tarrant County will be a place where children, individuals and families thrive, where neighbors care for each other and where people willingly share the responsibility of ensuring a safe and healthy community for all.
Our Mission
To improve lives across our diverse communities by:
- Prioritizing needs in education, income and health
- Forming innovative and effective partnerships with other organizations
- Strategically raising and investing resources to make lasting change
Our Diversity Statement
United Way of Tarrant County values and seeks diversity by respecting the knowledge, abilities and experience of all individuals. Our commitment is to support an inclusive environment reflecting our United Way communities and accomplishing our mission.
