The 11th annual Idaho Family Caregiver Conference, sponsored by the Idaho Caregiver Alliance and Boise State’s Center for the Study of Aging, invites participants from across Idaho for a virtual event Saturday, Feb. 26, from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The event provides community building and educational opportunities for informal family caregivers with sessions from Alzheimer’s Association, Family Caregiver Navigator Project, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Idaho Office of Refugees, AARP and many others.
The conference will look at caregiving from various perspectives, including Idaho’s direct care workforce, providing inclusive and culturally competent care, mindfulness and self-care practices, as well as other tools for caregivers. Boise State President Dr. Marlene Tromp – who cares for her 93-year-old mother with dementia – will deliver the keynote. Participants can choose from one of four tracks: The Future of Caregiving, Your Role as a Caregiver, You Beyond the Caregiver, and #CaregiverAnd en español.
“I am especially excited about the addition of the Spanish track this year,” said Adrian Rodriguez, a public health major at Boise State and past caregiver. “Hispanics are disproportionately affected by the role of caregiving and require different needs than non-Hispanic caregivers. The support and resources that the Idaho Caregiver Alliance provides to caregivers are invaluable.”
The Idaho Caregiver Alliance estimates that one in four Idahoans care for someone with a physical, intellectual or cognitive disability, or mental health condition. Idaho Governor Brad Little released a proclamation stating November 2021 to be National Family Caregivers Month, acknowledging the 201 million hours of unpaid caregiving in Idaho annually, as well as the struggle to find formal support systems.
The conference costs $25 to attend and registration is open until Feb. 23. Registration is free to students and anyone who registers for the Spanish track, thanks to MolinaCares Accord in collaboration with Molina Healthcare of Idaho.
“The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation works to better the lives of those in our communities,” said Marnie Packard, vice president and market leader of Molina Healthcare of Idaho. “We are thrilled to support Spanish-speaking caregivers at the Idaho Caregiver Conference by making Spanish-language tracks available. This way, more people will be empowered to improve their personal health and well-being.”
To register for the Spanish track, please can contact Ana Villanueva at (208) 426-5899. Organizations interested in purchasing tickets in bulk or sponsorship options may contact Destinie Triplett at destinietriplett@boisestate.edu or call (208) 426-5899 ext. 3.
More details, including a full agenda of the conference, are available on the Idaho Caregiver Alliance website.