Updates as of March 29th:

Here is some information about upcoming programs through COPSA:

Care2Caregivers a program through COPSA Institute for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders   Rutgers Health, University Behavioral Health Care invites you to a webinar “Understanding Caregiver Grief and Loss.”  Caregivers experience many types of grief over the long process of caring for someone with memory loss.  This presentation will help caregivers explore their own experiences and identify ways they can cope and heal through the process. Learn how to understand, accept, and honor your grief. Click here for the flyer.

Here is the April newsletter for COPSA Institute for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders at Rutgers Health, University Behavioral Health Care and a list of their April programs.

Here is a link to caregiver listening sessions sponsored by the Caregiver Task Force of New jersey. They have been charged with a one-year mission to develop recommendations to the legislature to help New Jersey's caregivers. The task force is staffed by the Division of Aging, DHS and consists of a few caregiver representatives as well as representatives from various organizations that touch caregivers including Alzheimer's New Jersey, The Arc of NJ, NAMI NJ, AARP, CaregiversNJ, the Home Care and Hospice Association of NJ.  
 
Caregivers play a vital role in the lives of many New Jerseyans, including older adults and individuals with disabilities, chronic health conditions and cognitive or behavioral health challenges. The New Jersey Caregiver Task Force created by the Murphy Administration and the Legislature is holding three virtual listening sessions via Zoom to hear from residents on how to support caregivers. The testimony will help shape recommendations to enhance and expand support services.

Resources from RWJ Barnabas:

COVID-19 Exposure, Testing, and Quarantine:  What Do I Need to Know?covid-19_exposure_testing_and_quarantine_english.pdf 
COVID - 19 Exposure, Testing and Quarantine: What Do I Need to Know? - Chinese
COVID-19 Exposure, Testing, and Quarantine:  What Do I Need to Know?  - Spanish
COVID-19 Exposure, Testing, and Quarantine:  What Do I Need to Know? - Indian
The Strain of COVID:   Take Your Shot at a Vaccine Webinar on Tuesday, March 9th. ​the_strain_of_covid_-_take_your_shot_a_a_vaccine_webinar_3-9-21_v2.pdf

Bring Back the Joy: Hosted by Alzeimer's NJ

Have you lost a loved one due to complications of the Coronavirus pandemic? Atlantic Health System offers a forum for you to meet with others experiencing the same grief. Time: Wednesdays, 12:00pm-1:00pm, starting April 22, 2020 Place: Zoom Virtual Meetings To Register: Contact their hotline at 862-260-3199 and press option #3 to speak with a social worker, who will add your name to the invitation. You will need to provide an e-mail address.

Care2Caregivers is a free, confidential help-line for anyone concerned about or caring for someone with memory issues. Their peer counselors have been caregivers themselves, so they know first hand what you are going through. They are professional-trained and a have a wealth of tips and lessons learned to help you on your caregiving journey. They can also connect you with a broad range of services. Here is their website https://www.care2caregivers.com/

We are urging all families to register their loved ones on Register Ready- NJ.  Register Ready was created to help people with a disability in times of emergency.  NJ residents with a physical or mental disability that restricts the ability for that individual to perform normal daily tasks are encouraged to add their personal information to this special needs registry.  You must register every year to stay on the registry.  

There is a lot of information out there right now and getting accurate, true information is very important.  I encourage everyone to check the Somerset County website www.co.somerset.nj.us for information regarding Covid-19.