As November comes to a close in the next week or so and we celebrate everything we are grateful for at Thanksgiving, we want to say how thankful we are to you. You are at the heart of our mission as we promote community health through service, education and empowerment.

And as the celebration of November as Family Caregivers Month comes to a close, know we recognize family caregivers all year long in small and big ways, and hope you'll join us on Dec. 16 for our first Family Caregivers Symposium.

“Family caregivers are the backbone of our communities,” said Blair Barker, CEO of the Camarillo Health Care District. “This symposium is our way of honoring their dedication while equipping them with practical tools, emotional support, and a little bit of laughter to carry forward.”

This event — held in partnership with the Ventura County Caregiver Coalition, the Hospital to Home Alliance of Ventura County, and with generous support from the California Collaborative for Long-Term Services and Supports — is designed to uplift, educate, and empower the family caregivers who dedicate their time, energy, and love to supporting others.

The morning will begin with a complimentary catered breakfast and continue with a dynamic program focused on inspiration, education and self-care for caregivers.

Program Highlights:

• Keynote Address: “Compassion Fatigue, Post-Traumatic Caregiving, and Ambiguous Loss” presented by Brenda Birdwell of the Coast Caregiver Resource Center.
• Caregiver Panel & Q&A: A heartfelt and informative discussion featuring local professionals who also have personal experience as caregivers, including:
  • Janice Aharon-Ezer, Community Memorial Healthcare Caregiver Navigation Program
  • Martha Shapiro, Director of Programs, Conejo Valley Senior Concerns
  • Jordan Lawrence, California Central Coast Alzheimer’s Association
  • Ellen Hood, Camarillo Health Care District
  • Michelle Rios, Coast Caregiver Resource Center
• Special Guest Presentation: “Finding the Humor in the Everyday: Laughter as Medicine” by Dani Klein Modisett, founder of Laughter on Call, sponsored by the Ventura County Medical Resource Foundation, Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home and Cremation Service, and Boyko & Reardon Telegraph Road Mortuary and Cremation.
• Experiential Activities: Including virtual reality meditation and a caregiver skills lab, plus a variety of community resources to help caregivers answer the question, “Now what?”

The symposium, called “The Power of Care,” is taking place 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Ventura County Office of Education, 5100 Adolfo Road, in Camarillo. The event is free to attend, but registration is required by calling 805-388-1952.