Coast Caregiver Resource Center Celebrates 25 Years of Supporting Family Caregivers
CCRC, one of 11 regional Caregiver Resource Centers primarily funded by the California Department of Mental Health, provides caregiver support throughout Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties.
“Family Caregivers are the invisible lynchpins who hold it together for everyone when an adult becomes incapacitated due to Traumatic Brain Injury, Alzheimer’s disease or any other brain impairing condition,” said Mary Sheridan, executive director of CCRC.
“Our job, which we’ve happily done for the past 25 years, is to provide individual interventions targeting specific problems of caregiving such as decreasing depression, increasing social support, increasing competency of care skills, and aiding caregivers to plan for future health and financial decisions that accompany chronic disabling conditions,” she added.
Robert Harbaugh, M.D., who is board certified in neurology and neurophysiology gave the keynote address titled “The Ecology of Caregiving.” Dr. Harbaugh cited the increasing number of adults with dementia and other brain impairments who will impact the health care system as the boomer generation ages.
Guests of honor included Harris Meisel, M.D., who as Director of Memorial Rehabilitation Hospital (now Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital), was responsible for bringing Coast Caregiver Resource Center to the tri-counties; Jeff Bass, community volunteer who was honored for his lifetime of service to those with disabilities; Bruce Crawford for his special attention to the needs of CCRC in San Luis Obispo County; and Paula Wilson for her 20 years of service to family caregivers as CCRC’s Office Manager.
In January of this year, Governor Brown’s proposed budget for the new state fiscal year to begin July 1, 2012 completely eliminated funding for the Caregiver Resource Centers. On April 12th, the State Senate Budget Sub-committee rejected the proposed elimination, setting the stage for the possible continuation of state funding through 2013.
Coast Caregiver Resource Center is a grant-funded program of Santa Barbara-based Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital – which is part of Cottage Health System. CCRC, one of 11 regional Caregiver Resource Centers throughout California, has served caregiving families in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties since 1987. The San Luis Obispo County location is served by satellite staff that lives and work exclusively in SLO County. More information is available atwww.coastcrc.org.
