Colorado Respite Coalition

10/08/2026

America’s story includes caregivers—because caregiving is a force that connects us all.

As part of the nation's 250th anniversary celebration, Easterseals is sharing the powerful stories from families and their experience with disability, caregiving, and the search for support.

This short documentary highlights the essential role that disability services, caregiver resources, and community connections play in helping people live with greater independence and opportunity.

Watch the video here:

10/01/2026

7 books about caregiving 📖

If you’re the type of person who turns to reading, you can find company and wisdom in the many excellent books about caregiving. Here is a list of seven to get started!

📖 Bedside Witness: Stories of Hope, Healing, and Humanity by Kay M. Adams

📖 Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast

📖 Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul Gawande

📖 Travelers to Unimaginable Lands: Stories of Dementia, the Caregiver, and the Human Brain by Dasha Kipper

📖 The 36-Hour Day: A Family Guide to Caring for People with Alzheimer Disease, Other Dementias, and Memory Loss in Later Life by Nancy L. Mace

📖 Tears in My Gumbo: The Caregiver’s Recipe for Resilience by Nadine Roberts Cornish

📖 Tender: The Imperfect Art of Caring by Penny Wincer

Do you have a favorite book about caregiving? Comment below ⤵️

09/28/2026

We know that changes to Medicaid that went into effect on July 1st have reduced many families’ Medicaid coverage. This has caused confusion, worry, and real financial consequences for families. As the changes continue to roll out (more are planned for January 1st 2027, and July 1st 2027), families will need to keep navigating the benefits available to them.

One of the best things you can do now is work with organizations whose missions center around getting caregivers connected to benefits. Here are two resources to look into:

➡️ Benefits In Action - a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting our diverse community with the support and resources they need to thrive. https://www.benefitsinaction.org/
➡️ MyFriendBen - Industry-leading technology to make securing public benefits easy and dignified. In just six minutes, get access to support and funds. Fill out the screener for your state because BEN has your back. https://www.myfriendben.org/

At CRC, we will keep sharing resources as more changes go into effect. For now, if you want to talk to a human about finding respite care, call the Respite Care Hotline at 303-233-1666 x8.

09/24/2026

Have you heard of Grace and Vava? They are a grandmother/granddaughter pair who live together. Vava has dementia and Grace is her primary caregiver. They were recently featured in Today. Read about it here:

Their love of singing, coffee and cats is taking social media by storm.

09/20/2026

RESOURCES THIS WAY! There are many resources out there for caring for older adults, but sometimes, it’s hard to know where to start. Here are some ideas:

➡️ Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) - The AAAs are organizations that help caregivers of older adults with accessing resources like home delivered meals, transportation, caregiver support groups, and more. Call 844-265-2372 or visit their website to learn more: c4a-colorado.org/services/%20

➡️ Aging and Disability Resources for Colorado (ADRC) - ADRC provides information on long-term services and support options available to older adults, including options counseling, future planning, and informed decision-making. Call 1.844.COL.ADRC (1.844.265.2372) to learn more.

➡️ American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) - AARP helps you find tips and support for taking care of older adults, from providing personal care, medical management and financial guidance to finding a healthy work-life balance: https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/

➡️ 211 Colorado - Aging and Disability Resources - 211 Colorado offers a database of services for older adults and people with disabilities, including transportation, senior housing, and long-term care services. You can visit the website or just dial 2-1-1 to learn more: https://www.211colorado.org/aging-and-disability/

09/16/2026

Caregiver Events Round Up: September 2026!

Join an event that builds caregiver skills, community, or provides respite so you can take a break!

🧠Every Tuesday: Memory Cafe at the Virginia Village Branch Library https://denverlibrary.libcal.com/calendar?t=g&q=memory%20cafe&cid=-1&cal=-1&inc=0 Coming up: Creative Movement with Colorado Ballet, Qi Gong
💡September 16 What’s Your Thing? With Jane Barton and Arapahoe County Libraries https://cardinalife.com/events
💬September 23 Helpful Tools for Communicating with People Living with Dementia with Kay Adams https://www.kaymadams.com/event/helpful-tools-to-communicate-with-people-living-with-dementia/
💝September 26 The Gift of Showing Up: How Supporting Dementia Caregivers Can Enrich Your Life https://www.kaymadams.com/event/the-gift-of-showing-up-how-supporting-dementia-caregivers-can-enrich-your-life/
🧑‍🦼September 26 Disability Symposium and Resource Fair https://www.acwd2026symposium.com/home
🗓️October 1 Long-Term Care Planning for Aging Parents: What Every Family Caregiver Should Know https://www.caregiveraction.org/longterm-care-planning/
🧠October 8 More Than Memory: Understanding Brain Change & Dementia from the Inside Out https://morethanmemory1026.eventbrite.com/
📚October 13 Peak Parent Center Conference on Inclusive Education
https://www.peakparent.org/events/peak-parent-center-conference-on-inclusive-education/

Check out more upcoming events here: https://coloradorespitecoalition.org/events/

09/14/2026

Thank you, Colorado Public Radio , for the recent story.

Caregiving is the hardest job you never applied for. Some experts offer advice and resources.

We agree. Our website, along with many other resources, get a shout out in the article. Read it here:

'It encompasses being a chauffeur, an Uber driver, a chef, and a navigator, a bookkeeper. I would say one of the most important things is being an advocate for the person that you're caring for. That's probably the biggest part of the job description.'

09/09/2026

The Healthy Balance Lab at Portland State University is conducting a fully remote research study on the work-life balance of dementia caregivers They aim to understand how paid employment and unpaid caregiving impacts psychological and physiological stress. Participation is voluntary and confidential. This study is led by a former dementia caregiver; it has been reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB).

The study consists of two 60-minute commitments: a survey and guided measurements and samplings. Full participation is compensated up to $90 via Amazon gift card.

If interested, please use this survey to check your eligibility and access the study consent form (~15 minutes): https://portlandstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6VvQYOuSjsMN5jg

09/04/2026

Did you miss our new toolkit: The Employer’s Guide to Supporting the Working Caregiver?

Even if you offer benefits to family caregivers in your workplace, ask a critical question: How many of our employees actually know these benefits exist?

National benchmarking data reveals a severe communication breakdown: more than half of benefits managers admit that their employees are “not very” or “not at all” aware of the caregiving benefits their organization offers.

Furthermore, information is rarely integrated, as only 50% of employers communicate caregiving resources alongside traditional medical and health benefits on their corporate portals.

For information on how to remedy this, download our guide: https://coloradorespitecoalition.org/learning-center/caregiver-friendly-workplace-toolkit/

09/01/2026

End-of-life planning…. It’s a topic that’s easy to avoid…until it isn’t. 

Re-watch our free webinar, “End-of-Life Planning” which features a diverse panel of speakers: 

🔵 An Elder Law Attorney

🔵 A Long Term Care Eligibility Expert

🔵 A Representative from Benefits in Action

🔵 A Certified Senior Advisor 

🔵 A Caregiver Who Has Been Through It 

Get your questions about getting on Medicaid, getting paid as a caregiver, and more answered by watching this webinar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=099pnacco4I