#04-210
Sept. 2, 2004

Rosalynn Carter Institute plans first statewide caregiving conference Nov. 19

AMERICUS, Ga.--The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving will host its first statewide caregiving conference Nov. 19 at the Carter Presidential Center, located in Atlanta. "Creating Caring Caregiver Networks" will feature remarks from former First Lady Rosalynn Carter and invited speaker Josefina G. Carbonell, Assistant Secretary for Aging, U.S. Administration on Aging. 

"While there is increasing national attention being directed to the needs of caregivers, insufficient information and funding have trickled down to communities, which are the places where care is provided," said Ronda C. Talley, Ph.D., MPH, RCI executive director. "Now, communities need to work smarter and harder to meet the health concerns of growing numbers of the elderly as well as those with chronic health conditions. 

"The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving started the CARE-NET program in 1990 to help communities increase their capacities to support caregivers of those in need," Talley added. "Our conference on creating community caregiving networks celebrates the responsiveness of CARE-NETs in addressing community caregiving concerns." 

In addition to Mrs. Carter and Assistant Secretary Carbonell, other speakers will include motivational speaker and author of "Chicken Soup for the Caregiver's Soul" LeAnn Thieman, as well as representatives from the AARP Foundation. 

"The 'Creating Caring Caregiver Networks' conference highlights the work of the CARE-NETs, caregiving networks composed of professional and family caregivers, in Georgia," said Terry Elder, CARE-NET project director. "We are proud of the work CARE-NETs do to improve services for caregivers in their communities, and encourage caregivers from all walks of life to attend this important conference." 

This is the first RCI conference to be held in Georgia's capital. Past conferences have been organized in Americus and Columbus. The RCI is headquartered at Mrs. Carter's alma mater, Georgia Southwestern State University, and maintains an office in Washington, D.C. 

This conference is co-sponsored the Georgia AARP and the State of Georgia's Division of Aging Services. For more information, visit www.RosalynnCarter.org or call (229) 928-1234.

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