In late June, family caregivers, healthcare professionals and community organizations gathered at the Scott Conference Center in Omaha for the inaugural “Together We Care: Uniting Families and Professionals Across the Lifespan” conference. Coordinated through the College of Nursing’s Continuing Interprofessional Development and Innovation (CiPDI) office, the conference focused on strengthening support, education and connections for caregivers across the lifespan.
The conference was developed through collaboration between CiPDI, the MMI’s Family Care Enhancement Project, social work representative from Nebraska Medicine and community partners. Drawing on conversations with family caregivers and healthcare professionals, organizers identified a need for greater education, shared learning and access to resources that support both caregivers and those they care for.
“The vision for Together We Care was to create an environment where family caregivers and healthcare professionals could learn from one another,” said Renee Paulin, DNP, assistant director of CiPDI and course director for the conference. “We hoped attendees would leave with a deeper understanding of caregivers’ needs, greater awareness of community resources and strategies they could immediately apply in their work and daily lives.”
Conference speakers included Kim Whitmore, PhD, of Marquette University; Steven Wengel, MD, of UNMC; and other experts who shared practical strategies for supporting caregivers and families.
A highlight of the event was a caregiver panel featuring Jean Jackson, caregiver/dementia awareness advocate, Kim Falk, FCEP program manager, Jennifer Hansen and Graciela Sharif, FCEP parent resource coordinators. Panelists shared their experiences caring for children and young adults with developmental disabilities, as well as aging family members, offering attendees valuable insight into the challenges and rewards of caregiving. The conference also included a community resource fair connecting participants with organizations and services available throughout Nebraska.
“This event was all about bringing people together to learn, connect and discover meaningful resources that support caregivers and the communities around them,” Falk said. “There were opportunities to engage in sessions, network and gain new knowledge.”