Conference Program

Is Family Caregiving the Next Public Health Crisis?
The 11th Annual National Conference of Caregiver Advocates
Presented by The National Alliance for Caregiving.
Tuesday, March 21 | 8:30 AM–4:00 PM
Regency D (West Tower, Gold Level)
CEU Credits: 0
Fee: $50. Pre-registration is required.
After two decades working to improve the lives of America’s family caregivers through research, innovation and advocacy, the
National Alliance for Caregiving continues to look ahead.
We know caregiver stress can lead to serious health problems. As we examine the relationship between family caregiving and
public health, namely caregiver stress, an aging population and a shrinking family caregiver workforce, we ask Is family
caregiving the next public health crisis? Presentations for this all-day event will feature informed and diverse insights from
public health experts, caregiving innovators and engaged advocates.
Presentation Topics
Is Family Caregiving the Next Public Health Crisis? (Featured Speaker and Fireside Chat)
Policy Perspectives on Public Health and Family Caregiving
Presentations on Creative Caregiving, International Caregiving, and Caregiving Research
Social and Cultural Perspectives on Public Health and Family Caregiving
Inside-the-Beltway Updates on Family Caregiving Legislation & Advocacy
Gail Hunt
COLLABORATING ORGANIZATION PROGRAMS
This event builds on work uncovered in the 2016 meeting, The Next 20 Years in Caregiving. The one-day program featured
national experts on caregiving as we reflected on how far our society has come in supporting family caregivers, and what
would be in store for caregiving 20 years from now. Over 175 caregiving advocates attended the 2016 program including
representatives from the National Network of Caregiving Coalitions, a virtual network of 80+ state and local caregiving
coalitions across the U.S.
Presenters: Neelum Aggarwal, MD, Staff, Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center; Bob Blancato, MPA, President, Matz, Blancato &
Associates; Sita Diehl, MA, MSSW, Director, Policy & State Outreach, Advocacy & Public Policy, National Alliance on Mental
Illness (NAMI); Rick Greene, MSW, Executive Advisor, National Alliance for Caregiving; Gail Hunt, President and CEO,
National Alliance for Caregiving; Lisa McGuire, PhD, Lead, Alzheimer’s Disease and Healthy Aging Program (AD+HAP),
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; Darby Morhardt, PhD, LCSW, Research Associate
Professor of Cognitive Neurology & Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Northwestern University; Elena Rios, MD, MSPH, President
and CEO, National Hispanic Medical Association; Judith Rocha, LCSW, PhD Candidate, University of Illinois at Chicago;
Richard Schulz, PhD, Director, University Center for Social and Urban Research, University of Pittsburgh; Pernessa Seele,
DHL, MS, Founder and CEO, The Balm In Gilead, Inc.; Jennie Smith-Peers, Executive Director, Elders Share the Arts; Melissa
Williams, Manager of Health Care, National Patient Advocate Foundation; Meredith Ponder Whitmire, JD, Senior Associate,
Matz, Blancato & Associates Michael Wittke, BSW, Director of Advocacy, National Alliance for Caregiving.
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