Pick up key tips you can use right now to feel less overwhelmed and better prepared to be a caregiver. We’ll help you get organized and find useful resources.

About the Event

Everyone’s caregiving path is unique, and preparation can make a significant difference. While the journey may feel unpredictable and overwhelming, support is available. AARP volunteer Leigh Broadway offers practical guidance to help you get organized, explore available resources and know when to use them, and prioritize your own well-being.

About the Series

Tea and Coffee Tuesdays with AARP is a monthly series featuring speakers who share their expertise on healthy aging, livable communities and how to thrive at any age.

How to Join

Sign in to your aarp.org account or create an account to register for events. AARP membership is not required. You will receive an email with the Zoom link before the session. Register here.

Tuesday, Sep 9, 2025

12:00 p.m. ET • 11:00 a.m. CT • 10:00 a.m. MT • 9:00 a.m. PT

Duration: 60 Minutes

Zoom - Free Online Event

For questions, contact AARP CA at caaarp@aarp.org

Disability Rights California Community Conversations: Public Safety for People with Disabilities

Join us for a virtual discussion.

Join us for an important conversation about public safety from a disability justice perspective. DRC invites disabled individuals and their families to come together, share experiences, and envision safer, more inclusive communities for all. For more information click here.

Register here.

This event will center the voices of people with disabilities, highlighting the barriers faced in interactions with law enforcement and exploring non-carceral, community-based alternatives to policing. Through storytelling, community discussions, and collective vision-building, we will explore ways to ensure that disabled people can live, work, and move freely without fear of harm or discrimination. 

Event Goals: 

• Elevate the lived experiences of people with disabilities in conversations about public safety 

• Inform Disability Rights California’s work across investigations, litigation, policy development, and direct services 

• Build community power by centering disabled individuals as leaders and change-makers 

• Raise public awareness of the unique challenges disabled people face when interacting with law enforcement 

Disability and Law Enforcement Survey

Disability Rights California would like to understand the impact of law enforcement on the disability community. The goal of this survey is to gather valuable information that will help guide our initiatives, advocacy, and priorities moving forward. Your voice is crucial in shaping a more inclusive and accessible environment for all people with disabilities.

Your experience matters – Take part in our survey today

Reasonable Accommodations: Deadline to request reasonable accommodations is August 29, 2025. Requests received after this date may not be possible to provide for this event.

Our Facilitators 

Megan Buckles (she/her/hers), Public Policy Attorney

Megan's work focuses on public safety and accessibility issues. She was previously a Staff Attorney with the Civil Rights Practice Group at Disability Rights California (DRC), focusing on the intersectionality of race, poverty, and disability in education, housing, and the criminal legal system. She also previous served as a Senior Policy Analyst for the Disability Justice Initiative at the Center for American Progress (CAP), where she advocated and advanced policy priorities related to the intersectionality of disability justice, racial justice, and economic mobility.

Prior to CAP, Megan was a Clients' Rights Advocate at DRC, where she advised and represented clients on a variety of matters including eligibility for public benefits, regional center services, and special education. 

Paula Sandoval (she/her), Supervising Investigator

Paula joined DRC in 2017 and the Investigations Unit in 2022. She is responsible for conducting complex and sensitive in-field investigations, inspection of facilities, reviewing records, and creating detailed case notes of findings and recommendations.

She has experience working with individuals receiving services from the CA Regional Center system, residents of Skilled Nursing Facilities and connecting community-based organizations to drive systemic change.

Wesley Witherspoon (he/him), Board Member at Disability Rights of California

Wesley Witherspoon was born in Los Angeles. As a native-born Angelino, he navigated the Special Education system. Non-verbal until the age of 4, Wesley have worked his way through school and other activities. Wesley was a star student when he was school. He was good in track and a very nice person.

Wesley won the award in Food class for mainstream class in high school, as a sophomore He received a AA degree from El Camino College and a BS degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He was a former direct service worker, former family member of a person with a disability as well. He currently works with the USC UCEDD for the last 19 years. He formerly served on the CA State Council of Developmental Disabilities for over 6 years, he served 4 years as the Council Chair of Developmental Disabilities. He was invited to see the White House in 2023 and 2024. Wesley currently serves on the Board of Directors at Disability Rights of California. He is also a member of Los Angeles County Regional Advisory Committee SCDD as of April 2025.

Join us in building a vibrant community that inspires change!

INSPIRE’s new Community Engagement Learning Network is a unique opportunity for community engagement (CE) professionals and people with lived experience (PWLE) to connect and learn together. Based on feedback from hundreds of people across the country about what they need to advance their work in CE, INSPIRE’s CE Learning Network is a community dedicated to sharing best practices, providing support to one another, and enhancing the field.

2025 scheduled sessions will all take place on the fourth Wednesday of each month, beginning at 3 pm ET.

REGISTER Here: Meeting Registration - Zoom

As a person with lived experience, you play many roles: advocate, trusted advisor, peer, patient, employee, caregiver, community builder, and person – navigating life’s ups and downs. There is so much to be done and often, too little time to slow down and ask “what do I need today”. Please join us for this interactive session led by lived experience experts, Kymberly Centaro and Rodney Dawkins, as we:

• explore the role for self-care (especially in these challenging times),

• exchange ideas for how to create time and space for these practices in the daily hustle-and-bustle, and

• engage in two self-care exercises designed to relax and recharge the body and mind

This session is open to anyone who identifies as a person with lived experience of complex health and social needs and/or family care givers of people with complex health and social needs. We look forward to seeing you there!

Register Here!

LAC DHS Patient Family Partnership Hub meets every third Tuesday of the month at 10:00am PT.

Join us for this meaningful series and opportunity to connect! The purpose of the Building Bridges series is to create a sense of belonging within the PFAnetwork community. We are looking forward to having these candid conversations together!

Register here today!

LAC DHS Patient Family Partnership Hub meets every third Tuesday of the month at 10:00am PT.

LAC DHS Patient Family Partnership Hub meets every third Tuesday of the month at 10:00am PT.

Please join us for our quarterly Coffee Chat. Coffee Chats are a time to come together and catch up on community updates and hot topics. We hope to see you there! Register here!

LAC DHS Patient Family Partnership Hub meets every third Tuesday of the month at 10:00am PT.

Calling all Patient Family Partners (PFPs) looking to develop your Quality Improvement (QI) skills!   

Join us for a fun and interactive Quality Improvement (QI) Basics Skills Exchange designed just for YOU! Get ready to learn how to make a real difference in healthcare by partnering with others to improve care!   

When?   

• May 7 & 14

• 10am - 11:15am PT (1pm - 2:15pm ET)

Why Attend?

• Learn the basics of Quality Improvement (QI) and how it makes healthcare safer and better for patients and families like you.

• Build skills that will help you become a stronger partner in improving healthcare practices.

• Learn with others who share your passion for making healthcare better.

• Gain confidence in your role as a Patient Family Partner and help create positive changes!

What You'll Get:  

• Two engaging, informative, and fun virtual sessions on Zoom

• Practical knowledge and tips you can use right away

• Opportunities to ask questions, interact, and share ideas with other Patient Family Partners

• Tools to make an impact in your next healthcare partnership

Don't miss out – sign up today for this FREE, two-part Skills Exchange! Register here!

We can’t wait to see you there!     

Calling all Patient Family Partners (PFPs) looking to develop your Quality Improvement (QI) skills!   

Join us for a fun and interactive Quality Improvement (QI) Basics Skills Exchange designed just for YOU! Get ready to learn how to make a real difference in healthcare by partnering with others to improve care!   

When?   

• May 7 & 14

• 10am - 11:15am PT (1pm - 2:15pm ET)

Why Attend?

• Learn the basics of Quality Improvement (QI) and how it makes healthcare safer and better for patients and families like you.

• Build skills that will help you become a stronger partner in improving healthcare practices.

• Learn with others who share your passion for making healthcare better.

• Gain confidence in your role as a Patient Family Partner and help create positive changes!

What You'll Get:  

• Two engaging, informative, and fun virtual sessions on Zoom

• Practical knowledge and tips you can use right away

• Opportunities to ask questions, interact, and share ideas with other Patient Family Partners

• Tools to make an impact in your next healthcare partnership

Don't miss out – sign up today for this FREE, two-part Skills Exchange! Register here!

We can’t wait to see you there!     

Join us for this meaningful series and opportunity to connect! The purpose of the Building Bridges series is to create a sense of belonging within the PFAnetwork community. We are looking forward to having these candid conversations together!

This Building Bridges conversation will focus on the experiences of patients and family caregivers navigating both Medicare and Medicaid systems. We want to better understand the unique challenges and opportunities to make our network a place where everyone feels heard, respected, and well-supported.

Register here today!

LAC DHS Patient Family Partnership Hub meets every third Tuesday of the month at 10:00am PT.

Please join us for our quarterly Coffee Chat. Coffee Chats are a time to come together and catch up on community updates and hot topics. We hope to see you there!

What Matters to You: A Virtual Coffee Chat on Health Care Value.      

Join us for an insightful Coffee Chat where we will dive into the perspectives and experiences of people in the healthcare system. Before the session, please take a moment to read this important paper: Understanding People’s Health Care Priorities: HCP-LAN Multi-Payer Alignment Blueprint.

In this discussion, we want to hear your thoughts on how we can help health plans, and the healthcare system better understand and address the needs of patients and families. What ideas do you have for ensuring people’s voices are heard and their priorities considered? Let’s collaborate and discover ways to improve the healthcare experience together.

 We look forward to hearing your insights and ideas during this engaging Coffee Chat! Register here!  

CMS will host a series of public engagement events this spring as part of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. The virtual public engagement events will provide an opportunity for patients, beneficiaries, caregivers, consumer and patient organizations, and other interested parties, such as clinicians and researchers, to share input relevant to the drugs selected for the second cycle of negotiations.

Dates: The public engagement events will be held April 16 – April 30, 2025. The deadline to register has been extended and will now be open until March 19, 2025.

Attendance: Anyone from the public may attend the town hall meeting livestream as a listener. Registration is not required, and the link to the livestream will be available here on April 30, 2025. Accommodation for people with disabilities and language assistance (e.g., interpretation) may be available.

CMS will use the information shared during the roundtable events to better understand patients’ experiences with the conditions and diseases treated by the selected drugs and patients’ experiences with the selected drugs themselves. CMS will use the information shared during the town hall meeting to better understand clinicians’ experiences prescribing and/or managing treatment with the selected drugs or therapeutic alternatives and clinicians’ considerations that drive treatment choice between the selected drugs and therapeutic alternatives. The information shared during both the town hall meeting and the roundtable events will also inform CMS’ identification of therapeutic alternatives, key outcomes, and adjustment of the starting point to develop the initial offer in negotiating with manufacturers of selected drugs. CMS will release redacted transcripts for the town hall meeting and each of the roundtable events, omitting participant names and other identifying information after all the events have ended.

Public Engagement Events:

• CMS will host one livestreamed town hall meeting for all selected drugs, focused on the clinical considerations related to the selected drugs. CMS encourages practicing clinicians and researchers, as well as other interested parties, to register to speak.

• CMS will host 15 private (i.e., not livestreamed or open to press or general public) patient-focused roundtable events, one for each selected drug, which will be open to patients, patient advocacy organizations, and caregivers selected to speak at the events, and will allow for discussion among speakers.

Those who wish to make a public statement in the town hall meeting or to participate in a private roundtable event should register for the opportunity to speak at the public engagement events. Additional information to register for the events can be found here. For more information about the public engagement events, please see the Frequently Asked Questions document linked here.

If you are selected to speak at the event for which you registered, you will have 4 days after receiving the confirmation email to confirm your availability to participate at the selected event date and time, and any language interpretation services you need.

The public engagement events are subject to change, including postponement and/or cancellation.

Additional information on the public engagement events can be found here. Additional information about the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program can be found here.

LAC DHS Patient Family Partnership Hub meets every third Tuesday of the month at 10:00am PT.

CMS will host a series of public engagement events this spring as part of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. The virtual public engagement events will provide an opportunity for patients, beneficiaries, caregivers, consumer and patient organizations, and other interested parties, such as clinicians and researchers, to share input relevant to the drugs selected for the second cycle of negotiations.

Dates: The public engagement events will be held April 16 – April 30, 2025. Participant registration will be open until March 12, 2025.

Attendance: Anyone from the public may attend the town hall meeting livestream as a listener. Registration is not required, and the link to the livestream will be available here on April 30, 2025. Accommodation for people with disabilities and language assistance (e.g., interpretation) may be available.

CMS will use the information shared during the roundtable events to better understand patients’ experiences with the conditions and diseases treated by the selected drugs and patients’ experiences with the selected drugs themselves. CMS will use the information shared during the town hall meeting to better understand clinicians’ experiences prescribing and/or managing treatment with the selected drugs or therapeutic alternatives and clinicians’ considerations that drive treatment choice between the selected drugs and therapeutic alternatives. The information shared during both the town hall meeting and the roundtable events will also inform CMS’ identification of therapeutic alternatives, key outcomes, and adjustment of the starting point to develop the initial offer in negotiating with manufacturers of selected drugs. CMS will release redacted transcripts for the town hall meeting and each of the roundtable events, omitting participant names and other identifying information after all the events have ended.

Public Engagement Events:

• CMS will host one livestreamed town hall meeting for all selected drugs, focused on the clinical considerations related to the selected drugs. CMS encourages practicing clinicians and researchers, as well as other interested parties, to register to speak.

• CMS will host 15 private (i.e., not livestreamed or open to press or general public) patient-focused roundtable events, one for each selected drug, which will be open to patients, patient advocacy organizations, and caregivers selected to speak at the events, and will allow for discussion among speakers.

Those who wish to make a public statement in the town hall meeting or to participate in a private roundtable event should register for the opportunity to speak at the public engagement events. Additional information to register for the events can be found here. For more information about the public engagement events, please see the Frequently Asked Questions document linked here.

If you are selected to speak at the event for which you registered, you will have 4 days after receiving the confirmation email to confirm your availability to participate at the selected event date and time, and any language interpretation services you need.

The public engagement events are subject to change, including postponement and/or cancellation.

Additional information on the public engagement events can be found here. Additional information about the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program can be found here.

Engagement Opportunity Event.

LAC DHS Patient Family Partnership Hub meets every third Tuesday of the month at 10:00am PT.

Are you passionate about improving healthcare through your lived experience? The role of Patient Family Partner (PFP) is open to anyone who wants to use their unique experiences to make a difference. But what does it take to be an effective and impactful PFP?

Join us for Core Competencies of Effective Patient Family Partners! This two-part skills exchange is designed to help you build the key skills you need to thrive as a Patient Family Partner. Together, we’ll explore the Five Core Competencies of Effective Partners - thoughtfully created by Patient Family Partners, for Patient Family Partners. You will leave these sessions with practical tools and techniques to strengthen your healthcare partnerships. A big part of the skills exchange is learning from each other’s lived experiences, so come ready to share, learn, and grow with your peers! Register here.

Are you passionate about improving healthcare through your lived experience? The role of Patient Family Partner (PFP) is open to anyone who wants to use their unique experiences to make a difference. But what does it take to be an effective and impactful PFP?

Join us for Core Competencies of Effective Patient Family Partners! This two-part skills exchange is designed to help you build the key skills you need to thrive as a Patient Family Partner. Together, we’ll explore the Five Core Competencies of Effective Partners - thoughtfully created by Patient Family Partners, for Patient Family Partners. You will leave these sessions with practical tools and techniques to strengthen your healthcare partnerships. A big part of the skills exchange is learning from each other’s lived experiences, so come ready to share, learn, and grow with your peers! Register here.

Join us for this meaningful series and opportunity to connect! The purpose of the Building Bridges series is to create a sense of belonging within the PFAnetwork community. This session will elevate PFAnetwork members to share lived experiences navigating the healthcare system representing people from the LGBTQ+ community. We are looking forward to having these candid conversations together!

Register here today!

LAC DHS Patient Family Partnership Hub meets every third Tuesday of the month at 10:00am PT.

In response to our PFAnetwork members, starting in March 2024, we will begin to host the Coffee Chats on the 3rd Friday of the ODD months at 9 AM PT and on the 3rd Wednesday of EVEN months at 12 PM PT.

• For New Jersey Residents

• Virtual Meeting Format

• Stipend Available

• 2 Hour Time Commitment

We’d like to invite PFAnetwork members living in New Jersey to share their experiences with how the health system did or did not address your unique social needs. PLEASE SUBMIT INTEREST BY NOVEMBER 15.

The Quality Improvement Program in New Jersey is hosting a Social Drivers of Health Learning Collaborative for hospitals. Social drivers of health (SDOH) are the conditions in which people live, work, learn, and play, such as access to housing, food, healthcare, and transportation, that affect well-being.

We invite patients and family caregivers who have experience being screened for or accessing resources related to SDOH to participate in a listening session. In December, hospitals will have the opportunity to listen to your firsthand experiences and insights. If you are interested in sharing your experience with hospital staff to help improve the process of screening and addressing SDOH for others, please complete this brief form, and we'll be in touch.

Complete the interest form here: Quality Improvement Program - New Jersey Social Drivers Of Health Listening Session Interest Form

In response to our PFAnetwork members, starting in March 2024, we will begin to host the Coffee Chats on the 3rd Friday of the ODD months at 9 AM PT and on the 3rd Wednesday of EVEN months at 12 PM PT.