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Keiro recognizes that the difficulties of being a caregiver are unique to each individual’s situation, yet many aspects are also a universal experience. By bringing together caregivers and industry professionals for a day of education, support, and resource sharing, Keiro’s annual Caregiver Conference provided caregivers with the assistance they needed. In 2025, Keiro hosted two conferences, in the San Gabriel Valley and South Bay, to expand the reach of this valuable information and provide more caregivers with the opportunity to attend. Here are some key takeaways from this year’s presentations:
Takeaway #1: There are Different Ways to Navigate Care Decisions
In this presentation, led by Roxy Kirakosyan, the Director of Education and Outreach at Alzheimer’s Los Angeles, attendees learned how self-awareness and advocacy can enhance the overall quality of care for their loved one. Roxy shared methods for identifying various care options available, community resources that support caregivers and care recipients, and navigating communication pathways with health care providers, ensuring caregivers can advocate effectively and assess necessary services.
Takeaway #2: Be Proactive with Advance Care Planning
Presenters Tomohiro J. Kagami and Mei Kameda, LCSW, emphasized that when caring for aging loved ones, it is vital to proactively understand and complete various legal, financial, and medical advance planning documents for yourself and loved ones. Mei shared, “[Advance planning] is a tough conversation to have, and it is even more difficult when our loved ones don’t want to have that conversation. There is often a sense of urgency, especially when our loved ones are ill, to execute these documents. But it is an ongoing, fluid process that people have to go through, and you need to have an open dialogue.”
Takeaway #3: Caregiving is Never One-Size-Fits-All
To paint a picture of the wide range of caregiver perspectives, this panel of family caregivers shared their candid stories and lessons learned from their unique journeys. From navigating
different levels of care to coordinating among family members and health care providers, it is apparent that each person, regardless of their experiences, faces distinct realities and challenges as a family caregiver.
Takeaway #4: Caregiving & End of Life Challenges can be Unexpected
From a sudden health decline to family disagreements, Estate Attorney Wilbur Gin walked through the best practices and proactive planning strategies that can help families feel confident and prepared when faced with the unexpected realities of caregiving and end-of-life decisions. He explained how estate planning tools can support caregivers in real-life situations, highlighted common legal and logistical pitfalls in caregiving and end-of-life planning, and offered ways to gain confidence when initiating conversations with loved ones about estate planning.
For more information about the Caregiver Conference, visit keiro.org/CC.