From Learning to Connection: Caregiver University Conference 2026
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Caregiver University Conference Recap
On the morning of April 18th, 2026, something quietly remarkable happened at R.O. Hardin Elementary School in Hollister, CA. Caregivers, people who spend most of their days focused entirely on someone else, took a day for themselves.
They came together for the annual Caregiver University Conference, with this year's theme: Transitions.
For caregivers, transitions are a constant reality: a loved one needing a different level of care, family roles shifting without warning, and daily routines that must be rebuilt from scratch. These moments can be disorienting, even painful. But they can also open doors to growth if caregivers have the right tools and the right people by their side.
That's exactly what the day was designed to offer.
"Being a caregiver is hard, and you really need to take time to take care of yourself," said John Beleutz, Executive Director of Health Projects Center. "When you get on an airplane, you put on your oxygen mask first so you can help the person next to you."
From the moment the doors opened, Spanish interpretation services provided by Marisela Quezada of Unique Interpretation Services ensured that every attendee could participate fully, a reminder that this community includes and welcomes everyone.
Students from Sacred Heart and Saint Benedict's Confirmation Class were also on hand throughout the day, lending their energy and time to help things run smoothly.
A Morning of Connection
Before the formal program began, attendees filled the room for a resource fair, moving from table to table, collecting information, asking questions, and making connections. Representatives from organizations such as the Health Projects Center, Lifespan Care, the Alzheimer's Association, and others were there to meet them where they were, ready to talk, listen, and help.
For those who made their way to every table and completed a scavenger hunt bingo card, a raffle prize awaited them at the end of the day. It was a small incentive, but it had a bigger purpose: encouraging caregivers to take in everything the fair had to offer.
You Are Not Alone
When keynote speaker Joy Smith, RN, MSN, took the stage, the room grew quiet in the best possible way.
Joy spoke about loss, about the particular kind of exhaustion that comes from caring deeply for someone else, and about the courage it takes to keep going. Her words weren't clinical; they were personal, direct, and deeply human.
"One of the basic things when I deal with loss is to help people know they are not alone," Joy shared with us.
She encouraged attendees to think carefully about who their people are. The ones they can call on when the weight of caregiving becomes too heavy to carry alone. "Identify your trusted traveling companions," she urged, "who you can go to when you really need extra support."
She also left them with a gentle challenge: make time for reflection. Whether by journaling or having an open conversation with a trusted person. “What you do moving forward may look different from what you’re doing now,” she noted, framing this not as a warning, but as an opportunity.
Finding Your Path: Breakout Session One
After the keynote, attendees were invited to choose their own path, and the options reflected caregivers' many needs.
Some stepped into Caregivers at Their Best, an interactive workshop led by Sam Trevino, MSW, LCSW, focused on practical skills and strategies for managing stress, building resilience, and sustaining well-being over the long haul.
Others slipped off their shoes and joined a gentle, restorative yoga session guided by Randee Schwartz, offering caregivers something they rarely give themselves: permission to breathe, move slowly, and simply be.
A third group gathered for Building Foundations with Jordan Berg and Yulianna Mendoza, where conversations turned to the nuts and bolts of caregiving: how to build a support network, define roles within a care team, and manage the personal stress that comes with the job.
A Moment to Breathe
Between sessions, the energy softened. Attendees gathered around the salad bar lunch prepared by Martina Vallejo, filling their plates and their conversations with something nourishing. It was one of those unhurried moments that a day like this makes possible, with caregivers swapping stories, sharing laughs, and reminding each other that community is its own kind of medicine.
John Beleutz knows this well. His favorite part of the Caregiver University Conference, he says, is "seeing caregivers come together and talk to other caregivers, because caregivers are the experts about their lives and their experience, and when they share together, it really strengthens people."
Going Deeper: Breakout Session Two
The afternoon brought another round of workshops, each one designed to meet caregivers at a different point in their journey.
In Advance Healthcare Directives, Vanessa Silverstein, MPH, guided attendees through one of the most important and often avoided conversations in caregiving: planning ahead. The session covered how to identify end-of-life healthcare values, complete an Advance Directive, understand the difference between an Advance Directive and a POLST form, and how to talk with loved ones about their wishes. As Vanessa framed it: advance healthcare planning isn't a burden. It's a gift.
Down the hall, something joyful was happening. Belly Dancing, led by Isadorah Satis, welcomed participants of all abilities into a beginner-friendly space built around movement, rhythm, and self-expression. No experience required, just a willingness to show up and try.
The third session, Caring for Your Loved One Without Losing Yourself, tackled something many caregivers feel but rarely name. Presented solely in Spanish by Maria Martinez-Navarro, ASW, it helped attendees recognize the early signs of burnout, understand the risk factors, and find practical strategies to protect their emotional, physical, and mental well-being.
Attendee Ruth A. captured what many were feeling when she reflected afterward: "The Caregiver Conference was very informative in managing the stress involved in the caregiver journey. I personally benefited from the Advance Directive Workshop information."
A Celebration of Dedication
The day closed the way it deserved to, with gratitude.
The Commitment to Caregiving Award is one of the conference's most meaningful traditions, recognizing someone who has given so much of themselves to care for another. This year, two people were honored: Samantha "Mandy" Schneider and Olga Covarrubias.
To read about Mandy and Olga's caregiving journeys, read their stories here.
Share Your Story
We want to hear about your experience!
Visit HealthProjectsCenter.memfox.io/zdtewe to share your feedback by May 29th for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card. Your experience can help shape future events and inspire someone else who is just beginning their caregiving journey.
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Thank You to Our Sponsors & Donors
Lifespan Care · Alzheimer's Association · Brent Redmond Transportation · Starbucks Coffee · El Nopal Bakery · Hollister Super
Friends of Caregiver University
Julianna Cespedes and Jan Valtr
