09 Jan Even Caregivers Need Help; Caregiver OneCall Provides It

The All Our Love for Caregivers gala and fundraiser will be held in Concord on Feb. 26. (Courtesy of Nikki Lopez)

By Michael J. Fitzgerald

Caregivers need care too. That could be the motto of Caregiver OneCall, a 1-year-old organization that provides real-time support for caregivers. And it does so for free.

Antioch-based Caregiver OneCall is the creation of Nikki Lopez, founder and board chair of the organization. Her story about the creation of the organization starts with Lopez having to step up herself during the Covid-19 pandemic. She needed to become a caregiver for her grandmother.

“The physical part was a lot,” she says. “But it was hard emotionally too. It tore me up.” 

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Out of that experience and talking with many people about the work and challenges faced by caregivers, Lopez realized how much caregivers need assistance in their work too. In too many instances, caregivers become nearly invisible. When someone visits a patient, family member or anyone being taken care of, they only see the client, not the caregiver themselves. 

Plus, many caregivers receive little real training in what’s required or the challenges of the emotional side of caregiving. All that prompted Lopez to create her growing organization. It currently fields calls from all over the U.S. every day — and night. Fifty calls a day are common, she says. And that number is growing. She said California alone has more than 4 million caregivers in all types of situations. And at times, they need some help. 

“We want to be a nationally recognized source to provide help and respite for caregivers,” she said. “We want to cover all caregivers.”  

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What caregivers do and recognition of their roles in helping people will be on full display Thursday, Feb. 26, on the anniversary of the creation of Caregiver OneCall. 

That evening Emmy-winning Dave Clark of KTVU will emcee the “All Our Love for Caregivers Gala,” a black-tie event of dining, music, and entertainment to focus on the work of caregivers and to raise funds to support Caregiver OneCall’s services. 

“The goal of the event is all about awareness of the work of caregivers,” Lopez says. “It acknowledgment of what they do.”

The fiscal goal is $100,000. As of Friday, $12,950 has been raised. 

The gala will feature keynote speaker Christina Irvine of the Family Caregivers Alliance of San Francisco. Also on the list of notables is Debbie Toth of Pleasant Hill’s Choice in Aging organization who will be honored for her service. The evening will include a special musical guest, award-winning neo-soul artist Anastasia Downey.

The gala will be at the Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Road in Concord, from 6 to 9 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. Parking is free. 

Tickets are $150 for individuals with other pricing for those wishing to sponsor the work of the group at higher levels. The proceeds from all tickets and sponsorships will go towards the organization’s $100,000  fundraising goal.

Caregiver OneCall is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It’s free, 24/7 caregiver support line is (833) 927-6599. The support line is available for any caregiver feeling overwhelmed by the burden of taking care of aging parents, disabled persons, fragile family members, or others. 

Caregiver OneCall also provides education for caregivers and can suggest referrals to specialists. It’s understood that many caregivers themselves may be facing issues like housing instability, financial strains and burnout, Lopez notes. Trained volunteers and professionals can provide emotional support and step-by-step guidance on medical and legal issues, culturally sensitive help in multiple languages, and a compassionate ear.

All the services offered by CaregiverOneCall are free of charge.

“Our mission is simple,” Lopez says. “No caregiver should ever feel alone at 2 a.m.”