Hitting My Stride as Caregiver to Caregivers
It’ll be my first really big speaking venue.
Masonicare, a 245 unit senior living community in that lovely seaside town of Mystic, Connecticut, has commissioned me to speak before their residents who range from independent living, to assisted living and memory care.
How’d they hear about the woman (me) who tells how to survive and even thrive when caring for a loved one who’s cognitively impaired? Probably from the many stories in different publications, focusing on my mission, over the past months, and they thought “Colleen’s talk could be something our residents would really appreciate—a talk by one of their own—a senior woman who was a many year caregiver to her husband, one who provides practical tips and suggestions, woven together with uplifting anecdotes and even humor.”
Yes, they’re excited for my visit…just as I am to be their guest speaker.
The date? April 29, at 3:00 PM.
Masonicare will soon send flyers to surrounding regions, announcing my talk. One interesting fact? Their town—Mystic– comprises 4,417 residents whose median age is 55.8. My target audience are anyone 45 of years of age and older.
You see, my message is not just for current caregivers. The younger set are going to “grow into the role,” in future, and for that reason, I want them prepared.
I don’t want anyone to repeat the sad trajectory that took over my life, one that saw me succumbing to illness because I never sought to share the 24/7 caregiver load. And I lacked vital information that would have helped.
In the seventh year, I became grievously ill and I had no plan in place…no support system…no way out. I flailed about, trying to recover, unaware of benefits to which we qualified, benefits that would have significantly changed what happened to me. I don’t want anyone else to go through this.
The way I see it is: These dementia diseases will become America’s biggest health crisis, since dementia-related care may stretch on for years. My husband has had this disease for 15+ years. Such a duration could break a caregiver, if he or she is not informed and not careful.
Hence, my mission: I go all over, informing audiences, while offering a different perspective of a challenging disease. I employ humor and sprinkle some of my delivery with my own poems and anecdotes about my husband’s and my life. I’m comfortable in this element because I am a speaker who’s done many talks (a TedTalk, a talk before RI University women) and I’m a former feature writer and monthly Op-Ed columnist for the Providence Journal.
People seem to really appreciate my delivery…my message…and my audiences are growing. I’m fine-tuning my message, as I go along, too, meaning we are all winners in this process.
As I said in the title: I’m just hitting my stride.
If you wish me to guest speak before your group, contact me at colleenkellymellor@gmail.com or via my website below.
If you wish the book, go to Amazon (click on the book title link, below)
Az and Me: A Partner’s Journey with Alzheimer’s or go to colleenkellymellor.com which will bring you to Amazon.
Next speaking dates and venues
April 17—Leisure Learning, East Greenwich 10:30 AM
April 29—Masonicare, Mystic Connecticut– 3:00 PM
May 6–Bristol (Rogers Library)—6:00 PM
June 10—Charlton Library, Charlton, Massachusetts—6:00 PM
****Contact any of the groups above, to see about attending, and it would help if I know how many will be in audience so I’ll bring enough books (if you wish to buy them at my guest talk). Or buy the book, ahead, at the above websites, and bring to my talk. In either case, I will happily sign.
#Alzheimer’s, #Alzheimer’sPartners, #Alzheimer’sCaregivers, #Dementia, #Masonicare
Below is a picture of the beautiful senior residential community in Mystic–Masonicare.
