Finding Hope and Humor in Caregiving

Although Elaine has been described as a combination between Erma Bombeck and Garrison Keillor, don't let the entertainment value of this program fool you. The message is profound.

In a program that is part keynote, part one-woman play, Elaine brings humor and heart to difficult topics such as caregiver anger, guilt, depression, and greif by sharing experiences from her book, "Letters from Madelyn, Chronicles of a Caregiver."

Although her story about Sex, Dementia, and Humor generates belly laughs, it serves an important purpose as it sheds light on a topic many family members have been too embarrassed to acknowledge or talk about.

This presentation is perfect for after lunch, after dinner, or any time the audience is in need of a jolt of energy and a good belly laugh.

Caregiver Survival Training

Caregiver Survival Training is an interactive program that helps family and professional caregivers cope with the emotional stress of caregiving.

Starting with a caregiver self-assessment, Elaine helps attendees recognize their current stress level. She then teaches the process of developing an Attitude of Creative Indifference toward caregiver anger, guilt, depression, and greif.

Depending on the needs of the audience, she will do special sessions on coping with challenging behaviors exhibited by people with Alzheimer's and other dementia-related diseases.

The final portion of the program focuses on attendees developing their own personalized caregiver survival plan.

A full-day is ideal for this workshop, but it can be presented in a half-day session.