A few years ago, I was
so compelled by the heart-wrenching experience of caring for
my elderly parents (both with Alzheimer’s which was
not properly diagnosed for over a year), I gave up my 15-year
career as a television executive to become an advocate for
eldercare awareness and reform. In the beginning, my once-adoring
father turned verbally and physically abusive towards me,
and I was heartbroken to have lost his love. But then it was
so astonishing because every time I took him to a doctor—he
could act completely normal when he needed to. It was an unbelievable
nightmare for over a year, as I endured my father’s
wrath while fighting through an unsympathetic medical system,
but with sheer determination I finally solved the endless
crisis—medically and behaviorally.
ADVERSITY LEADS TO ADVOCACY
Furious that I was needlessly put through so much
misery, I felt compelled to: write my first book and launch
a radio program to help caregivers; share my knowledge on
hundreds of radio/television programs; write articles which
have been widely published; be featured in high-visibility
media including CNN, Woman’s Day, Prevention, and
the cover of the AARP Bulletin; write a weekly Elder Care
Blog; and to deliver over one hundred Keynotes—including
to the California Governor’s Conference for Women
and the Florida House of Representatives.
BOOK & HONORS
I am the author and publisher of Elder Rage,
a Book-of-the-Month Club selection being considered for
a feature film. The Addendum by renowned dementia specialist,
Dr. Rodman Shankle, makes it valuable for healthcare professionals
(including doctors), and helped make it required reading
at numerous universities for courses in geriatric assessment
and management. Over fifty endorsements
include: Hugh Downs, Regis Philbin and the National Adult
Day Services Association--who honored me with their Media
Award. I was also honored to receive “Advocate of
the Year” from the National Association of Women Business
Owners at their Remarkable Women Awards. Order
Elder Rage
PUBLIC SPEAKER
Having taught at numerous colleges in my first
life, I now weave poignant and humorous anecdotes about
my challenging father amid facts and statistics, turning
tough subjects into an “edu-taining” event.
I am also a recent breast cancer survivor, and my triumph
over eighteen-months of complications from treatments and
five surgeries makes a huge impact on people (especially
caregivers), reminding them of the need to closely monitor
their own health. I also speak about writing/self-publishing,
obtaining celebrity endorsements, and how to embrace gratitude
and humor to remain positive and motivated through life’s
challenges. Details
& References
RADIO PROGRAM
As the producer and host of Coping
With Caregiving (which has been expanded
to include many aspects of health and aging), my interviews
with over 700 healthcare professionals are archived for
free, worldwide listening-on-demand.
MY MISSIONS
To: help improve our eldercare laws; educate and
enlighten healthcare professionals as to how they can better
help the families they work with; provide solutions and
hope to families; encourage funding for Alzheimer’s
and Breast Cancer research—and bring awareness to the importance
of early diagnosis; help prevent elder abuse, neglect and
exploitation; encourage long-term care insurance/planning;
bring attention to the need for funding of Adult Day Services,
which saved my parents’ lives as well as my own. I’ve
testified before the Assistant Secretary on Aging and am
featured in an upcoming documentary on the subject.
COLLABORATION
Perhaps you’d like to: interview
me or get a quote for a story; have me submit
an article to you; use
my book; have me speak
at an event or tele-seminar; link websites;
be a guest, refer guests or advertise a product or service
on my radio
program; respond to a topic on my Elder
Care Blog; help with my missions; have a
private telephone consultation: contact
Jacqueline's Eldercare Seminar
Listen
to an overview of one of her seminars.
