Bonnie Wattles joins hosts Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial to talk about the Alzheimer's awareness non-profit organization "Hilarity For Charity" on this edition of Caregiver SOS.

Bonnie Wattles joins hosts Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial to talk about the Alzheimer's awareness non-profit organization "Hilarity For Charity" on this edition of Caregiver SOS.

Hear Caregiver SOS every Sunday at 6pm on News Ta…

Caregiver SOS

Hosts: Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial, and their guests talk about Caregiving and how to best cope with the stresses associated with it. Learn about "Caregiver SOS" and the "Teleconnection Hotline" programs.

Hosts: Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial, and their guests talk about Caregiving and how to best cope with the stresses associated with it. Learn about "Caregiver SOS" and the "Teleconnection Hotline" programs.

Hilarity For Charity with Bonnie Wattles

Felicia Gibson joins host Ron Aaron and co-host Carol Zernail to talk about marriage, caregiving, career, and the hidden strain of limited support on this edition of Caregiver SOS.

About Felicia

Felicia Gibson has held many titles throughout her life but becoming a caregiver was not one she anticipated. However, it was bestowed to her in 2018 after her then boyfriend, now husband, was injured while letting their dog out before bed. He happened to be outside while criminals were breaking into cars and as they drove away, they shot multiple rounds out of the car window. One of those bullets shattered his T1 vertebrae and now lives with quadriplegia. Since that day Felicia has been active in advocating for those living with mobility issues and their caregivers. She has volunteered as a Regional Champion, Paralysis Resource Ambassador, and a Peer Mentor for the Christopher and Dana Reeve foundation and through their nomination have been appointed to the ACL RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council. She enjoys reading, writing, and spending quality like with her Boos (4 of her best friends) and family. She lives in Southeastern Georgia with her husband, her mother, along with their dog, and cats.

Hosts Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial, and their guests talk about Caregiving and how to best cope with the stresses associated with it. Learn about "Caregiver SOS" and the "Teleconnection Hotline" programs.

Felicia Gibson joins host Ron Aaron and co-host Carol Zernail to talk about marriage, caregiving, career, and the hidden strain of limited support on this edition of Caregiver SOS.
About Felicia
Felicia Gibson has held many titles throughout her life but becoming a caregiver was not one she anticipated. However, it was bestowed to her in 2018 after her then boyfriend, now husband, was injured while letting their dog out before bed. He happened to be outside while criminals were breaking into cars and as they drove away, they shot multiple rounds out of the car window. One of those bullets shattered his T1 vertebrae and now lives with quadriplegia. Since that day Felicia has been active in advocating for those living with mobility issues and their caregivers. She has volunteered as a Regional Champion, Paralysis Resource Ambassador, and a Peer Mentor for the Christopher and Dana Reeve foundation and through their nomination have been appointed to the ACL RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council. She enjoys reading, writing, and spending quality like with her Boos (4 of her best friends) and family. She lives in Southeastern Georgia with her husband, her mother, along with their dog, and cats.
Hosts Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial, and their guests talk about Caregiving and how to best cope with the stresses associated with it. Learn about "Caregiver SOS" and the "Teleconnection Hotline" programs.

 Balancing Love, Labor, & Life: Marriage, Caregiving, Career, and the Hidden Strain of Limited Support  with Felicia Gibson

Mary Ek joins host Ron Aaron and co-host Carol Zernail to talk about how the DFA Movement (Dementia Friendly America) is creating communities where people living with Dementia and their care partners can live, engage, and thrive on this edition of Caregiver SOS.

About Mary

Mary Ek joined USAging in 2021. As the Director for Community Care Corps and Dementia Friendly America, Mary supports Community Care Corps grantees, dementia-friendly communities and Dementia Friends administrators by providing technical assistance, facilitating learning collaboratives and webinars, and managing the development and sharing of resources.

Mary’s career began as an educator. For 20 years, Mary served as an educator and administrator in various schools and as the Education Director for Volunteers of America Minnesota. In 2011, Mary joined the Collective Action Lab where she served as a Program Director, Project Leader and Manager for various collaborations and initiatives, one of which was Act on Alzheimer’s. Mary was a pioneer and leader in the development of Dementia Friendly America and supported USAging as it acquired the role of DFA administrator. Mary has significant experience in working on issues central to the mission of USAging’s members. Following her time at the Collective Action Lab, Mary served as a consultant to USAging and many of its Area Agency on Aging members on several projects, including Dementia Friendly America and Community Care Corps. Mary holds a Master of Arts in Teacher Leadership from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Education from the University of Notre Dame. 

Hosts Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial, and their guests talk about Caregiving and how to best cope with the stresses associated with it. Learn about "Caregiver SOS" and the "Teleconnection Hotline" programs.

Mary Ek joins host Ron Aaron and co-host Carol Zernail to talk about how the DFA Movement (Dementia Friendly America) is creating communities where people living with Dementia and their care partners can live, engage, and thrive on this edition of Caregiver SOS.
About Mary
Mary Ek joined USAging in 2021. As the Director for Community Care Corps and Dementia Friendly America, Mary supports Community Care Corps grantees, dementia-friendly communities and Dementia Friends administrators by providing technical assistance, facilitating learning collaboratives and webinars, and managing the development and sharing of resources.
Mary&rsquo;s career began as an educator. For 20 years, Mary served as an educator and administrator in various schools and as the Education Director for Volunteers of America Minnesota. In 2011, Mary joined the Collective Action Lab where she served as a Program Director, Project Leader and Manager for various collaborations and initiatives, one of which was Act on Alzheimer&rsquo;s. Mary was a pioneer and leader in the development of Dementia Friendly America and supported USAging as it acquired the role of DFA administrator. Mary has significant experience in working on issues central to the mission of USAging&rsquo;s members. Following her time at the Collective Action Lab, Mary served as a consultant to USAging and many of its Area Agency on Aging members on several projects, including Dementia Friendly America and Community Care Corps. Mary holds a Master of Arts in Teacher Leadership from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Education from the University of Notre Dame.&nbsp;
Hosts Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial, and their guests talk about Caregiving and how to best cope with the stresses associated with it. Learn about "Caregiver SOS" and the "Teleconnection Hotline" programs.

The Dementia Friendly America Movement with Mary Ek

Laura Wayman, "The Dementia Whisperer" joins host Ron Aaron and co-host Carol Zernail to talk about understanding the real-life challenges of Dementia symptoms on this edition of Caregiver SOS.

About Laura

With over a two decades of experience and a strong dedication to quality aging, Laura Wayman holds an associate’s degree in gerontology and is a certified social services designee. Her innovative approach to the caregiving process has given her valuable insights into how caregivers can enhance and even enjoy their relationships with their loved ones or clients. During her career, she has developed her “becoming dementia aware” approach, an easy-to-learn, easy-to-apply communication style for connecting with the person who has dementia. As a result, she is a sought-after speaker with extensive experience in keynote addresses and break-out programs. Laura also teaches her “becoming dementia-aware” care approach and communication techniques at community colleges, nursing schools and provides CE’s for Residential Care Administrators and staff in California and Arizona. She provides in-service training for assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and in-home professional caregivers, as well as valuable training and

outreach for community first responders on gentle and effective redirection tools and a communication approach that works. She is often invited to educate caregivers from all walks of life about how to become dementia aware, helping them to learn effective techniques, and directing them to further dementia-aware community resources.

Hosts Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial, and their guests talk about Caregiving and how to best cope with the stresses associated with it. Learn about "Caregiver SOS" and the "Teleconnection Hotline" programs.

Laura Wayman, "The Dementia Whisperer" joins host Ron Aaron and co-host Carol Zernail to talk about understanding the real-life challenges of Dementia symptoms on this edition of Caregiver SOS.
About Laura
With over a two decades of experience and a strong dedication to quality aging, Laura Wayman holds an associate&rsquo;s degree in gerontology and is a certified social services designee. Her innovative approach to the caregiving process has given her valuable insights into how caregivers can enhance and even enjoy their relationships with their loved ones or clients. During her career, she has developed her &ldquo;becoming dementia aware&rdquo; approach, an easy-to-learn, easy-to-apply communication style for connecting with the person who has dementia. As a result, she is a sought-after speaker with extensive experience in keynote addresses and break-out programs. Laura also teaches her &ldquo;becoming dementia-aware&rdquo; care approach and communication techniques at community colleges, nursing schools and provides CE&rsquo;s for Residential Care Administrators and staff in California and Arizona. She provides in-service training for assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and in-home professional caregivers, as well as valuable training and
outreach for community first responders on gentle and effective redirection tools and a communication approach that works. She is often invited to educate caregivers from all walks of life about how to become dementia aware, helping them to learn effective techniques, and directing them to further dementia-aware community resources.
Hosts Ron Aaron and Carol Zernial, and their guests talk about Caregiving and how to best cope with the stresses associated with it. Learn about "Caregiver SOS" and the "Teleconnection Hotline" programs.

Hilarity For Charity with Bonnie Wattles

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