Presentations

It is truly amazing what you are about — patience, understanding and love. Thank you for your kindness, your inspiration, and your dedication to the well-being of both caregivers and those with dementia. I can’t speak enough to how much our audiences enjoyed their moments with you.                                                                                                                                                                   Kristen Jenkins, Greater Indiana Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association

Connecting in the Land of Dementia: Creative Activities to Explore Together

How do we stay connected throughout the dementia journey? That is a question care partners and friends constantly ask. We are former family care partners who’ve interviewed experts from around the world. We have collected dozens of engaging, easy, and action-oriented ideas that help you keep those meaningful moments of connection with those you care for and about.

Join us and experience the many benefits of using creativity and expressive arts to engage people living with dementia. This lively presentation shows you how designing an inland beach, swing dancing to the shower, and creating a list of favorite songs can tap into imagination and the creative spirit.

Love in the Land of Dementia: Finding the Gifts in the Caregiver’s Journey through Alzheimer’s                                                                                                        

Based on Deborah’s true stories, these presentations offer listeners insights into the caregiver’s emotional and spiritual journey. Throughout her mother’s Alzheimer’s, Deborah practiced finding the joys in each interaction, explored creative ways to connect with her mom, and developed new rituals to anchor holidays and celebrations. Deborah’s presentation, Love in the Land of Dementia, performed with Ron Zoglin, offers insight, humor and hope to family members, friends, and caregivers.

Caregivers, family members, friends, long-term care staff, health care professionals, hospice workers, spiritual leaders, lay ministers and congregants have all benefited from listening to this program.

Celebrating Everyday Heroes: The Hero Project

—a simple  individualized  story created in a casual scrapbooking style.

The Hero Project helps helps people feel affirmed, heard, and connected. In additional to being meaningful, the project also can include a playful element. This interactive session acknowledges and uplifts the many courageous every-day heroes, who may not realize how strong and life-changing they are.  For additional information, please visit http://thecreativityconnection.com/html/the_hero_project.html

Laughing Your Way to Health and Happiness

     See the Ha Ha Chorus

This presentation works well for people of all ages and abilities, including people living with dementia and their care partners. The session includes: •The physical and emotional benefits of intentional laughter •Ways to incorporate laughing into the daily routine•Easy laughter exercises •Laughter resources

There are no Downward Facing Dogs, Warriors, or other traditional yoga postures in the laughter practice.  Instead Laughter Yoga includes breathing exercises, clapping, gentle movements, and of course, laughing. Its founder, Madan Kataria, M.D.,  researched the science of laughter and learned that the body does not differentiate between intentional and real hilarity. Dr. Kataria believes that laughing is a skill anyone can master. He says: “Laughter Yoga is an aerobic workout that helps uplift your mood within minutes by releasing endorphins from your brain cells. You often remain energized, relaxed, and in good spirits throughout the day. Laughter also makes your immune system stronger and lowers your blood pressure. Plus laughing with others builds a social bond and reduces feelings of isolation.”

Praise for Deborah and Ron’s Presentations

“Thank you for your very organized, thoughtful, and creative presentation. I love the way you go back and forth with each other and how validating you are. Your pictures and your videos bring it all home.”                                                                                              — Marcy Cherek,  Nevada Senior Services, Las Vegas, NV

“We cannot thank you enough for the education and inspiration you both provided to our caregivers last week.  The feed back was all positive.”                                                                                                                                                                                                              — Denise Saxman, Greater Indiana Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association

“Thank you! Your presentation of creative activities will make a positive difference in the lives of my residents. Thank you so much.”                         — Bobbi Gerber B.A., Memory Care Program Facilitator, American Senior Communities

“Thank you so very much for presenting at our workshop. I love working with you!! You’re such a wonderful team. Your positivity is contagious.”                             — Deb Campbell, Founder and CEO, Arts & AGEing KC

“Wow!  Thank you so much for the laughing session!!  We felt like it was a huge success!  Our residents were all very engaged in the activity, and I was very encouraged to see some of our more difficult residents to engage were actively participating.  This is a group that will let you know if they aren’t enjoying something, and not only were they laughing, but they were genuinely smiling and connecting with one another.  We can’t wait to do it again!!!!”                              — Mandy Shoemaker, Prairie Elder Care, www.PrairieElderCare.com

                                                                                                                                                                                 

Your program changed the way I look at this dementia disease. You have energized my job. You used the perfect way to transmit strength, positive thinking and realism in dealing with people who have Alzheimer’s.                                                                                — Alejandro Montiel Hartig Hogar, Santa Teresa de Tango, a nursing home dedicated to helping those with dementia, Santiago, Chile

“Your story-telling touched everyone. It was emotional, sweet, funny, sad and appropriate as we honored caregivers. The comments I received include: 
”This is the best event that Foxwood has had in my 21 years of living here.”
”Everyone should make a point to see this performance.”
”I could relate to every story, and even though I cried, I was happy knowing that someone else understood how I felt.”
                                                                                                                                                  — Pam Husk, Marketing Event Planner, Foxwood Springs, Brookdale Senior Living, Raymore, Missouri.

“You captured it! What you said is exactly what the experience is like. Your message has to be heard!”
                                                             — Carol Fenrich, Family Caregiver, Oshkosh, Wisconsin

“I have nearly 40 years of walking in this countryside of dementia and I enjoyed enormously your performance. The intonation, the focus, and above all the tenderness and seriousness of the way in which you touched on the theme, was wonderful.”
                                                                                                                                                                                                             — Dr. Carlos Luis Alpizar Quesada, Geriatria – Gerontologia  y Medicina Interna, Hospital Cima,
San Jose, Costa Rica

“Thank you ever so much for the uplifting presentation you gave our Stephen Ministry Caregivers on creative ways to ease the challenges of enhancing the lives of those with dementia.  This is not an easy role for caregivers and your many suggestions that come from your research and experience are realistic and pretty simple for us average folks.  There are three things that were especially wonderful about your presentation: the interplay between the two of you showed your passion for your work, the slides and music added ‘life’ to this somewhat daunting topic, and involvement of the audience in some of the exercises was both useful and fun.  You are a great team.  We loved how you gave us so many life and love giving suggestions.”                                                                                                                                                                                        — Nora Ellen Richard, Stephen Ministry

Additional Presentations and Workshops:

Love and Other Almost True Stories: Humorous and heart-warming tales exploring love in some of its strange and mysterious guises.

 

Everyday Heroes: Encouraging people to notice the gifts in their everyday lives

 

Mom’s The Word: Celebrating the art and heart of motherhood

 

The Tell-Tale Traveler: Featuring spirited journeys and oddball adventures

 

The Heart of the Business: Stories that redefine, encourage and highlight the qualities that help keep businesses people oriented.

 

Family Life and Other Peculiar Habits: Celebrating the unique, challenging and vital connections of the family

 

The Heart of the Season: Holiday Programs: Stories of giving, receiving and connecting

 

Scribbling Outside the Lines and Other Leaps of Faith: Moments of personal boldness and flexibility.