Dr. Kelly Niles-Yokum is Participating in the Caregiver Smile Summit
Kelly is participating in the Caregiver Smile Summit
We are pleased to welcome Dr. Kelly Niles-Yokum to the Caregiver Smile Summit.
Dr. Kelly Niles-Yokum received her doctorate in gerontology with a concentration in aging policy from the University of MD, Baltimore County and her master’s in public administration with a specialty in gerontology from Portland State University. She is currently the Director of the Gerontology Master’s Program and an associate professor at the University of La Verne. She is currently the President of the California Council on Gerontology and Geriatrics, the state association for aging in CA. Dr. Niles-Yokum has been immersed in the field of gerontology for over 20 years and has experience working in a variety of settings and sectors including nonprofit, public, and higher education. Her research interests include older adults and end of life issues, ageism, the lived experience of programs and services, policy and aging, and gerontological education.
Her topic on the caregiver smile summit is: Navigating Medicaid and other Legal and Financial Caregiving Issues
Find out more about the Caregiver Smile Summit – www.caregiversummit.org
Annalee Kruger is Participating in the Caregiver Smile Summit
Annalee is participating in the Caregiver Smile Summit
We are pleased to welcome Annalee Kruger to the Caregiver Smile Summit.
Annalee has devoted her entire career to seniors and their families. She helped care for her grandparents when she was young. She began her career as an Activities Assistant in an assisted living community while she earned her degree in Social Work.
Annalee worked as a Social Worker and Executive Director in (CCRC’s) Continuing Care Retirement Communities for ABCM Corporation and later, Western Home Communities in Iowa. She moved to Milwaukee and was the Executive Director for Catholic Health Initiatives in South Milwaukee. Her long-term care career spans more than twenty-five years, so she understands the impact family dynamics and compassion fatigue have on family caregivers and their aging loved ones.
Annalee started her own company, Care Right Inc., in 2011, providing concierge services to families with aging loved ones across the nation. She helps families across the globe develop their Aging Plan (where will your loved one live as they age, who will provide care, and how will care be paid). Often, families are overwhelmed with the care needs of their aging parents. With families rarely living in the same location as their aging loved ones, families often spent their time worrying about their loved one’s well-being and scrambling with every crisis.
Care Right develops a customized plan, plan implementation and overseeing the plan, all while offering support and guidance to the entire family unit. She also works with families in developing their Grab and Go binder (the emergency-preparedness binder).
Annalee is also an international speaker on aging issues– compassion fatigue, the aging crisis that no one is addressing, and why pro-active planning is prudent vs crisis management.
Annalee is nearly finished with her first book, The Invisible Patient: the Family Caregiver. This book outlines the emotional, physical, financial, and relationship tolls of family caregiving and how to best prevent family caregiver burnout/compassion fatigue.
She has an MDA from Cardinal Stritch University, social work degree from the University of Northern Iowa. She serves as an adjunct professor at the UWM-Milwaukee School of Gerontology and Business. She has certifications as a Family Mediator; in Grief, trauma, loss, and PTSD; and is a Six Sigma Black Belt.
Her topic on the caregiver smile summit is: Before the Crisis – Developing a Proactive Plan to Age in Place
Find out more about the Caregiver Smile Summit – www.caregiversummit.org
Our Friday Song of the Week-Woodstock – Oh Happy Day
Our Friday Song of the Week – Woodstock – Oh Happy Day
After seeing Santana in Charlotte my wife and I were inspired to have a Woodstock party. Not taking my duties lately, I found the Woodstock lineup and all the songs that were performed. I took it upon myself to try to learn at least one or two songs from each artist at Woodstock in the order of appearance. Some artists or songs were so obscure that I had to skip them or I simply did not know the songs. For some artists I didn’t care for the songs that they did at Woodstock so I did another one of their songs that they made famous after Woodstock. I figured it was only appropriate to rehearse in my garage and to tape the rehearsal as opposed to going into my more polished studio and hooking up everything to my sound system on my computer. So what you’re seeking and hearing is my replication of our version of Woodstock complete with the garage band feel, me in jeans and a T-shirt and unshaven. Please pardon the surroundings, but I thought it would add some authenticity, but I hope you enjoy the songs. So here’s one by Sweetwater from Day 1 called Oh Happy Day.
Mandy Salomon is Participating in the Caregiver Smile Summit
Mandy is participating in the Caregiver Smile Summit
We are pleased to welcome Dr, Mandy Salomon to the Caregiver Smile Summit. Dr. Salomon is co-founder and CEO at MENTIA where they have developed Deva™, the world’s first dementia-friendly digital world. She builds creative digital therapies that support the well-being of people impacted by dementia and those that support them across the care continuum. She is a Ph.D. specialist in media and gerontology and has a rich history in creative production (producer, director, performer, documentary-maker, radio, television and print journalist). Other degrees include a B.A.(Drama & Visual Arts) and an M.A. (Media & Communication). She was an Industry Fellow at Swinburne University of Technology. She serves as an Alliance member, Aging 2.0. and is a member of Creative Aging San Francisco. She is passionate that aging populations have the tools to create, manage and share stories and believes it’s fundamental to the human condition.
Her topic on the caregiver smile summit is: Digital Engagement Therapy – Exploring the 3D Deva World (TM) Environment
Find out more about the Caregiver Smile Summit – www.caregiversummit.org
Dennis LaVoy is Participating in the Caregiver Smile Summit
Dennis LaVoy is participating in the Caregiver Smile Summit
We are please to have Dennis at the Caregiver Smile Summit. Dennis has spent his entire life in Southeastern Michigan, and has seen first-hand the difficulties that can come from this struggling economy — as well as the success stories that can happen through hard work and careful planning. Serving others has always been a part of his life and career. He’s most motivated when he can use his background and knowledge to improve and enrich others’ lives. Having worked as a financial planner since 2008, he has helped both individuals and families in all stages of life, from professionals in miscellaneous careers to executives of large corporations to brand new investors.
Dennis has a Bachelors Degree in finance from Eastern Michigan University; has the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation (CFP®) and the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) designation. Running a boutique firm. he provides each of his clients with a high level of individualized service and work hard to build trust over time, through honesty, communication and shared goals.
He met and married his beautiful wife, Kristin, in Ferndale. As his family grew, they moved to Plymouth to be closer to loved ones. They have two wonderful young children, Evelyn & Henry. Family has always been important to Dennis and spending more time with his family is an important part of his life.
His topic on the caregiver smile summit is: Factors to Consider Before Using Your Retirement Savings for Caregiving
Find out more about the Caregiver Smile Summit – www.caregiversummit.org
