Practicing Gratitude – Charlotte Today – 11/27/19
Practicing Gratitude – Charlotte Today – 11/27/19
I HAVE A KEYNOTE SPEECH I give to groups that I presumptuously call “The Meaning of Life.” It contains eight life lessons that we actually all know but don’t always practice. Every lesson features a personal story, a song and actual research that backs up the claim. The eye-opener is that every story comes from an older person I’ve encountered in my many thousands of singing performances in nursing homes. Yes, the people that we often think of as being in the worst possible places can teach us a lot about life.
One of these eight points has consistently stood out from the very first day I walked into a care home: gratitude. Yes, gratitude. You would think that seniors in nursing homes, faced with medical ailments, loneliness and more would be miserable and angry. Some are. Most are not. During a season of Thanksgiving, what better topic to tackle than gratitude?
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Practicing Gratitude – Charlotte Today – 11/27/19
Practicing Gratitude – Charlotte Today – 11/27/19
I HAVE A KEYNOTE SPEECH I give to groups that I presumptuously call “The Meaning of Life.” It contains eight life lessons that we actually all know but don’t always practice. Every lesson features a personal story, a song and actual research that backs up the claim. The eye-opener is that every story comes from an older person I’ve encountered in my many thousands of singing performances in nursing homes. Yes, the people that we often think of as being in the worst possible places can teach us a lot about life.
One of these eight points has consistently stood out from the very first day I walked into a care home: gratitude. Yes, gratitude. You would think that seniors in nursing homes, faced with medical ailments, loneliness and more would be miserable and angry. Some are. Most are not. During a season of Thanksgiving, what better topic to tackle than gratitude?
Esther Pipoly is Participating in the Caregiver Smile Summit
Esther is participating in the Caregiver Smile Summit
We are pleased to welcome Esther Pipoly to the Caregiver Smile Summit.
LOLA’s Founder and Owner, Esther Cardenas Pipoly grew up in San Antonio, Texas and has first-hand knowledge about losing a loved one. Having lost her father and husband just 63 days apart in 2014, Esther knew that her life-long career in insurance and personal life experiences were leading her to help others in the most difficult of times – death. She realized that the end of life is just the beginning—the beginning of what for her turned out to be three long years of battles, betrayals, and bravery.
She created Loss of Life Advocates to serve as a light during one of the darkest times of life. With services that range from grief recovery consulting, guidance on vital document gathering, assistance in closing down estates or businesses, and employer and employee training and counseling, LOLA is a one-stop shop for those people preparing for or dealing with the loss of a loved one.
From losing her own job to closing out her husband’s law practice, battling with insurance companies, financial institutions and more, Cardenas unfortunately discovered that being in a vulnerable position allows people to take advantage of you. Rather than play the victim, Cardenas used those personal experiences, along with her 20+ years in the insurance business, to bring a unique approach to preparing for and dealing with loss.
Esther has a B.A. from the University of Texas at San Antonio; is a Texas Licensed Agent in Health & Life; and a Certified Grief Recovery Support Specialist. She is DISC Behavioral Certified; a member of Friends of Hospice; and a Former Board Chair of The Final Acts Project.
Her topic on the caregiver smile summit is: Preparing for an End of Life Transition – You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know
Find out more about the Caregiver Smile Summit – www.caregiversummit.org
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
