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_______________________________________________________ ABOUT THE AUTHOR (Picture in jpg or PDF formats) Personalized, compassionate, and quality long-term healthcare is the passion on which Paula Harder Kenemore has built her career for more then twenty years. Paula brings personal experience, as well as insightful and educated knowledge to her writing, speaking, and consulting work.
Paula received a B.S. degree in Speech Communication from Minnesota State University, Winona and the University of Wisconsin, Superior. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in Gerontology at Bethel University in Minneapolis. She holds her Certification in Activity Consulting from the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals. Paula has also received professional training in “Culture Change” philosophy for long-term care facilities.
Paula's career began at the age of sixteen when she began work as a nursing assistant. She has held the positions of Activity Director & Consultant and Spiritual Care & Volunteer Coordinator for facilities in the two largest nursing home corporations in the country. Paula has also provided services as an independent Dementia Care Specialist for the Minnesota-North Dakota Northern Regional Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.
With a strong desire to improve long-term healthcare for older adults, Paula has developed workshops and trainings for healthcare professionals and is the creator of many unique programs designed for nursing home residents and their families. Paula is the founder and C.E.O. of B.O.L.D. Transitions whose mission is to Build Older Lifestyles with Dignity. Paula is committed to improving the care we give our older population through
educational workshops for family and clients, staff training and consulting, and speaking events focused on aging issues.
Paula created “My Life, My Care, My Way” to give healthcare decision-making back to the person it belongs to…YOU! When not at work in the healthcare industry Paula enjoys spending time with her husband Tom and their three children, Nick, Cassie, & Alex.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FOR FURTHER INFOMATION CONTACT: Families Avoid This “Talk”, Especially During the Holidays, says Aging and Caregiver Expert
The holiday plans are set; your whole family is meeting at your parent’s house. The topic you won’t hear around the dinner table during the holidays; how Mom and Dad should be cared for when they can no longer care for themselves. Talking about the future healthcare of an aging family member is a taboo subject for parents and adult children, especially during the holidays.
“We plan for so many things in our lives; holidays, weddings, careers, families, retirement, travel, and financial security, yet we do not plan for our future healthcare, or for life after illness or injury,” says Paula Harder Kenemore, a national expert on aging and caregiver issues, and author of the recently released book, My Life, My Care, My Way, My Advance Personal Care Plan. "The holidays are the best time to initiate a future healthcare discussion because everyone is together, the mood is light, and families are naturally reminiscing about the past and thinking about the future."
"Ten minutes before sitting down to open presents, or just as Mom begins to carve the holiday turkey with a twelve inch electric knife may not be the best time to approach the subject," Kenemore adds. "Plan your conversation well after the holiday dinner, the opening of presents, or the football game, but before anyone heads home." It is important that all family members be included in this conversation, so everyone hears the same thing. If the whole family is not able to attend, consider video or audio recording the conversation. Informing the whole family in advance of the meeting gives everyone a chance to think about it, write down their own concerns, and prepare emotionally for a topic that may be difficult for them. For a free list of what to talk about from both the parent's and children's perspective, visit the publisher’s website at: www.lakeeffectmedia.net.
Having this future healthcare conversation is the first step. Once families are clear on the care and decisions a family member has made, the next step is to get those wishes in writing. "When families are aware of a loved ones wishes, it helps, but it is not enough to keep difficult healthcare decisions out of the legal system and out of the media spotlight, as we saw with Terri Schiavo," warns Kenemore. My Life, My Care, My Way allows an individual to get their wishes in writing.
More families are affected by this lack of planning than you may think. According to Kenemore, "75% of Americans fail to have a written plan or advance directive for future healthcare and medical treatment, and virtually none have a plan for how they would like to be cared for by another person, yet 3 out of 5 people will depend on someone else to provide care during their lifetime due to age, illness, or injury.”
Advance directives are an important piece of the planning puzzle, but many focus only on end-of-life issues and crisis decision making. Advance directives do not include "living-until-end-of-life" information. Many people will live out the remainder of their days being cared for by someone else, either in their own home or in a care facility such as a nursing home or assisted living. “Living-until-end-of-life” care is a new concept and is the focus of the book, My Life, My Care, My Way, My Advance Personal Care Plan by Paula Harder Kenemore. My Life, My Care, My Way is a tool for caregivers to see the individual as a person, not just a medical record. "The better your caregivers know and understand you, the better equipped they will be to give you quality, compassionate and loving care," adds Kenemore.
For additional information about starting a future healthcare conversation or My Life, My Care, My Way, My Advance Personal Care Plan, visit www.lakeeffectmedia.net or call 218-485-4252.
About Paula Harder Kenemore:
Paula Harder Kenemore is an author, speaker, and consultant with over 20 years experience in the long-term care industry. She is the founder and C.E.O. of B.O.L.D. Transitions. Her mission is to Build Older Lifestyles with Dignity by providing training and workshops that focus on aging issues for healthcare professionals, care facility residents, and their families. She is also an independent Dementia Care Specialist for the Minnesota-North Dakota Northern Regional Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.
___________________________________________________________________ 10 Tips for Including Older Family Members in Holiday Celebrations
1. Be Realistic: Do not allow your expectations for the event to cloud your judgment about what you are, or are not, able to do, and what is and is not a successful event.
2. Be Sensitive: Include the family member, if possible, in event planning and take your cue from them as to how involved they want to be. If they say “No”, be encouraging but not pushy. If they say, “Yes,” be honest about how and where the event is going to take place. Consider carefully before planning surprises.
3. Communicate: If your family member lives in a residential care facility, make sure to keep the lines of communication open with the staff and ask for help in planning the event. A facility’s staff is generally happy to help plan a wonderful holiday for those they care for and can be an excellent resource when planning transportation or providing facility space for an in-house celebration, when they are able.
4. Be Flexible: If transportation or health issues make getting a family member to a specific location difficult, offer to bring the celebration to them; decorate, cook the meal, open presents at their home, or facility. Try not to get hung up on the date of the event. A holiday is a holiday no matter what the date on the calendar says.
5. Keep it Simple: If the older family member has dementia or is very frail, keep the celebration simple and do not overwhelm them with lots of people and commotion. If you have a large family, visit in small groups, this will make the fun last but not be too overwhelming.
6. Start a Tradition: or adapt an existing one. Have your older family member read or tell holiday stories, such as the Christmas Story, or other holiday readings, light candles in honor of loved ones who have passed on or are not able to attend. Make the older family member the “head of the household” for that celebration.
7. Consider Transportation: If transportation for your family member is complicated be sure and plan ahead. Include them, and care facility staff, in the planning so the loved one is not shocked or upset by the experience. Remember to consider the safety of everyone involved.
8. Plan Rest Time and Location: Make sure you have a quiet place for your family member to rest and lie down for a period of time. You may be able to celebrate all day, but your loved one may need a break.
9. Know the Facts: Make sure you know what the person’s dietary needs are and if there are any restrictions. You don’t want to tempt them with the annual holiday grog or sugary goodies if it could interact with their medications. This is especially important for diabetics. Be sure you are prepared for other issues that may arise such as bathroom needs, accessibility to the location and restroom, fall risks such as carpeting, stairs, and rugs, and emotional reactions.
10. Have Fun: The holidays may not resemble the good old days. The important thing is being together and bringing joy to a loved one during the holidays. Don’t get stuck on the idea that things have to be the way they have always been. Enjoy each moment and experience as an opportunity to make new memories.
About Paula Harder Kenemore:
Paula Harder Kenemore is an author, speaker, and consultant with over 20 years experience in the long-term care industry. Her new book, My Life, My Care, My Way, My Advance Personal Care Plan is available at www.lakeeffectmedia.net or by calling 218-485-4252. Paula is the founder and C.E.O. of B.O.L.D. Transitions. Her mission is to Build Older Lifestyles with Dignity by providing training and workshops that focus on aging issues for healthcare professionals, care facility residents, and their families. She is also an independent Dementia Care Specialist for the Minnesota-North Dakota Northern Regional Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.
___________________________________________________________________ Spirituality, Aging, and the Holidays: 6 Tips for Keeping the Spirit in the Celebration
Supporting a person’s spiritual individuality during the holidays is vital to maintaining or improving their sense of well being. Spirituality is not necessarily religious beliefs. Knowing a loved one’s perspective on spirituality is important, especially for caregivers. Even if someone has no religious affiliation, he or she still has spiritual needs.
1. Religion: Spirituality, for many, is tied directly to their religious beliefs. Be proactive in maintaining contact with a loved one’s place of worship and the congregation. Offer assistance with transportation, if able. When someone is unable to attend services, find ways to bring the service to them, such as recordings, both audio and video, inviting church friends to visit in a loved one’s home or care facility, or provide worship services within a care facility. Encourage spiritual leaders to provide services in the facility and to stay connected with their aging congregation. Spiritual leaders can also provide one-on-one visits in home or residential care facilities, but may need encouragement and reminders to do so.
2. Music: Music is a very important part of the spirit of the holiday season regardless of a person’s religious affiliation. Even for those living with dementia, or receiving comfort care at the end-of-life, music continues to touch individuals, and memory of music lasts significantly longer than other long-term memories. Knowing a person’s preferences for music will help provide holiday music that is calming and joyful.
3. Remembrance: Remembering and honoring loved ones who have passed on seems to be a natural part of the holiday season. A great way to engage older adults is through the use of a memory tree and ornaments. If you are working in a care facility, invite residents to place ornaments on a tree in honor of or in memory of a loved one. This idea can be adapted in a number of ways. This is a great way to create “family” in the facility by honoring staff and residents, or a facility can remember residents who have passed on during the year.
4. Fellowship: Provide many opportunities throughout the holiday season for fellowship with friends, family, caregivers, and community. This may be as simple as a special lunch in the afternoon, or holiday prayer services. A nice quiet place where people can gather together for moments of silence, prayer, meditation, and reflection is very important to creating a feeling of peace in a very busy time of year. If someone is living in their own home, offering transportation or help in planning such events will help maintain contact with friends and community, often forgotten as busyness takes over.
5. Giving: Part of the spirit of the holiday season is the opportunity to give to others. This desire does not diminish with age. An older adult’s ability to give is often complicated by limited income, transportation difficulty, and health issues. Keeping this in mind, family and caregivers can provide opportunities for older adults to continue to give to others. Assisting older adults to create homemade gifts, offering transportation to shopping locations, encouraging older adults to create their life story as a gift to their family members, and other low or no cost ideas can bring back the spirit of giving to those who are not easily able to give on their own.
6. Storytelling: Holidays are a great time to share life stories which are as fun to tell, as they are to hear. Reminiscing is an important part of sharing the spirit of who we are with those around us. Family and caregivers can encourage older adults to record or write their stories for others to enjoy or simply create opportunities for them to share their stories with others. During the holidays, have a get together to share the best holiday stories each person can remember.
About Paula Harder Kenemore:
Paula Harder Kenemore is an author, speaker, and consultant with over 20 years experience in the long-term care industry. Her new book, My Life, My Care, My Way, My Advance Personal Care Plan is available at www.lakeeffectmedia.net or by calling 218-485-4252. Paula is the founder and C.E.O. of B.O.L.D. Transitions. Her mission is to Build Older Lifestyles with Dignity by providing training and workshops that focus on aging issues for healthcare professionals, care facility residents, and their families. She is also an independent Dementia Care Specialist for the Minnesota-North Dakota Northern Regional Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association.
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