I'm Raven, Registered Nurse and graduate nursing student.
I began my nursing career in 2015, right around the time my Grandma began showing signs of dementia. My career has been heavily based in neurology, as I have worked in the neurology inpatient setting (in the hospital), as well as the outpatient neurology setting (doctor's office/clinic). I am a student at Walsh University, obtaining my Master's in Nursing as a Nurse Educator.
While I've always had a drive and passion to study neurology and practice high quality care at the bedside, my world flipped upside down when I found myself and my grandma on "the other side of the bed." I completely understand that being a patient, or a family member of a patient, holds a very different feeling than being a nurse or healthcare professional.
Carolyn & I were my grandma's primary caregivers, caring for her in her own home, for the last 365 days of my grandma's life. Together, we navigated the waters of a two hospital stays, a temporary stay in a memory care facility, lots of doctors appointments, and the chaos of in-home care and all it entails. I'm here to tell the tale and honor my grandma by serving you, fellow caregiver.
I'm Carolyn, Certified Caregiving Consultant and Educator.
I have been a personal growth mentor, speaker, and workshop facilitator since 2008. I've helped women from all walks of life boost their self-confidence and fulfill their dreams.
When my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's, I began the journey to learn as much as I could about both the disease and caregiving. Dozens of books, workshops, webinars, and online courses later, I am now helping other caregivers. Bringing together my new-found wisdom, along with the personal growth tools I have used for years, my mission is to help others have less stress and more joy in their dementia journey.
In 2022, I became a Certified Caregiving Consultant and a Certified Caregiving Educator through the Caregiving Years Training Academy. In my free presentation, The Caregiving Years: 6 Stages to a Meaningful Journey, I share coping strategies for the family caregiver. In private consultations, I assist caregivers and their families in developing a Family Emergency Plan, an After The Diagnosis Plan, as well as Care Plans for themselves and their loved one living with dementia.
Dealing with Sundowning? We want to help.
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Learn how to assist with sundowning through 4 key coping strategies: checking for immediate needs, ways to provide comfort, ways to get moving, & ways to connect.
Are you feeling totally overwhelmed with caregiving?
Do you secretly cry in the shower because you can't handle the stress?
Or, maybe you shout it from the rooftop because it's no secret...
We've been there.
We've made more mistakes than we imagined possible...
from the harshness of "reality orientation" to placing our loved one in a memory care facility (even though we knew in our hearts this was not a good fit for her).
But we learned. We grew. And we continue to grow.
We learned to live in the dementia world. And we created a home designed for our loved one. A home that decreased sundowning, encouraged activities geared to her expertise, and filled our hearts with love and laughter. Now, we are on a mission to help caregivers have less overwhelm and more joy in their dementia journey.
We bring humor, kindness, and empathy, along with many strategic action steps to help you create a home full of love and joy for you and your loved one living with dementia.