The holiday season is a great time to share the joys of togetherness and tradition. But for families whose aging relatives are showing signs of decline, the holidays can also be stressful and even, sad.
Join Kensington Place for an interactive, panel discussion with Dr. Marsha, Creative Journal Expressive Arts and Visioning, and Alison Moritz, Institute on Aging, for guidance on navigating the difficult decisions and conversations as a caregiver around the holidays. Learn creative, effective ways to handle family dynamics, travel logistics, and other stresses this season.
Questions that will be addressed:
What is the best way to decline a holiday invitation?
How much should I say about my significant other’s medical condition?
Would it be selfish of me to take a trip by myself during the holidays?
Does a Potluck gathering sound like a good idea for the holidays? I have always cooked meals.
Where can I get some tools to deal with my emotions such as grief, loneliness, sadness?
How will I know when it is time for me to make a decision about my longtime care and not have my family decide?
Driving is a source of my independence, when should I surrender my driver’s license?
*This is a CEU credited event.
Marsha Nelson, PhD is the co-founder and training supervisor for the Creative Journal Expressive Arts and Visioning® Certification programs. Dr. Marsha travels worldwide offering Creative Journal Expressive Arts & Visioning® workshops. She serves as the Executive Director of Project Insight, a 501 (C) (3) non-profit “whose mission is to empower individuals by promoting their physical, mental, and physical well-being through the offering of creative healing and educational tools.” She is the author of the Creative Journal for the Cancer Survivor and Caregivers. Offering weekly workshops for 10 years in the McAllen Public Library, Dr. Marsha is a graduate a 2008 graduate of Leadership Texas & 2014 graduate of Leadership America class of 2008. 2015 Community Hero of the Month for Navy Army Credit Union, 1996 Women of the Year for Orange County California, amongst additional honors and awards. Her claim to fame is having created 4 presently successfully active businesses after only taking a typing class in high school!
Marshanelsonphd@gmail.com
Alison Moritz is a gerontologist who has worked in the aging field for 15 years. She focuses on aging with dementia, family structures and societal impacts of caregiving. Moritz is the Program Director for the Institute on Aging’s Enrichment Center; the preeminent dementia day center located in San Francisco. She also helped develop and currently oversees the Dementia Care Coach offering which provides high touch resources for caregivers called Companioa. In addition to her operational work, Moritz facilitates numerous support groups which support families throughout the Bay Area.
