Premiere Speakers Bureau

IRVINE, CA: I barely survived the most wrenching year of my life as the sole caregiver to my aggressive elderly father and sweet but ailing mother, both with early Alzheimer’s not properly suspected nor diagnosed for over a year. But after fighting through an unsympathetic medical system and having my once-adoring father hauled off by the police for violence several times for evaluation at a psychiatric hospital where he’d promptly be released, and burning through my parents’ life savings and most of my own--with sheer determination I solved the endless crisis medically and behaviorally.

Infuriation about all I had been through so needlessly compelled me to give up my stalled 15-year career as a television executive to become an advocate for eldercare awareness and reform. Passion to save others from a similar experience resulted in my bestselling book “Elder Rage”; producing/hosting the “Coping With Caregiving” radio program for six years interviewing over 700 healthcare professionals (http://www.wsradio.com/CopingwithCaregiving); media including TODAY, CNN, PBS Documentary, NPR, Woman’s Day, Prevention, AARP Bulletin cover story; Board of Directors of the FAIR Foundation--advocating for Fair Allocations in Research funds from Congress and the NIH; a syndicated column, Q&A column and two Blogs; and over 150 Keynotes--including to the California Governor’s Conference, numerous chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association and Area Agencies on Aging, the National Security Agency and Florida House of Representatives.

I also speak about surviving invasive breast cancer (six surgeries, numerous complications), sharing insights gained from both sides of the caregiving aisle. I stress the importance for everyone (but especially caregivers) to closely monitor their own health--promoting the value of gratitude, affirmations, visualization and humor to overcome life’s challenges--and to never give up!
(I also speak about writing and self-publishing.)

ELDER RAGE is a Book-of-the-Month Club selection (the first time a book on caregiving has ever been selected), receiving hundreds of five-star Amazon reviews and being considered for a feature film. Over 50 endorsements (http://www.elderrage.com/Review.asp) include: Hugh Downs, Regis Philbin, John Hopkins Memory Clinic, Duke University Center for Aging and Harvard Medical School. The Addendum by renowned neurologist/dementia specialist, Rodman Shankle, MS MD (former Medical Director UCI Alzheimer’s Center), makes it also valuable for healthcare professionals (including doctors) and required text at numerous universities for courses in geriatric assessment and management.

MISSIONS: To help improve eldercare laws; encourage long-term care planning/insurance; enlighten healthcare professionals how to better help families; provide solutions and hope to caregivers; advocate for fair funding from the NIH for Alzheimer’s and Breast Cancer research and heighten early diagnosis awareness; expose elder abuse and exploitation; bring attention to the value of Adult Day Care, which saved my parents’ lives as well as my own. I’ve testified before the Assistant Secretary on Aging and received a Media Award from the National Adult Day Services Association. I was also honored with “Advocate of the Year” from the National Association of Women Business Owners at their Remarkable Women Awards.

REFERENCES (more available by request)
We are overjoyed with your presentations! You held the audience’s attention over two hours with incredible compassion, humor and candid heartfelt honesty. We sincerely appreciated your easy-going manner, graciousness, and help with planning including your extensive Seminar Guidelines, which made our jobs so much easier! Attendees wrote: ‘Hearing Jacqueline's experience was priceless.’…’There’s nothing more helpful than to hear from the heart of one who has been there.’…’I came 90 miles to hear her and it was worth every mile!’ Thanks Jacqueline — you are the greatest!!
—Family Caregiver Support Program, Aging & Adult Care of Central WA

Thank you for an excellent CME presentation on Alzheimer’s! The physicians were specialists in various fields of medicine and as indicated by their evaluations, thoroughly enjoyed your talk. Through your discussion on AD, which included warning signs and stages, as well as creative ways to effectively manage patients, you helped educate physicians and have potentially improved patient care.
—Dir. Physician Relations, Centinela Freeman Hospital, Marina Del Rey, CA

Thank you so much for your outstanding Keynote at our 6th International Elder Care Conference! You educated and inspired over 300 nurses and healthcare professionals who earned CEU’s, and who rated your session quite highly. Comment: ‘It was an excellent conference and I really enjoyed Jacqueline’s presentation!’
—Becky Bays, Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario, Toronto, Canada

PRICELESS & UPLIFTING! Jacqueline exceeded all expectations for hundreds of attendees as well as our conference committee. Caregivers need to know they are not alone and she empowers them to reach out--giving the connection and direction they long for. Jacqueline truly ‘gets’ eldercare--and as one attendee put it, ‘Jacqueline is awesome!’
—Dawn Jacobs, Elder Advocacy Manager, Area Agency on Aging, Alpena, MI

How do you describe something better than excellent?! One attendee to our conference said her grandmother had Alzheimer’s, lived in their home, and so appreciated that Jacqueline really understood what her household actually went through—but that the doctor never got the picture. She added, ‘Only a caregiver who has been there knows the whole truth and is the only one who can give you all those little extra tips of what to try next.’
—Judy Story, Key Club Adult Day Care Center, Danville, IL

Without exception, our 300+ participants highly rated Jacqueline’s presentation as excellent! She expertly and humorously educates by strengthening the hearts of family caregivers—while empowering the mission of professional caregivers.
—Joan Douthit, Event Coordinator, BSA Hospice, Amarillo, TX

Jacqueline did an unbelievable job providing down-to-earth, honest and candid presentations that deeply touched many hearts. She spoke directly to caregivers’ situations and provided creative solutions they were able to take home and use immediately. One participant said it changed her life and now knows she’s not alone--and that ‘Jacqueline read my heart’. This conference was our BEST ever, so we highly recommend Jacqueline—she’s the poster child for Alzheimer's Caregiving!
—Krysti Bland, Greater Michigan Chapter of Alzheimer's Association

Thank you so much for your informative presentation at our annual symposium, providing members with a broader perspective on financial and life planning. By educating on the beginning of Alzheimer’s/dementia and the resultant caregiving and eldercare issues that can arise, we have greater insight and are better equipped to help our clients. The evaluations are excellent—and thank you for donating $5 per book to our organization.
—Financial Planning Association of Puget Sound, WA