PASSIONATE ADVOCATE

     I come from generations of caregivers, mostly nurses. As a nurse and social worker, I have extensive experience in various medical settings such as medical surgical, mental health, post-hospital rehabilitation, and community healthcare.

      I have cared for newborn infants, adolescents, adults, and have held hands of dying individuals. Along the way, I have nurtured connections with people who are specialists in ‘the art of caring’ for our elders and those with special care needs such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and mental health. I am empowered and inspired by these experts and the families they serve.

      I remember my father telling me when I was young that “Caring is an art.“ He said, “When you do something for someone you have to be committed to completing it or, (you shouldn’t) do it at all.”

      Little did I know how profound those comments would be to me a year after graduating from Loyola University of Chicago with a Bachelor’s of Science in Social work and Concordia University of Chicago with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing.

      While these disciplines provided an essential broad base foundation of knowledge about the science of human aging and social impacts of the aging process in our society, it didn’t prepare me when my beloved father developed heart issues that progressed into complications with Parkinson’s disease. I realized after he had passed, that being a nurse and member of a family of nurses did not provide the tools we needed to navigate caring for my father and for one another. We all had our specialty as professionals, but it didn't include crisis care of an aging adult with complex issues. It also didn’t include the guidance of an outside professional to help our family anticipate care needs, while developing a strong communication and support system for one another as we dealt with our grief.  As a nurse, as a social worker, and as a daughter, it became clear that there was an urgent need for advocacy, information, and resources for elders and for caregivers.    

We need to do better. We have to do better. 

             TRIBUTE Elder Care Consulting is part of the solution!