WHAT PARTICIPANTS HAVE SAID:

"Your workshops are great!  I now know specific and simple, yet very effective ways to interact with my dad who has Alzheimer's disease.  The use of these techniques has helped to make life more enjoyable and meaningful, not only for my father, but for me as well."            - Bill Cox, Family Member,  KC, Missouri

"There are many wonderful ideas about changing the way we treat long term care residents, but this workshop really helps us put these ideas into practice.  Thank you Mary and Rachel."
                        - Merritt Hogan, Gerontological Nurse Practitioner,
                           Juneau, Alaska
 

"Being an Activity Coordinator, I attended a workshop presented by Rachel Kail and her lovely mother, Mary Sharp.  My heart was touched in a way that I will never forget.  Just attending the workshop and getting to know these two wonderful ladies has given me such positive ideas for the future of my residents.  I only pray that I can be as gracious as they are."   
                       - Debbie Rowe, Spokane, Washington

 

"What a memorable learning experience given by two accomplished educators sharing creative and heartfelt ideas for those living, loving and caring for someone with dementia!"
                      - Claire Crowe, Coordinator of Volunteer Resources, 
                         British Columbia, Canada

"It is impossible to remain unmoved by the energy, compassion and understanding radiated by Mary and Rachel.  To hear them speak for only a few minutes is to fall in love with them forever."
                       - Joetta Coen, Program Director,
                          Alzheimer's Association Mid Missouri Chapter

"I am truly impressed with your use of slides, music and handouts which were a PRACTICAL, USEFUL guide to enhance my relationship with those who have dementia.  Your workshop also helped change my relationship with everyone else in my life.  THANK YOU."    - Mary Arthur, Administrator, Yakima, Washington

"The program manages to pack a wallop in a short amount of time by enriching us with their experience of caring for a loved one with memory loss. The program provides invaluable insight through home videos, slides, music, handouts, and demonstrations, all of which make you laugh and cry while learning at the same time.  A 'must attend' training for anyone caring for those with memory loss or dementia."
              - Robert Gutierrez, Nursing Home Surveyor, Washington

"Mary and Rachel have an interactive presentation style that is professional, caring and stimulating ot the point that one is anxious to try some of the suggestions.  They use their mother's/grandmother's life to teach what can happen when a care provider commits to ensuring the dignity and respect every human being deserves.  Their video is the best I have ever seen in witnessing love in action."
                         - Judy McCann-Beranger, Executive Director,
                           Prince Edward Island, Canada



"This training gives 'hands on' tools to caregivers that they can put to use on the job immediately."
                   - Georgina Dapcevich, Administrator, Sitka, Alaska

Further feedback from seminar evaluations:

• "Would recommend as mandatory for all health care staff and families."

• "I was told this was a great workshop by co-workers in Anchorage and Palmer, Alaska.  So, I drove five hours from Wasilla to see it.  It was worth every mile!"

• "Absolutely incredible and I believe the best knowledge comes from personal experience."

• "It is apparent that Rachel and Mary's knowledge of dementia is only exceeded by their commitment to improve the care of those with dementia."

• "This program opened my eyes that I need to slow down and take my time to communicate."

• "This was entertaining, sweet and uplifting!  Please keep educating everyone... what you are doing is wonderful!"

• "The whole seminar was educational, eye opening, entertaining, and enlightening.  Thank you for caring so much!!!"

• "Anyone with a family member who has dementia NEEDS this program."

• "I wish every person who knows someone with dementia could see this."

• "This program went beyond my expectations.  They were not just great... they were wonderful."

• "I never checked my watch!"

• "I just feel like I have known Mary and Rachel always.  You are both so special."

• "I enjoyed the relaxed way you presented this workshop.  I also liked the use of pictures... it makes it more real and relevant."

• "You two speak like you know your audience from personal experience."

• "This is the most enjoyable, informative training information seminar I have ever attended in 20+ years of nursing.  Thank you for sharing your Mother and Grandmother with us."

• "I learned more on how to treat not only people with dementia.  I learned how to treat everyone."

• "For as long as we have been caring for Hal's Aunt, I have not looked forward to going home.  After today I can't wait to rediscover who she is.  Thank you for that."

• "As an RN this workshop helped re-focus my attention from 'tasks' to the 'person'."

• "Excellent.  Well-organized... up close and personal."

• "Well researched, very informative, well presented!"

• "This is a wonderful workshop - worthy of university credits."

• "Excellent communication and great sensitivity with insight and quality of life for our elderly.  Please come back to New Brunswick again."

• "I wish all my staff could feel your passion."

• "Would recommend to anyone!"

• "Makes you think about dementia in a different way... how we can draw people out of their shell.  Realize there is a person there who has had a very fulfilling life."

• "I learned so much!  You did the presentation, everything, so well.  Loved the humor, facts, stories, examples, knowledge, hints, tips, and everything.  Thank you so much."

• "Add more hours!"

• "This was the best workshop I have ever attended.  Speaking and teaching from your heart and personal experiences lends validity and truth to everything you passed on to us.  Thank you."

• "Great interaction in groups at seminar!"

• "Could have stayed all day."

• "You never lost my attention... not even once."

• "You made it seem so simple and made me feel like, 'I can do it'."

• "It was wonderful to finally attend a positive-feeling seminar on individuals with dementia."

• "I feel I'm able to walk away with actual tools to utilize and share with others!"

• "Outstanding"

• "I think you remind us that we are all human."

• "Great! I'm still digesting all of this..."

• "Most informative, fun workshops I have ever been to."

• "The handouts and the videos were fantastic."

• "Personal experience made the presentation so real and touching and had much more impact than just telling what we are supposed to do like read a book."

• "You both clearly know exactly what we are talking about as caregivers."

• "Most positive, uplifting workshop I have ever attended with practical and useful tools to take away!"

• "AWESOME!  I wish my entire family could have been here."

• "You two are an impressive team, especially being mother and daughter."

• "Excellent... could be three days long!"

• "I now have much brighter insight."

• "Superb!  I would come to any workshop that you gave."

• "Rewarding presentation."

• "Powerful and passionate!"

• "You made dementia something REAL rather than textbook."

• "This has been the most valuable workshop I have known to take place here.  We will all greatly profit from this time."

• "I have learned how to begin giving and focusing on quality life, not just perpetuating existence."

• "You had it down!  Information was not only well presented with a firm base of knowledge- it was interesting and enjoyable."

• "You have recharged by battery and renewed my passion."

• "I can't wait to share all the wonderful ideas with co-workers!"

• "I never once checked to see what time it was - can't say that at too many workshops!"

• "Good teaching techniques - use of multiple methods- made topics more interesting."

• "Down to earth"

• "Excellent content.  Best Alzheimer's presentation I have ever encountered."

• "It was great to focus not on the disease of dementia but on the person with dementia."

• "Would totally recommend 110%!"

• "Innovative approach to an age old disease."

• "This workshop was unexpected.  It touched my heart as well as provided information.   The speakers were outstanding and it was obvious that they have great love for people with dementia."

• "This time together will show an administrator how to empower family members to improve your care to elderly, especially dementia residents."

• "Wow!  Finally a program that gave common sense, hands on information you can take back to your facility, share and work with!"

• "I now see dementia patients in a whole new light."

• "Good enough for a national audience... you two should go on Oprah!"