Focus on Caregiving
As the founder of AGEucate™, LLC located in North Texas, I have trained and worked with thousands of seniors, caregivers, and professionals, and my business has expanded rapidly. With one out of every four adults now caring for a loved one in some capacity, caregiving expertise and professional training programs are in high demand. But I didn’t expect to go into the field of aging and caregiver training.
My story started over 20 years ago. I was a mother with two small children when my parents began dealing with aging issues. My father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease which meant my whole family had to face many challenges. My life changed dramatically as my dad’s disease progressed and then later when my mother was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. My siblings and I went on a 15 year journey of caring for our parents – undoubtedly the most difficult life task we’ve encountered, but also one filled with tremendous joys and blessings.
It was out of this experience that I realized my life purpose is to help families and professionals navigate aging and caregiver issues and gain a deeper understanding of the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of older adults. To be a compassionate, understanding caregiver, you first must understand what that person is going through.
The cornerstone of AGEucate™ is providing experiential education and training to professional and family caregivers by bringing them evidenced-based, hands-on learning opportunities. Senior-care providers are seeking training programs that will enhance the care of their residents and set them apart from other facilities. As a provider and certified trainer for the internationally acclaimed Virtual Dementia Tour®, AGEucate™ helps senior care communities, healthcare facilities and other providers by offering facilitator training programs and community education. The Virtual Dementia Tour® is undoubtedly one of the most powerful dementia sensitivity tools available today and it is expanding in scope exponentially. We have also added Compassionate Touch® to our educational menu. This proven, innovative touch training is for professionals who work with dementia patients and those in later life stages.
AGEucate™ is moving into the workplace, too. Employers must step up to the plate and begin to offer support services to the fast growing numbers of employees who are caring for aging parents, spouses and other loved ones. They are losing valuable employees who just can’t cope with the demands and the extreme stress and burnout that comes with being a family caregiver. Our AGEucated™ Working Caregiver Program is a half or full-day on-site dynamic, high-impact seminar aimed at providing exactly what the employed caregiver needs - solid education, tools and resources.
I am proud to have the CSA designation. You build your reputation and trust by how you conduct yourself, your business and your relationships. The CSA tells others that you have taken the initiative to grow and learn professionally.
Pam has a BS in Marketing and has been a Certified Senior Advisor® since 2011. She lives in the Dallas - Ft. Worth Metroplex city of Colleyville, Texas with her husband John. They have two grown children.
Pam Brandon
Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) ®
Blog post provided by Society of Certified Senior Advisors
