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Don’t be last on your list this holiday season…show yourself some love!

‘Tis the season for making lists and checking them twice, but are you doing your best to take care of you? With so much to do during the holidays, there is a good chance you’re putting yourself last on those lists. Setting aside some time for you and giving yourself some self-love, not only replenishes your soul, but also helps you to flourish as a caregiver. 

This interactive workshop will offer practical advice and techniques on ways to bring care for the caregiver back into your life. Susie Sarkisian, Kensington Family Support Coach, and our panel of family caregivers Todd M. (Wife’s Caregiver), Kerri S. (Mother’s Caregiver) and Sheri T. (Mother’s Long-Distance Caregiver) will help you go inward and recognize what passions and hobbies you may have given up. They’ll share tips on how to carve out a little bit of time for yourself, which will ultimately allow you to savor the holiday season with your loved one.

*The first 10 guests who register and attend will receive a Happy Holidays Gift Basket. Winners will be notified and can pick up their basket onsite at The Kensington on Tuesday, December 13th between 9am-10am OR 4pm-6pm.

And one lucky winner will receive the grand prize: a complimentary coaching session with Susie Sarkisian!

As The Kensington’s original Director of Family Services, Susie Sarkisian knows her job title makes people tilt their heads when they hear it. But when you think about it, Senior Living is not only about the senior – it’s about the family too. Susie brings a unique skill set to this job.  Number one, as a daughter whose father had Lewy Body Dementia. That curveball threw her own family into differing roles of support, and Susie found herself drawn to supporting her mother, the caregiver. Number two, as a CTI (Coaches Training Institute) Certified Life Coach, Susie has training and experience in listening, coaching, supporting, and validating others. Susie believes wholeheartedly that caring for- and about- anyone who is aging can be both hard and beautiful at the same time. Being able to sit with a coach one-on-one to untangle their own portion of *all this* truly makes all the difference. She also facilitates Caregiver Connect support groups and a Kensington Spouse group.

Sheri Turner lives in Coconut Grove, Florida while her 92-year-old mother with dementia lives in Assisted  Living 800 miles and 4 states away. As a Physician’s Assistant, Sheri was comfortable with the medical side of her mother’s aging process already, and she has masterfully stepped into the caregiving in ways that weren’t taught in medical school. Sheri oversees all aspects of her mother’s care and has built relationships with the ‘caregivers on the ground’ in a way should be shared with others.

Todd’s wife currently lives at The Kensington, living in one of the memory care floors.  Prior to that Todd and Isabelle lived together in a NYC apartment with Todd as the full-time caregiver.  In January 2022, he took a leave from his position as Vice President of Retail Operations for an international hamburger chain as he stepped fully into the caregiving role.  Todd plans to return to work in January 2023 now that his wife is being cared for at The Kensington.

Kerri Smith and her husband took a deep breath and decided to have her mother move from Alaska into their home in South Carolina in 2019.  Kerri’s very busy and demanding career as the SC Market President for Self-Help Credit Union, along with her many and varied interests already contributed to a very full life. Over the last 3 years, she has experienced all the unforeseen challenges and bumps that caregiving brought into the home and into her life.

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The holiday season is a time of new and old traditions, and sharing in the joy and togetherness of spending time with friends and family. But for families whose loved ones are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or Dementia, the holidays can be stressful and overwhelming; and for caregivers, oftentimes difficult to remember the joy that holidays can bring.

Join Kensington Senior Living and The Institute on Aging for guidance on How to Navigate the Holidays with Your Loved One with Dementia. From purposeful gift ideas to creative, meaningful ways to spend time together, our experts will discuss how to adapt while caring for your loved one; and new ways to find joy in the wonderfulness of the season.

Alison Moritz is a dementia care specialist who develops and oversees innovative programs and direct support for elders and their care team.  With over ten fifteen years of experience in dementia care Alison offers a unique and grounded approach to caregiving. She has worked in memory care, rehabilitation, as an activity consultant, and most proficiently in dementia day programming.  She facilitates numerous support groups and works with families throughout California. Her educational background is gerontology, she is certified in CARES dementia care, and is a Clinical Dementia Practitioner.  She lives in the heart of San Francisco with her husband and two children who love every opportunity they get to come and play with her clients at the IOA Enrichment Center in the Presidio.

Vanessa Souza is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a focus on supporting older adults. She has a particular interest in ensuring people living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and their family and friends have the knowledge needed to prepare for the future. She has worked as an assisted living administrator, memory care director, and as a social worker in adult day healthcare. Today, she works as the Senior Manager for Community Engagement at the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California and Northern Nevada. Vanessa holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Seattle University and a Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University.

Mia currently service as the Vice President of Integrated Care Services, overseeing IOAs PACE program (Program for All Inclusive Care for the Elderly) and the Friendship Line. With decades of experience in health care settings including inpatient and acute care, community based care and client advocacy, Mia brings a robust understanding of the complexities of the healthcare system and understanding of client journeys and person centered care. Beyond her extensive experience, Mia was deeply impacted growing up in rural Maui – which gave her a unique, respectful, and honest view of aging.  As such, she now focuses IOA’s Integrated Care Services through the lens of client empathy and efficacy. Before joining IOA, Mia was the Program Director for Buckelew Programs transitional and residential adult programs, serving those with severe mental health diagnoses, substance use and complex medical diagnoses. Mia is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and received her MS from the University of San Francisco.

Taara Hoffman is a Care Manager collaborating with families to enhance coordination of care, navigate transitions, and improve quality of life for loved ones both at home and in residential communities. She is a Certified Consultant in Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care (PAC), a method that focuses on the strengths of those living with cognitive impairment and dementia, while providing support for their families and care partners. Taara also works with On Lok, implementing the NCOA’s ‘Aging Mastery Program’ curriculum. Taara was a Commissioner with First 5 San Mateo County, and has served on the Board of Directors for Thrive: the Alliance of Nonprofits for San Mateo County; Children’s Council San Francisco; and Alliance for Girls. As often as possible, she attends concerts, hikes in the redwoods, and appreciates small kindnesses.

Erwin Garcia has been in the healthcare field for over 12 years serving the elderly population specializing in Dementia. With a combined degree and certification in Computer Science, Nursing and Early Childhood Education, he always finds a way to integrate the three into his care plans. His thirst for knowledge is never-ending which is why he considers himself a lifelong learner and continues to study and earn other degrees in the field of Public Health and Health Education at a local college. Apart from his studies, he is also a polyglot, a volunteer, an avid traveler, a cat dad, and you can find him on the tennis court – weather permitting. One of the philosophies he lives by is “Never go to bed angry because it will flow over the next day.”