ODL 232: Bringing Joy and Purpose to the Frontlines of Caregiving

Revised on 02/28/2023

Target Audience:

This course is targeted for social workers, case managers, nurses, and counselors.

Overview:

How often do you look through the lens of the care partner or caregiver of your clients? This thought-provoking course will cover all topics of being a care partner to someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Lisa Marshall, author of the NEW book Oh Hello Alzheimer’s: A Caregiver’s Journey of Love, will share her experiences through an interview-style format. Lisa shares her story, including diagnosis, early denial, progression of the disease, how Lisa and her husband coped, and most of all how they continued to bring joy and purpose to their lives. As someone who lived through all the experiences, Lisa also shared practical tips that helped with the day-to-day care of her husband and herself. Lastly, Lisa shares where she is in life today and how this road has changed her. 

Course Objectives:

By the end of the session – the participant will be able to:

• Give examples of some practical strategies that could be used with clients
• Describe the prevalence rates of early-onset dementia and Alzheimer’s
• List signs and symptoms of early-onset dementia and Alzheimer’s

Presenters:

Lisa Marshall, Author of the NEW book Oh Hello Alzheimer’s: A Caregiver’s Journey of Love, personal blogger on Facebook with over 29,000 followers 

Lisa Marshall was the primary caregiver for her husband, Peter Marshall, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s in 2018 at the age of 53.  Lisa retired in 2020 from a professional sales career to care for her husband who could no longer be alone.  Peter passed away on December 26th, 2021, just three years and eight months after diagnosis. He was 56. 

She is passionate about advocating for support for caregivers and raises her voice to create awareness of the disease.  For over four years she has chronicled her and Peter’s daily journey at www.facebook.com/ohhelloalzheimers offering an honest, realistic, and raw look at Alzheimer’s disease, to followers all over the world.  Her book, Oh Hello Alzheimer’s, a love story and caregiver guide, is available on Amazon.  This book offers tips and tricks for caregivers, covering taboo topics not often talked about. She is also a contributing author of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Navigating Elder Care and Dementia. Her chapter depicts just one of the many sad nuances of Alzheimer’s.

Lisa and Peter’s journey has been covered on CNN, The Washington Post, Today.com, CBS Evening News, On the Road with Steve Hartman, People.com, and more. 

Continuing her passion, she holds virtual Alzheimer’s discussions with followers as well as private consultations, offering her insight, tips, and coping skills. Participants discuss their own unique stories and realize a sense of community together in a safe space. 

She works with companies that offer continuing education credits to medical professionals helping them to understand the disease.  Lisa shares tips she’s learned to help professional caregivers cope which ultimately helps their Alzheimer’s patients. 

Lisa works closely with the Alzheimer’s Association and led a team with Walk to End Alzheimer’s helping fund research to find a cure. Her team was the largest fundraising team in CT in 2021, raising more than $55,000.

When Lisa isn’t writing, she spends time with her family. She has three grown children, two stepchildren, and two grandsons who she babysits whenever she can. Additionally, she enjoys a very active life hiking, swimming in the neighborhood lake, going to the beach, visiting with friends, traveling, and gardening. Lisa practices meditation and vibrates positive energy and love to everyone she meets.  Her mantra is to find joy in life and live each day with no regrets. 

Jessica Patterson, LMSW, DSW CEU Creations Educational Manager

Jessica Patterson, LMSW, DSW, is a licensed social worker with over ten years of experience working in different systems. Jessica has a strong passion for teaching, training, and professional development. She also has a strong background around creating trauma informed systems, social emotional behavioral health and the implementation of community and individual support systems. 

Jessica has created and facilitated many professional development trainings throughout her career. Jessica’s role at CEU Creations includes developing curriculum, working with licensure boards, and presenting at various CE trainings. 

Jessica holds a Bachelor’s degree in organizational management and sociology from Ashford University. She received her Master’s in Social Work from University of Iowa and her Doctoral degree in Social Work from Capella University. Jessica is a licensed Social Worker through the state of Iowa. Jessica currently lives in Iowa with her husband, four children, two dogs, and cat. Any spare moment that Jessica has is usually spent running or reading.

1 CREDIT HOUR APPROVED FOR:

Social Workers
ASWB ACE – 1 CE Credit
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work – 1 Contact Hour
NASW-NJ – 1 CE Credit
Case Managers
CCMC – 1 Contact Hour
Nurses
California Board of Registered Nursing – 1 Contact Hour
Counselors
NBCC ACEP – 1 Contact Hour
New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners – 1 Contact Hour

Please make sure to check with your own state board to ensure the transferability of CE credit for an asynchronous course. Some state boards may place restrictions regarding the modality of training required for ethics credits to be awarded. If this training indicates ethics credits are available, please verify that your state allows them to be earned through an on-demand course format.