Every New Year’s Eve I spend a few minutes reflecting back on last year’s highlights.  Following is a month by month review of those high notes for me personally and for Caregiving Club including:   Kicking off Caregiving Club TV with our red carpet celebrity interviews, finishing my caregiving book, speaking at conferences across the country and especially keeping up with friends who are supporting and advocating for the nation’s 65 million caregivers.  Cheers to a great year and more ahead in 2013.

JANUARY

I kicked the year off by co-hosting the Silvers Summit Conference at the annual International CES Conference in Las Vegas.  I especially have to thank my keynote speakers for the day:  Martin Cooper, inventor of the cell phone, Emilio Pardo, senior leader of brand at AARP and keynote interviewer extraordinaire (and best friend) Alex Witt of MSNBC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interviewed one of my favorite people and “real” celebrities – Holly Robinson Peete.  I wrote her story for a ThirdAge article and for my upcoming book, A Cast of Caregivers.  Holly faces caregiving as she does life – with humor, hope and a fierce sense of “just do it” attitude – love it!  She cared for a father with Parkinson’s disease and a teen son who has autism.

Proud to kick off our Me Time Monday℠ video tips every Monday – in support of Caregiver’s Monday campaign from the nonprofit organization that supports Healthy Mondays.

FEBRUARY

Had a wonderful time doing a 1-on-1 interview with Sylvia Mackey during the Lotsa Helping Hands webinar.  I met Sylvia in 2011 when I interviewed her for my upcoming book and found her delightful and insightful.  She was wife and caregiver to NFL champion Baltimore Colt John Mackey who suffered from frontotemperal dementia.

MARCH

March was a busy month, we started with our first Caregiving Club TV “red carpet” interviews with celebrities at the Alzheimer’s Association A Night At Sardi’s event.  I talked to David Hyde Pierce, Jane Seymour, Peter Gallagher, Joey McIntytre, Marilu Henner and others. Thanks to Erin Heintz and Susan Galeas of the Alzheimer’s Association for getting us on the “purple” carpet and to our sponsor, Lotsa Helping Hands who helped fund our red carpet interviews this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Headed to Washington, D.C. to catch up with my favorite industry colleagues and participate as a speaker at both the American Society on Aging Conference and Boomer Summit Conference.  Met wonderful new friends at CareScout, Independa, National Association of Homebuilders and Natural Marketing Institute when I moderated one of the Boomer Summit panels.

“Hanging out” in Mary Furlong’s suite with women I admire (from R to L): Mary Furlong (the ultimate boomer authority and connector), Renee Werbin (editor – TravelGirl Magazine), Myrna Blyth (women’s editor legend for Ladies Home Journal, MORE, ThirdAge), Gail Sheehy (renowned author) and yours truly

 

 

Catching up with Elliott Jacobsen, head of programming at RLTV – he was instrumental in helping me get our TV pilot, Handle With Care premiered on this cable channel dedicated to the 50+ audience

Striking a pose with favorite friends from Lotsa Helping Hands – Brooks Kenny (CMO) and Hal Chapel (CEO) at the Italian Embassy event hosted by Mary Furlong and Associates.

Closed out a whirlwind month with an interview with Joan Lunden for my upcoming book and articles on Huffington Post and ThirdAge. I first met Joan filming a caregiving special for RLTV called Taking Care with Joan Lunden – she is the ultimate Sandwich Generation caregiver and a real inspiration.

APRIL

Expanded my blog syndicate to include PBS/Next Avenue and EmpowerHer – love being able to write about caregiving issues for an audience that needs the information and support.  Also was signed by prestigious the prestigious speakers bureau, American Program Bureau.

 Interviewed the wonderful Marg Helgenberger for my upcoming book and for articles on ThirdAge.  She was a really wonderful interview and I wish her the best after her 12-year run on TV’s CSI.

MAY

In Beverly Hills this month to interview Nancy Davis prior to her upcoming charity event.  I am a huge Fan as Nancy puts her resources and passion into finding a cure for multiple sclerosis – a disease she lives with every day.  I was thrilled to be invited by Nancy to interview her circle of celebrity friends at her Nancy Davis Foundation Race to Erase MS Event where Caregiving Club TV hit the “orange carpet.” We spoke to Marg Helgenberger (on tape this time!), Cybill Shepherd, David Osmond, LaToya Jackson, Shaun Robinson, Lea Thompson and Taylor Hicks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was so happy to get the call that Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker – those wonderful actors from TV’s L.A. Law and husband & wife team – agreed to an interview for my book and a ThirdAge article.  I cannot think of a better example of a couple who face caregiving (taking care of Jill’s mom with dementia) and have come out stronger through the experience. They are the best example of how spouses need to back each other up through this life event we all face.

JUNE

My publisher’s deadline for my book is looming and I’m pulling out the stops on my celebrity interviews for the manuscript.  I decided I needed to represent the “men” and was so elated when I contacted David Osmond and he recruited his father, Alan, for our interview.  Both men live with debilitating multiple sclerosis and talked to me about the caregivers – their wives – in their lives and gave me the care receiver’s perspective on caregiving. It is impossible not to feel like you can conquer any challenge in your life after talking to these two inspirational men.  My interview with them also appeared on PBS/Next Avenue.

Took a quick trip up to Santa Clara University in Northern California to moderate a panel at the Boomer Venture Summit with Brooks Kenny of Lotsa Helping Hands and John Feather of Grantmakers in Aging.

JULY

Whoever said writing a book was like having a baby was right!  I am coming up on my publisher’s deadline to finish my manuscript and I am only getting 4 hours sleep a night, living in my Lululemon workout clothes, have abandoned make-up and social gatherings…ugh

After a few weeks of trying to schedule an interview with the very busy Alana Stewart – we finally connected.  Alana was important to me to include in my book because in all my celebrity caregiving research she represents that rarest of best friends – putting her life on hold for three years to help Farrah Fawcett battle cancer.  Alana has become a passionate advocate and real authority for alternative cancer treatments and now heads the Farrah Fawcett Foundation.  My interview with her also appeared on ThirdAge.

AUGUST

Got to check one thing off my “bucket list” when I interviewed former First Lady Rosalynn Carter for her 85^th birthday and a conversation about the need for more caregiver awareness, education and support – especially for those with mental illness and brain-related disorders.  The interview was for PBS/Next Avenue and her Rosalynn Carter Institute at Georgia Southwestern State University was highlighted as a national leader in this area.  At 85 she is still a force to reckon with and told me she was looking forward to a little “me time” as she was leaving on vacation for one of her favorite pasttimes:  fly fishing with former President Jimmy Carter.

SEPTEMBER

Delighted to be invited by my friends at Lotsa Helping Hands to conduct another Webinar for their members – this time on the Sandwich Generation Juggling Act.  Lotsa offers free private communities to help caregivers receive the volunteer help they so need to get a break.

Attended the AARP Convention in New Orleans and spent quality time with one of my favorite colleagues – Bob Stein, CEO of American Society on Aging.  There were a lot of great speakers (Hoda Kotb – Today and Emeril Lagasse to name two) and great booths.  I especially loved Billy Crystal giving us his insights and a sneak peek into his new film, Parental Guidance coming this Christmas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OCTOBER

THE thrill of a lifetime – got to interview George Clooney at our third Caregiving Club TV red carpet event, Carousel of Hope Ball for the Barbara Davis Foundation benefitting diabetes research.  Also talked to my favorite celebrities Holly Robinson Peete, Quincy Jones, Neil Diamond, Smokey Robinson and a personal hero of mine – Sherry Lansing – first woman to ever head a Hollywood studio.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So delighted to head to Milwaukee and speak at the first “Community Conversation on Caregiving” by PBS/Next Avenue hosted and taped by Milwaukee Public TV.  I also spoke at the Alzheimer’s Association Milwaukee chapter the next day.  All thanks to the sponsor Helen Bader Foundation – long-standing advocates for Alzheimer’s disease awareness and caregiver support.

NOVEMBER

Just in time for National Caregiver Month AND National Alzheimer’s Month, I was honored to be named #4 to the Top 10 List of Alzheimer’s Influencers by Sharecare, the online health and wellness expert’s site created by Dr. Oz.

 

 

 

In celebration of National Caregiver Month, my friends at Lotsa Helping Hands asked me to conduct another Webinar – this time the topic was “A Cast of Caregivers – Caregiving 101” from my book on how to find the right senior housing, in-home care and transportation for your older loved one.  Thanks for having me, Lotsa!

DECEMBER

One of my lifelong dreams – writing a book – is ready to come true.  My book, A Cast of Caregivers – Celebrity Stories to Help You Prepare to Care, is at the printer and will be available at online retailers and booksellers nationwide next February from Balboa Press, division of Hay House Publishing.

The book arrives just in time for Valentine’s Day – quite appropriate since it was a labor of love and on a topic near and dear to my heart – helping caregivers care for themselves while caring for others.  Cheers – here is to a wonderful 2013!