Caring for aging parents is a noble and taxing job. But with so much focus on the parent, it can be hard to find time to tune into your own needs. Finding support as a caregiver is vital to both your health and your parents’ long-term outcomes. One possible solution: memory cafes. You may not have heard of them yet, but they could be just the community you need. We spoke with Bill Cohen to learn more about being a caregiver and seeking out a memory cafe.
Watch our full interview with Bill Cohen below:
Bill Cohen’s loving and talented mother, Sheila, lost her home to Hurricane Katrina.
Then, she lost her health, ability to create beautiful art and, ultimately, her life due to Alzheimer’s.
For almost 10 years, Bill was her primary caregiver and advocate, not just her son. He turned his personal loss into his passion supporting other caregivers across North America.
After “retiring” from state employment eight years ago, Bill is a caregiver support group and memory café leader, a podcast guest, a speaker, a trained elder mediator, and a caregiving support consultant.
He has completed several caregiving courses through the Alzheimer’s Association and the Society for Certified Senior Advisors (CSA)®, and earned business degrees from Boston and Portland State Universities.
Bill is a native New Englander and lives in the Portland, Oregon area with his wife and supporter, Lori.
Support for the Caregiver
Bill begins our conversation by telling us about his experience as a caregiver for his mother. It gave him plenty of first-hand experience in pinpointing the kind of support caregivers need. Bill also learned about the many challenges caregivers face when seeking support. Where does one go for help?
One solution has gone under the radar: memory cafes. Bill shares more about what they are and what is unique about the support memory cafes provide for caregivers.
Bill reveals what inspired him to become a memory cafe leader and shares his story with memory cafes. Our discussion ends with Bill’s advice for one thing caregivers can do today to take care of themselves.
Listen to our podcast with Bill here:
To learn more, check out Bill Cohen’s official website here. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and more.
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