(click on the small icon for more information on the event.)
Oct 9th
Hawai´i
"A Caregiver's Voice - Writing on the Walls of Silence"
Keynote Speech and writing workshop.
Hawai´i County Office of Aging Conference.
For details contact Sally Wehrsig: 808-961-8626
"A Caregiver's Voice - Writing On the Walls of Silence"
will explore the many expressions and experiences of
caregiving that find their own voice through the exercise
of writing.
For the caregiver, as well as the cared for, isolation
within a wall of silence is one of the cruelest aspects
of one of our cruelest diseases, Alzheimer's. Even as
we witness our loved ones retreating into the speechless
world of their illness, our own conversation suffers being
cut off from ordinary adult exchanges with those around us.
Friends withdraw and personal interests are set aside as the
simple act of talking becomes completely wrapped in the subject
of care. 'Appointments', 'Prescriptions', 'Vital Signs' and
'safety issues', 'Depends', become such dominating themes that
ordinary exhanges with family and friends is all but forgotten.
As the demands of caring for our loved one increases, our feelings
and thoughts about our own lives receed until its voice is
barely audible.
This is bad for both ourselves and our loved ones. It adds an
invisible burden to caregiving that can eventually wear down
the strongest of caregivers and sap our energy until there is
little left to give. Writing is one of the best defenses we
have to prevent this from happening. Poems, Journaling and
other creative writing can be used effectively to keep us in
the practice of simply 'being ourselves' and hearing the one
voice we must listen to if we are to remain healthy.
In this presentation I will discusses many of these skills and
how the caregiver can use them or, the professional impart them,
to keep a healthy balance between self and other as we carry on
with our most difficult of all jobs. You don't need to be a writer
to acquire this most useful resource. Just bring a pen and some paper
and we can explore together how to 'Break the Silence' with Writing.
Oct 21st
Hawai´i
"Reclaiming Your Voice"
Talk and Workshop for caregivers and health workers.
Alzheimer's Association, Ward Warehouse, Honolulu.
For details contact Alzheimer's Association, Aloha Chapter,
Arlene Ige: 808-591-2771.
"Reclaiming Your Voice" is the title of this talk
and writing workshop for caregivers and health care workers.
It is being presented by the Alzheimer's Association, Aloha
Chapter for which I have done many workshops and presentations
over the years.
The focus of this event will be on the use of writing
in poem, story and journal to rediscover our own voices and
interests that are too often lost in constant demands of
caregiving and the focus of all our conversation on the care
and well being of our loved ones.
To help caregiver's reclaim their unique
voice, I will present a number of ideas and exercises that may
may be used to reclaim or own voices and continue our care
with a renewed sense of ourselves and our loved ones.
Writing is a tool that is very portable. It can be taken with us
to appointments, on trips to the pharmacy, or on those nights
when we give up on getting a good night's sleep. It can be worked
into the most demanding schedule and is available to all,
without prescription. I look forward to meeting you at this event;
even those who have never written much besides and their loved one's
appointment schedule and shopping lists. Often, I find those
unused to thinking of writing as a personal tool become the
most avid writers, once a few simple methods are given to them.
All are welcome, hope to see you there.
Oct 24th
Hawai´i
"Children's Book Festival" - Readings from Wordsworth
Poems and Stories From Wordsworth's Adventures; 10am - 2pm.
details Soon: (check back here),
Come Talk Story with Wordsworth & Me. We'll have a fine day and you can hear and see all that is happening in the world of children's books.
Special Surprise: Wordsworth will tell about some new adventures that haven't even been published! Bring all the kids and their friends!!!
Oct 24th
Hawai´i
"Reclaiming Your Voice"
Talk and Workshop for caregivers and health workers.
Alzheimer's Association, 4303 Rice Street, Lihue, Kauai.
For details contact Alzheimer's Association
Jill: 808-245-3200.
"Reclaiming Your Voice" is the title of this talk
and writing workshop for caregivers and health care workers.
It is being presented by the Alzheimer's Association, Aloha
Chapter for which I have done many workshops and presentations
over the years.
The focus of this event will be on the use of writing
in poem, story and journal to rediscover our own voices and
interests that are too often lost in constant demands of
caregiving and the focus of all our conversation on the care
and well being of our loved ones.
To help caregiver's reclaim their unique
voice, I will present a number of ideas and exercises that may
may be used to reclaim or own voices and continue our care
with a renewed sense of ourselves and our loved ones.
Writing is a tool that is very portable. It can be taken with us
to appointments, on trips to the pharmacy, or on those nights
when we give up on getting a good night's sleep. It can be worked
into the most demanding schedule and is available to all,
without prescription. I look forward to meeting you at this event;
even those who have never written much besides and their loved one's
appointment schedule and shopping lists. Often, I find those
unused to thinking of writing as a personal tool become the
most avid writers, once a few simple methods are given to them.
All are welcome, hope to see you there.
Nov 14th
Sacramento
"The Freedom to Write" - Caregivers Open the Cage of Silence"
Lecture and Workshops on Caregiving; 10am - 12 noon. Free.
for details, call the Alzheimer's Association office: 916-930-9080.
All proceeds go to the Alzheimer's Association of Northern California.
Join caregiver, award-winning author of 8 books, and lifetime
educator Frances Kakugawa, share how writing helped her find
her voice in caregiving and how others can do the same, even
those who never tried their hand a writing before. Her stories
and poems speak of her compassionate and competent care. And
she will tell you how writing played an important part in
keeping her balanced and self-aware through that difficult
time.
Come weep (bring kleenex), shout whimper or simply keep silent.
Frances will work with any interested in trying their own hand
at some journal or poetry writing. She enjoys working with people
who claim their writing is limited to grocery lists and doctor's
appointments. All are welcome. (taken from Alz. Assn. Announcement)
Dec 3rd
Sacramento
"Breaking the Silence" - Finding your voice through writing.
Lecture and Workshops on Caregiving; 10am - 12 noon.
for details, call the Alzheimer's Association office: 916-930-9080.
All proceeds go to the Alzheimer's Association of Northern California.
As time progresses, Our loved ones, sufferring from Alzheimer's and
other forms of dementia, lose more and more of their former identity.
It falls to us, their caregivers, to hold that identity for them and
to preserve what we know of who they were in order to interpret their
needs and desires on their behalf.
To do this, it is essential that the caregiver maintain their own
sense of self and a strong personal identity. It is not possible for
us to speak for the interests of another if our own needs and interests
become confused and muddled with those of our loved ones.
This is particularly difficult for those of us from Asian cultures
where bearing such burdens in silence and without complaint is quite
normal.
As a writer, I discovered that personal writing was one of the
most effective ways to keep a healthy identity and yet remain
respectful of others and silent if I chose. Nobody else had to
know what I wrote, but it was there I could give voice to my
innermost thoughts and feelings, keep in touch with who I really
was and maintain a healthy personal identity even when all about
me was demanded complete absorption in my mother's care.
Poetry, journaling and writing stories to maintain a healthy
outlook is an easy tool to acquire. Even if you never write
anything but shopping lists, writing your thoughts and feelings
can be a very useful and, even, pleasurable experience. It can
be done anywhere, and takes no special equipment other than a
piece of paper and a pen and, its free. Come to my workshop and
I will help to get you started with using this valuable way
of staying in balance, even in the most trying times.
1st Saturday
Sacramento
Writing Support Group and Workshop for Caregivers
First Saturday of Each Month, 10am - noon.
Arden-Dimick Library; 891 Watt Ave., Sacramento CA
for details, call the Alzheimer's Association office
phone: 916-930-9080
A writing/Caregiving support group that meets at the Arden-Dimick Library in Sacramento, the first saturday of each month. We discuss all kinds of caregiving matters and how we are coping with them, write our thoughts, feelings and hopes to better understand ourselves and give an outlet to what we are unable to voice anywhere else. The group is relaxed, supportive and entirely confidential. A safe container in which to express ourselves and sometimes find solutions to problems where we never expected to find them. Open to all caregivers who are currently caring for a friend or family member.
√ - Alzheimer's Association, Aloha Chapter.
√ - Alzheimer's Association, Aloha Chapter.
√ - Del Oro Caregiver Resource Center, Sacramento.
√ Hawai´i County Office On Aging.
√ - Northern California Publishers Association.
