Hope for the Caregiver Conference
May 3–4
Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano Campus
Friday, May 3
Conference Rally
6:00–8:00 p.m.
Student Ministry Building
All conference attendees and the people for whom they provide care are encouraged to attend the rally, which features an interactive session with Dr. Beth Nolan of Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care® who will speak on “Building an Inclusive Community.” Teepa Snow is a renowned dementia care specialist and occupational therapist.
Individuals under the care of a caregiver may attend the Friday evening rally for free.
Saturday, May 4
8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Atrium
Sessions 1 & 4 – led by Dr. Beth Nolan
Sessions 2 & 3 – led by various experts covering the multiple areas of caregiving
Multiple vendors will be ready to share their resources to aid in caring for your loved ones.
Topics
- Caregiving
- Self-care
- Legal/Financial
- Special Needs/Disabilities
- Memory Care
Cost
$15 per person or $25 per family (limit two)
Cost includes both days of conference, lunch and refreshments.
Special Needs Care
Available at Prestonwood (please indicate with registration)
Adult Care
Available with reservation:
Friends Place Adult Day Services
1960 Nantucket Dr.
Richardson, TX 75080
972-437-2940
Speakers/Presentations
Joyce Logan
Caregiving
“Seven Senior Living Options”
This session will focus on the different options in Senior Living from living at home to a senior living community or residential care home. The presenter will share her experiences in working with hundreds of families across the Metroplex, and she will provide important questions to ask when evaluating and touring communities. Attendees will leave knowing the important aspects of the different types of communities and will be armed with information that is vital in making the perfect selection.
Joyce Logan is a Certified Senior Living Advisor, Certified Dementia Practitioner, and Founder of Ruby Care. Joyce spent several years in social work and business development before Ruby Care became her vision, which was inspired during the time she spent caring for her mother-in-law, Ruby, beginning in 2011. She is actively involved in her community – Junior League of Collin County; Women’s Auxiliary to Children’s Medical Center, Plano; Alzheimer’s Association; Board Member of Dallas Area Parkinson’s Society; and a graduate of Leadership Plano. In her free time, Joyce enjoys tennis, walking, spending time with her friends, family and her dog, Sully.
Diane Wright
Caregiving
“Caregiving Challenges – Caregiving Resources!”
Caregiving continues to be challenging in 2024. There are hundreds of local resources that can help you care for your loved one. This session will equip you with the knowledge of where to start when you are looking for support and resources.
At the age of 50, Diane Wright retired from her career as a systems analyst with the federal government to become a full-time caregiver to her aging mother with cancer. Her experience as a caregiver gives her a unique perspective and a deep understanding of the challenges that seniors and their caregivers face. Diane is a devoted wife, homemaker, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Despite her retirement, Diane enjoys working part-time alongside her daughter Kathleen Warshawsky, BSN, RN, with Seniors Blue Book Greater Dallas, an organization that helps seniors connect with the resources and services they need.
Brian Shadowens
Caregiving
“Caregiving through the Journey of Dementia”
- How can I handle this?
- How do I cope with embarrassing moments and odd behavior?
- How do I deal with aggression and on-going irritability?
- When and how do I get help?
Brian Shadowens is currently an operating director for in-home care. He has more than a decade of experience as an executive director of several assisted living and memory care communities. He has more than 20 years of experience with educating others regarding the disease. Brian has been a sought-after speaker and presenter for dementia throughout his career. He has been in the caregiver role for hundreds who have been affected by dementia, including several in his immediate family.
Steve Whatley
Self-Care
“You Promised to Take Care of Them, but You Don’t Have to Do It Alone”
Being a family caregiver is one of the toughest jobs anyone can ever undertake. Caring for a family member is emotionally and physically exhausting, and can steal one’s primary identity: spouse, daughter, son, etc. Many times, the resulting exhaustion is brought about by the caregivers’ believing they must do everything and waiting too long before seeking assistance. This presentation will focus on encouraging the family caregiver not to lose focus on self-care and protecting against what can be debilitating exhaustion, preventing him or her from carrying out the caregiver role. Further, we will discuss negotiating the healthcare matrix and the best approaches to healthcare systems, communicating with physicians, hospital admissions and discharges, when to seek assistance at home, and “10 Lessons Learned.”
Steve L. Whatley, Ph.D., is co-owner and CEO of HomeWell Care Services Plano, a full-service in-home care company recognized as a Best of Home Care Provider by Home Care Pulse, the preeminent in-home care reputation management firm. Steve and his wife, Leslie, were led into in-home care after caring for Steve’s father for seven years. Prior to owning HomeWell, Steve worked in two large healthcare delivery systems: Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, and Children’s Health in Dallas. Steve’s experience in these two institutions resulted in vast learning about patient care, satisfaction and loyalty. Steve earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from Louisiana Tech University, and a Ph.D. in organizational development from Ohio State University.
Danny Mack
Self-Care
“How to Manage Caregiver Stress Rather Than Its Managing You”
- The warning signs of caregiver stress
- The do’s and don’ts of managing caregiver stress
- The elements of stress and how to manage them
- Six proven strategies for managing caregiver stress
Danny Mack is a graduate of the University of North Texas, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and The Leading Age Leadership Institute. He is a Certified Dementia Practitioner. With more than 25 years of serving in the field of hospice, Danny is an expert on spiritual care, bereavement, caregiver stress management and marketing.
Pam Brown
Self-Care
“Self-Care Is More than a Bubble Bath”
Challenge your definition of self-care as we explore ways to build a life you do not need to escape from, even amid the challenges of caregiving. Self-care is an important part of your wellness and your ability to continue in your caregiving role. Discover the importance of self-awareness, the breadth of self-care practices, and seeking help when we need it.
Chaplain Pam Brown is the Lead of Support Services for Trinity Hospice in Dallas. She attended North Greenville University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. After graduation, Pam served in several parachurch organizations, alongside her husband in the local church where he served, and stayed home to raise her children for 10 years. Pam reentered the workforce and completed an Internship in Clinical Pastoral Education through the Baylor Scott and White Health System. She worked in the Baylor Scott and White Health System as a chaplain covering shifts in various hospitals and providing on-call support for overnights and weekends. After several years, Pam made the transition to hospice and has served as a chaplain, bereavement coordinator, and volunteer coordinator for hospices in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for the last nine years. Pam lives in Burleson with her husband of 26 years, two children, and her dog. Pam’s hobbies include reading, knitting and crocheting, and preparing meals for her family.
Mark Pruitt
Legal/Financial
“Essential Planning for Long-Term Care Needs”
Topics covered in this workshop include documents needed to navigate on behalf of a loved one plus creative ideas and tools to pay for long-term care so that the money does not run out. Mark will help you avoid mistakes that are often made when planning and paying for long-term care. Proactive planning vs. reactive planning is crucial for families taking on the role of caregiver.
Mark Pruitt is the founder and owner of Strategic Estate Planning Services in Carrollton. This comprehensive planning firm coordinates and provides resources in all areas of estate and financial planning. He is licensed with the Texas Department of Insurance and is an investment adviser representative working in a fiduciary capacity. Mark was previously awarded “Adviser of the Year,” a national award given by Senior Market magazine.
Steven K. Shaw
Legal/Financial
“Navigating Medicare in a Long-Term-Care Environment”
As a caregiver to a Medicare beneficiary, you have many questions about which services are covered by Medicare. You wonder, “What Medicare version is best for our situation?” This session addresses specific aspects of Medicare benefits that relate to memory care, custodial care and prescription drug coverage. Understanding a few fundamentals can help lower anxiety and equip you to make wise decisions on behalf of your loved one.
For more than a decade, Steven K. Shaw has helped clients understand their Medicare benefits and options. He has a relaxed teaching style – littered with humor – and presents Medicare with a “big picture” mindset in understandable terms. He is certified annually to assist those who wish to enroll in Medicare supplement plans, prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans. Steven acquired his CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER(TM) certification in 2023.
Paul Michel
Legal/Financial
“Social Security Benefit Decisions”
- Overview of social security and retirement benefits
- Eligibility and enrollment
- Spousal/Survivor and disability benefits
- Working and receiving benefits
- Medicare and disability benefits
- Claiming strategies and taxation of benefits
- The Future of social security and online tools/resources
- Social security myths and misconceptions
Paul Michel is founder and CEO of Provident Financial Planning. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and has created hundreds of custom financial plans for high-net-worth families entering retirement and high-income families accumulating or transferring wealth. Paul is very involved in Prestonwood Baptist Church where he serves as a Deacon and LifeGroup director. He also serves on the Board of Trustees at Prestonwood Christian Academy. Paul is passionate about helping those in need, which is why he and his wife established the non-profit organization, Provident Widows & Orphans Foundation. The foundation offers free financial, tax and legal advice for young families who have experienced the death of one or both spouses.
Zachary Montgomery
Legal/Financial
“Estate Planning Considerations for the Caregiver and Beyond”
- An overview of estate planning and Texas probate
- Planning alternatives, including special-needs considerations
- Strategies to protect assets and avoid potential pitfalls
- Healthcare and end-of-life planning
- Considerations related to federal taxes and estate planning
Zachary Montgomery earned multiple degrees from Texas A&M University and the University of Virginia School of Law. He is a licensed attorney, certified public accountant, certified fraud examiner, investment adviser representative, and adjunct professor of estate planning at the University of North Texas. He is the founder of Provident Legal Counsel, PLLC, and serves as the CFO of Provident Financial Planning, LLC. He primarily focuses his practice in the areas of federal taxes, probate, estate planning and business planning.
Jennifer Finch
Special Needs/Disabilities
“Special Needs Planning and Trusts”
Regular estate planning is not sufficient for families who have a loved one with special needs. A special needs trust should be part of their plan. At this presentation, we will discuss:
- Special needs trusts basics
- Government benefits and how an inheritance affects them
- Practice case studies on possible scenarios
- Creating a letter of intent
- “Choosing the T”
Attorney Jennifer Finch chose to pursue her undergraduate degree in psychology and her post-graduate degree in law because she aspired to a profession in which she could ultimately impact lives in a positive way. Estate planning, special needs planning, probate and guardianship all provide opportunities for Jennifer to use her experiences and educational background to fulfill that goal. Jennifer views her vocation as a calling to provide wise counsel and guide clients through the legal process with compassion. Addressing specific needs with effective solutions is incredibly rewarding, but her favorite part of her job is meeting and serving people as well as being privileged to work with an amazing team of women.
Mary Klentzman
Special Needs/Disabilities
“Encouraging Tips and Resources to Thrive in Parenting a Child of Any Age with Special Needs”
In this session, participants will learn of hope-filled strategies and resources for the caregiver of a child, youth or adult with special needs.
Mary Klentzman’s firsthand experiences of seeing God’s extraordinary compassion and faithfulness through the joys and challenges of life have given her a heart for communicating the message of hope and encouragement to others. She and her husband, Rick, have seven adult children, including their 35-year-old son, Jonathan, who has severe cerebral palsy. For 20 years, she directed nonprofits and ministries that serve people with disabilities and their families, including positions as Director of Special Needs Ministry at Prestonwood Baptist Church and Area Director for the Texas office of Joni and Friends (Joni Eareckson Tada’s ministry). Through the years, she has also represented families affected by disabilities on numerous statewide advisory committees that work with the Texas legislature and agencies to improve state policies impacting people with disabilities. She wrote the chapter on “Redeeming Disability: Parenting a Child with Special Needs” for the book When Suffering Is Redemptive in 2016.
Della Pruitt
Memory Care
“Grace for the Unexpected Journey”
The journey of caring for a loved one with a dementia diagnosis is full of the unexpected. Each caregiver’s journey is different and unique yet holds commonalities with others. It can be daunting but also have special moments of joy. This session will discuss practical advice and offer encouragement and resources for each step along this journey, that it may become rewarding, fulfilling and filled with grace.
Della Pruitt has been a member of Prestonwood Baptist Church for 20+ years. Her journey with dementia began several decades ago when several family members were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Her mother passed away in 2015 after living with the disease for 20 years. She was the primary caregiver for her sister Nola, who had early-onset Alzheimer’s. Nola passed away in 2018 after having the disease for 11 years. Della started the Memory Care Support Group at Prestonwood. She enjoys connecting with other caregivers to give encouragement and share practical advice. She co-owns Strategic Estate Planning Services, Inc., with her husband, Mark Pruitt. She loves to sing/worship and is in the choir as well as the praise team at Prestonwood. She has two daughters: Melody, 31, and Morgan, 29.
Imelda Aguirre
Memory Care
“Healthy Living for Your Brain & Body: Tips from the Latest Research”
This education program covers four areas of lifestyle habits that are associated with healthy aging:
- Cognitive activity
- Physical health and exercise
- Diet and nutrition
- Social engagement
Imelda Aguirre, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Manager, Alzheimer’s Association, Dallas & Northeast Texas Chapter, obtained her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with a minor in education at the University of Texas at Dallas. Imelda has worked with health and wellness non-profits for more than 10 years and provides health resources and information to underserved communities. She serves on various community boards to strengthen outreach and resources in Dallas and rural areas in North Texas. Imelda works primarily with caregivers and individuals with a diagnosis, as a care consultant. Imelda provides one-on-one care planning, crisis management, and information and referral for families affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
Sponsorship
Vendor registration includes:
- 1 Sponsor Table with 2 Chairs for Saturday Vendor Fair
- 2 Lunch Passes for Saturday
- Name Listed in Conference Program
Registration deadline: March 31
