Carol Bradley Bursack
EXPERTISE: Elder care, support for
caregivers and education for professionals who work with
caregivers
BIO
Columnist, author, speaker
and blogger Carol Bradley Bursack, author of
Minding
Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal
Stories (published by McCleery and
Sons Publishing, 2005; ISBN 1-931916-41-1), has been
interviewed on national radio shows, and by journalists
interested in elder care. She has also written articles on
elder care and speaks frequently at conferences and
workshops. Minding Our Elders has been chosen as a text for
college gerontology classes as a vehicle to humanize the
caregiving experience to students.
Bursack is an elder care columnist with a weekly column in
the Sunday edition of The
Forum, flagship newspaper of
Forum Communications Company. Her radio interviews
include The Bev Smith Show, Radio Health Journal, The Tom
Pope Show, Coping with Caregiving (clip on
www.mindingourelders.com), The ElderLaw Forum, and The Lee
Michaels Show and The Sherrie McCutcheon Show.
For over twenty years Bursack cared for a neighbor and six
elderly family members. Through the years of caregiving and
deaths, she came to know professionals in the field as well
as many family caregivers Bursack became an avid student of
the subject as she discovered she was just one of the 44
million people taking care of another adult (according to
AARP). It was the caregivers themselves who inspired and
encouraged Bursack to write Minding Our Elders:
Caregivers Share Their Personal
Stories.
Bursack is a native North Dakotan and the mother of two
grown children. After pursuing adventures elsewhere, she
returned to Fargo, ND to enjoy family and friends in a
quality atmosphere. She feels fortunate to have lived her
caregiving years in an area that continually upgrades
services to its elderly and those who care for them.
CONTACT DATA
Company: Minding Our
Elders
Address: 1514 5th St. N.,
Fargo, ND 58102
Phone: 701-235-5796
Cell phone: 701-238-0075
Fax: 701-235-5796
Web site: www.mindingourelders.com
and
www.mindingoureldersblogs.com
Email: carol@mindingourelders.com
Experience:
As a newspaper
columnist (elder care), I’ve spoken to groups all around
eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota. These talks
have been for hospice, Alzheimer’s groups, Region V
Governor’s Conference on Aging, churches, hospitals (for
the professionals) and colleges (gerontology students and
faculty).
Started speaking to groups: 2005
After two decades caring for a total of seven elders, I
felt I had something to give other caregivers. I was also
caring for two children during this time, one of whom has
chronic health problems, so I was part of the “Sandwich
Generation” before the term was coined. Since starting a
newspaper column, I’ve not only taught readers, but I have
learned a great deal from them. My blog has given me
another venue to teach, learn and inform. I’m dedicated to
finding information to help caregivers care for themselves
as well as their loved ones. I look for resources, offer
support and tell my stories. Caregivers relate to me
because I am one of them.
TITLES:
1. Book – “Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their
Personal Stories”
2. ”Minding Our Elders” monthly ezine
3. Many articles on caregiving issues
4. ”Minding Our Elders Blog”
LECTURE
TITLES
1. ”Why you Can’t Parent Your Parent”
2. ”Looking at Life From Both Sides”
3. ”Getting Through the Holidays”
4. ”A Caregiver’s Journey: How To Live Through It”
5. “Grief or Relief: Which Is It?”
6. “Early Grief: Recognizing Grief and Dealing With It”
SEMINAR/WORKSHOP
TITLES
1. Caregiver Self-care - Emotional and physical toll on a
caregiver (For Caregiver groups and professionals that work
with caregivers)
2. Sandwich Generation: Trying to raise kids, care for the
elderly and work - all at once (the day I forgot to go to
work!) (For Caregiver groups and professionals that work
with caregivers)
3. Powerful Presentation on sensitivity to the elder (For
Caregiver groups and professionals that work with
caregivers)
4. Caregiver grief: how grief begins early - it doesn't
wait for death (For Caregiver groups and professionals that
work with caregivers)
5. Home healthcare Custodial vs. nursing visits (For
Caregiver groups and professionals that work with
caregivers)
6. When Do I Let A Loved One Die? The Hard Decisions (For
Caregiver groups and professionals that work with
caregivers)
7. Dementia (For Caregiver groups and professionals that
work with caregivers)
8. Workshop: "Looking At Life From Both Sides"
Workshops include a combination of topics such as
self-care, stress relief and wellness for the caregiver;
sensitivity awareness from the senior's point of view; and
discussions about "what do I do when it's over?" Workshops
have exercises and hands-on segments.
I would like to address:
1. Any
groups that look to support caregivers and/or seniors
2. Professionals in the eldercare field
3. Gerontology classes and groups (My book is being used as
a text by a college gerontology professor who uses it each
semester.)
4. Senior advocate groups
Keynote Address (20-30 min.)
Lectures: Most talks are 50 minutes, longer or shorter as
requested.
Panel Discussion participation: Depends on time, place and
organization.
Contract terms:
1. My own room, plus transportation and lodging costs
2. I prefer to drive only within a 200 mile radius.
3. I prefer flying or train travel.
4. A trip that takes several days would cost more.
5. Mileage is chargeable.
6. Payment in US funds.
Comments
from the Dementia Workshop sponsored by Guardian and
Protective Services:
“Excellent!
The personal touch was great, and it was good to end (a
long workshop) on a lighter note.”
“...the presentation was beautiful. Thank you!”
“ Wonderful! Hopeful and peaceful on the heels of all the
legal stuff (of the event). The stories were worth
savoring.”
“Touched on an important point - let yourself feel the
grief and frustration without feeling guilty. Giver
yourself a break. Good to have the first-hand accounting of
a caregiver.”
“The information was wonderful! My mother is dealing with
this with my grandpa...the speaker was excellent. Her own
personal story is very touching. I enjoyed the reading from
her book.”
“A wonderful speaker with a caring voice.”
“Straight forward, honest and helpful!”
9-19-07