Inspiring Stressed-Out Caregivers to Speak Up and Seek Help
When Sandy was speaking the audience was completely engaged. People were relating on so many levels: as caregivers, wives, mothers, daughters, and professionals. Sandy was wonderful. I loved her speech.
MARY JO SITES, REGISTERED NURSE
When a serious medical condition strikes, all hands come on deck to save the patient. Often, little attention is paid to the family caregiver whose world also turns upside down, and life can become chaotic, depressing, and lonely.
Documentary filmmaker Sandra Levine motivates overwhelmed caregivers to advocate for their loved ones and themselves, as she shares astonishing stories from her own harrowing experiences caring for her husband after a brain injury, and her mother struggling with Alzheimer’s. Michael, who nearly died from a rare neurological illness – Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM) – has since made a remarkable recovery, A poignant, short film Sandra produced entitled “Michael’s Story” may be shown during the presentation, which keeps audience members riveted and engaged.
Caregivers learn practical solutions to boost self-care, and begin bringing peace, joy, and passion back into their lives. They’re empowered by reflecting on their own amazing resilience, gaining confidence and renewed purpose—the surprise, silver lining of caregiving.
Sandra’s presentation will inspire audience members to:
- Strengthen their advocacy for their loved ones and themselves
- Identify resources to boost their community of caring
- Choose specific activities to reignite self-care
- Reduce shame over negative feelings like guilt and anger, to begin the process of emotional healing
- Become emboldened by their own resilience in overcoming adversity
- Find new value and meaning in their role as a caregiver
This program is suitable for groups interested in overcoming adversity, caregiving, compassion fatigue in health care professionals, brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease, and women’s empowerment.
Contact us for booking information and fees.
Read “Dinner with the Elephant” – an article written by Sandra featured on BrainLine.org.
Sandra portrays the complex process of learning to find the sacred in what to some are the mundane tasks of living, including how to make meaning of the traumatic experiences in order to let go of the past and move forward with life.
HARRIET COHEN, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF SOCIAL WORK, TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
Sandra has a gift for not only telling the facts but conveying the emotions and personal stories attached to the numbers. What a gift her story is to individuals and families going through brain injuries. She gives hope, yet doesn’t gloss over the difficulties.
DAWN BUNYON, DIRECTOR OF RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, UNITED WAY OF OCEAN COUNTY