Jan 26, 2022
In 2003, Dr. Heather McKay had just begun working in occupational therapy when her beloved grandmother was diagnosed with vascular dementia. The family’s challenge merged Heather’s work and personal life—inspiring her career and fueling a larger mission to improve life for people living with dementia and their myriad caregivers. Over a decade of caregiving, her family gathered knowledge of dementia, learned new skills, and adapted together through every stage of the disease—a collaborative and transformative experience that Heather credits for her success as much as any formal training. Through it all, Heather emerged as an international thought leader in dementia care and caregiver education and one of the industry’s most sought-after trainer/speakers.
As manager of Partnerships for Health, Heather provides training for professional and family caregivers and consultation with organizations on topics related to dementia care. In 2009, Heather collaborated with the National Association of State Veterans Homes and other Veterans’ associations to produce the caregiver training video series, Dementia Care for America’s Heroes. The film series received the national Caregiver Friendly Award and is available online at www.pfhnc.com. Heather is featured in other caregiver education produced by Stanford University, Maine Employers’ Mutual Insurance Company, ComForCare, and At Your Side Home Care across the US and Canada. In 2016, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America named Heather “Dementia Care Professional of the Year” for her dedication and devotion to serving individuals living with dementia, their families, professionals, and her community. She’s also been awarded by her occupational therapy peers for “humanitarian values, knowledge, and visionary leadership.”
In her characteristically down-to-earth, fun and informative style (and signature southern Appalachian accent) Heather helps caregivers understand dementia’s impact on communication, why communication breakdowns happen, and how to improve our interactions with people living with the disease—making life better for everyone involved!
Dr. Heather McKay shares about:
- Basic dementia-related knowledge—what every caregiver needs to know!
- Specific brain changes affecting communication
- Real-world stories of communication challenges that will resonate with you whether you are a professional, family caregiver, or someone living with dementia
- Practical, ready-to-use communication strategies to make doing things together easier, social visits more enjoyable, and dealing with distress safer and more effective.
- Valuable lessons learned from her practice and research with dementia caregivers nationwide.
For more information visit https://pfhnc.com/
Dr. Heather McKay is an occupational therapist, dementia care specialist, and international trainer/speaker. She provides training for professional and family caregivers and consultation with organizations on topics related to dementia care.
For more information about Dr. Heather McKay, our podcast & sponsorship opportunities, visit www.willgatherpodcast.com
We are not medical professionals and are not providing any medical advice. If you have any medical questions, we recommend that you talk with a medical professional of your choice. willGather has taken care in selecting its speakers but the opinions of our speakers are theirs alone. Thank you for your continued interest in our podcasts.
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Nicole Will is our host and founder of willGather.