Welcome
This website is designed to make it easy for you to see how I might help you with your elder care concerns. I am a consultant, presenter and author, with 30 years of experience in the field of caring for the aged, most of them spent working for residential care corporations where I specialized in dementia programming. You can learn more about that background by clicking on resume, The Club, Memory Enhancement Program and Publications.
Like much in my life, this was an unplanned career. As the mother of four children and multiple foster children, the issues of youth were my passion. But I fell in love with the elderly, especially people with dementia, the day I stepped into my first nursing facility in Ithaca, New York, and never looked back. I have always tried to seize whatever opportunities life presented and, as much as possible, to see opportunities in other people’s obstacles.
In recent years I have managed to focus on both children and elders through my books, presentations and consulting, and a visit to any community often involves all three.
The Magic Tape Recorder
The Magic Tape Recorder is a colorful children’s book based on my experiences teaching elementary school children how they can be “helpers” to people with memory loss and other problems related to aging like poor vision and hearing. For a number of years, I have been spending my summers in Prague, where I found the Czech artist Inka Delevova, whose beautiful illustrations help make the story come alive.
I also literally make the book come alive by acting it out with school children in a 45-minute “Grandma Joyce & The Kids” presentation at libraries, schools and conferences – a great way to get media interest in your event or program. (The community theatre actress in me is still alive and well!) For more information, see Children’s programs on this website or e-mail me at joycesimard@earthlink.net.
Namaste Care
My second book, The End of Life Namaste Care Program for People with Dementia, published by Health Professions Press, is a “how to” book on a program I developed for nursing home residents with advanced dementia. Since the book was published, I have also implemented it in assisted living communities and a hospice program.
Namaste is a Hindu term meaning, "to honor the spirit within." I felt it was a perfect name for people who can no longer tell you who they were and are as they lose the ability to speak. The Namaste program helps people to end their days with dignity in peace and tranquility, surrounded by caring, carefully-trained staff. Many of my presentations and nearly all of my consulting is now focused on implementing this end-of-life experience in care communities. You can learn more about this at Namaste care, Matthew’s story, workshops and presentations on this website. You can learn more about my other topics at Professional speaker. Or again, e-mail me at joycesimard@earthlink.net.
I look forward to hearing from you,
Joyce