In episode 71, Don and I thoroughly enjoyed talking to Gail Weatherill, RN BSN CAEd, AKA the Dementia Nurse. Gail is a practicing RN for 43 years, a board-certified Alzheimer's Educator, a fearless advocate, and the author of The Caregiver's Guide to Dementia: Practical Advice for Caring for Yourself and Your Loved One.
Gail became a family caregiver herself when a beloved client with no family moved in with her and her family for her last few years of life. She understands the demands of 24/7 care of a loved one with dementia. She now works to compensate for our health "care" system's failure to support caregivers in meeting those demands.
Gail recently shared her irreverent approach to the American health care machine in a dynamic interview for our documentary, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD PEOPLE. It's no wonder she has become an effective and sought out advocate for those in deepest need. Her advocacy led to her participation in the Nurses Take DC movement for safe staffing ratios in our hospitals and long-term care facilities.
Through her writing, speaking, and coaching, Gail lives to educate dementia caregivers "one heart at a time". She maintains a closed caregiver support group on Facebook, a group that has grown to 50,000 members from over 100 countries. The need is global and great. As Gail makes her way through her fortieth year of nursing practice, she will tell you she is just getting started. YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE HER!
When she's not busy rabble-rousing for health care causes, Gail can be found reading, sewing fidget quilts, and missing her two daughters whom she says live entirely too far from their mother. She shares her home in Charlottesville, VA with a cat named Baby Silas who lets her use the laptop when he's not busy warming his belly on it.
Enjoy!
xox Susie
JOIN THE MOVEMENT FOR NURSING HOME REFORM BY SUPPORTING THE COMPLETION OF OUR DOCUMENTARY "NO COUNTRY FOR OLD PEOPLE" BY MAKING A TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION THROUGH THE NATIONAL CONSUMER VOICE HERE or GO FUND ME
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