Washington DC has been home to entrepreneur Pat Williams, who for decades has been recognized as a leader in the eldercare field. A Certified Senior Advisor with 24 years of working with elders with Alzheimer’s Disease and other challenges, Pat addresses corporate and community groups with energy and information.
Pat earned her Master’s Degree in Education at Northwestern University in Evanston, near her hometown of Chicago. She holds training certifications from the Hospice and Alzheimer’s Association. In 1995, Pat founded Northern Virginia’s first and still unique home companion agency, naming it GraceFul Care in honor of her mother, Grace.
She has served as President and Rotary Assistant Governor, and on the boards of Insight Memory Care Center, Leadership Fairfax and the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce. For her work, Pat has received many awards, including Chamber Business of the Year, Leadership Fairfax Community Trustee, Rotary Citizen of the Year, and most recently she was recognized as the March of Dimes Heroine of Washington.
Say the Right Thing: By educating her audiences on subjects related to eldercare ± such as becoming a caregiver for a parent, types of dementia, maintaining your brain, creative caregiver approaches, and how to approach difficult situations – Pat helps us all “Say the Right Thing.”
Pat explains: “Everyday life puts us in many situations where we don’t know what would be the right thing to say. What do we say to someone we disagree with, someone who is gossiping, or someone who is very sick? Mastering the 40 most common difficult situations can help us be more comfortable and successful.”
Her practical ideas can be applied immediately, including suggestions on phrases to avoid, what you might say, why, and when. “When you communicate mindfully, with forethought and sensitivity, you make a difference to all the people you care about,” Pat explains.
Five things you will learn:
- How to make your visit with your parents a true treasure
- What to say to someone who is terminally ill
- What not to say at a funeral
- How to interact with someone with Alzheimer’s Disease
- What magic phrases you can use at a networking event
Catch the Travel Bug with Roam: Mindful Adventuring Across the Globe
With co-author Eileen Curtis, Pat has crafted a tome that inspires many.
“That magic word — travel,” she shares, “is something that has always intrigued me. After years of roaming the globe, I just had to write this book.”
In it, she invites readers to step on a magic carpet and cross mountain tops from the Andes to the Himalayas. Swoop across Tanzania’s Serengeti plain. Huddle with New Mexico shamans. Wind along ancient pilgrim paths in Spain. Surround yourself with turtles. Culled from their visits to over a hundred countries, the authors share seven journeys they deem the best of the best.
“Each dramatic story crosshatches themes of history, ritual, sublime panoramas, primitive spaces, high-wire adventure, and reflective ruminations of mind and heart,” Pat explains. “The narrative invites the reader to share festal meals, anxious moments, and zany episodes that bring laughter and wonder to this theater of travel. Roam uses travel as a medium to sample the gorgeous tapestry of life.”
Don’t stop here! Learn more about Pat and Eileen’s journey as we take a lighter look at coping with the Coronavirus pandemic by encouraging readers to catch the travel bug — from the safety of their homes and their imaginations. Check out our feature on “Roam” June 2020 issue of Inkandescent Health & Wellness magazine.