Media Center
| Attachment | Size |
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| Kari Berit's Press Release | 34.3 KB |
| Kari's Speaking Topics for 2010 | 25.67 KB |
| Kari Berit's Press Kit | 578.06 KB |
About Kari Berit
Berit holds a BA in Psychology and Norwegian from St. Olaf College and a Master's Degree in Continuing and Vocational Education from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She is an inspiring presenter using her expertise to help Baby Boomers discover the skills and commitment needed to become better caregivers to aging loved ones. Berit spent 13 years as a resident manager, director, dementia care specialist and assisted living manager in senior housing. Ms Berit is the author of two books, The Unexpected Caregiver and Mental Fitness Instructor's Guide, as well as the host of "The Unexpected Caregiver" radio show. She resides in Minnesota with her partner Eric.
Full bio [pdf]
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Media Appearances
"As keynote speaker Kari Berit kicked off the day with her hilarious, yet thought provoking presentation, "Help! I'm turning into my mother!", hundreds of women from throughout the North Country were then sent on their way to a day filled with health screenings and conferences made just for them." Colebrook Chronicle, March 2007
Care.com "Seniors: 6 Traits Every Caregiver Should Have." Characteristics to look for when hiring a caregiver.
DesperateCaregivers.com "Coffee With Kari Berit." Interview with known caregiving blogger.
Minneapolis Star Tribune "Learning How to Care as Parents Age." Provides down-to-earth ideas for relating to your parent as an adult child.
Red Wing Republican Eagle, "Understanding Age and Dementia." A clear, non-medical understanding of Dementia and tips for caregivers.
Minneapolis StarTribune, "Navigating the Gray Area of Sex." Demonstrates how Kari Berit humorously & effectively takes on elephant issues related to aging and the generations.
Colebrook Chronicle, "Health and Wellness Focus of Women's Conference." Coverage of Kari Berit's most popular keynote, Help! I'm Turning Into My Mother!, and how it can set the tone for an event.
Red Wing Republican Eagle, "Baby Boomers, Aging Parents Get New Guide." A great history of Kari Berit and what led up to the writing of The Unexpected Caregiver.
Northfield News, "Expert on Aging to Visit Northfield," exemplifies an event where Kari Berit helped sponsors raise community awareness about how individuals can be age assertive.
New York Times, "Kicking and Screaming, Baby Boomers Begin to Talk About Aging." An American Society on Aging workshop that caught the attention of a Times reporter.
St. Petersburg Times, "Challenging, Nurturing the Brain Keeps It Healthy," highlights the importance of keeping mentally fit.
"Caring Right at Home" newsletter, "Mom Said What?" An example of how content from Kari Berit Presents can enhance your newsletter.
Recommendations
"Kari Berit's knowledge, combined with her exuberant personality and presentation style, energized and equipped our staff with tools, information and insight." (J. Schlagenhaft, St. Elizabeth's Medial Center)
Law Offices of Ungaretti & Harris
Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital
Review
| The Unexpected Caregiver: How Boomers Can Keep Mom & Dad Active, Safe and Independent |
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 By Bruce B. Roberts, Ph.D.Professor Emeritus of Psychology St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN |
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Baby Boomers still have worries about their own adult children. They help take care of grandchildren. And now they must face up to the aging of their parents. Boomers can feel like triple-generation parents, even as they age into retirement themselves. Boomers need help! The Unexpected Caregiver: How Boomers Can Keep Mom & Dad Active, Safe and Independent, by Kari Berit (2007: Attainment Company, Verona, WI), has arrived at just the right time. Read it quickly, searching for advice that matches your particular issues and questions. Or read it through slowly, grasping the all-important frame of mind and ideas for maintaining a sense of independence by older parents. Either way is helpful. Kari Berit is as delightful in print as she is during her professional speaking engagements. She tells it like it is: with humor, respect and wisdom. Kari Berit is savvy about family challenges that can arise in the care of aging parents and is a fountain of knowledge about creative activities that work. She uses many practical lessons for the seasoned caregiver as well as for the newcomer to help Baby Boomers adjust to the possibility of "parenting their parents." For example, there are several sections on healthy activities that can engage parents both mentally and physically, including up-to-date material on scrapbooking, mentoring, traveling and writing family histories. The four chapters on end-of-life issues are written with great sensitivity for spiritual issues and with a sense of reality about the different expectations, often unspoken, among family members. The Unexpected Caregiver tackles head-on what is perhaps the most important, yet misunderstood, dimension of taking on a caregiving role with your parents: enabling aging parents to retain a sense of control over their own lives. As their parents' need for assistance grows with age, Boomers must find ways to keep them in the loop of influence and bi-directional support, making resourceful decisions about how to relate to their parents and to those who provide care and support for them. The Unexpected Caregiver has inventive suggestions for how to make that happen. Not only is The Unexpected Caregiver a helpful guide, providing important and workable steps for making a difference in the lives of aging parents, but it also makes an emotionally upbeat gift. Baby Boomers will appreciate any person who hands them a copy of The Unexpected Caregiver, whether they're a family member or a concerned source of expert advice - financial planners, insurance companies, retirement centers ...the list goes on. In The Unexpected Caregiver, Kari Berit's personal experiences as a caregiver, combined with her professional training, give her a unique sensitivity that can help Boomers reduce their anxieties over how to handle the new, perhaps unexpected, challenges of caregiving for their parents. Bruce B. Roberts, Ph.D., is the former chair - and now Professor Emeritus - of the Department of Psychology at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. He is the co-author, with Howard Thorsheim, of I Remember When: Activity Ideas to Help People Reminisce (2000: Elder Books, Forest Knolls, CA). © 2007, Bruce B. Roberts. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce this review, in whole or substantial part, provided it is edited only for space considerations, and not in ways that significantly alter content or context. As a courtesy, please send a copy of the review, as published to Bruce Roberts, St. Olaf |
Testimonials and Clients
"Kari ignited the audience with her humorous and thought-provoking Keynote Address entitled,
Help! I'm Turning Into My
Mother. Her knowledge and presentation style evoked conversations throughout the day on the myths of aging, and how to manage the natural process of aging."
(K. Frydman, MSA, Upper CT Valley Hospital)
"Kari's discussion hits on the emotional part of long term care needs. It gets to the heart of the clients' concerns. It is not a typical sales seminar; it was informative, entertaining and opens the door for agents to have conversations with clients afterwards."
(Kevin Lehman, Agency Field Executive, State Farm Insurance)
"You were a big hit! Your approach to these important topics is respectful, humorous, direct, and engaging. I know we all left the room motivated to engage our families in more meaningful dialog."
(Susan Meyer, Esq., Ungaretti & Harris)
"Kari Berit got the tough 'right after lunch' slot...She did a great job holding our attention...and sharing stories that would help us 'get it.' Kari's energy & presentation were...exceeding expectation."
(Janice Rasmussen, AAC, Region 7 Activities)
A few of Kari's Satisfied Clients
3M
Brigham Young University
Good Samaritan Society
Immanuel Senior Living
Northfield Retirement Community
State Farm Insurance
Thrivent Financial
Ungaretti & Harris LLP
Wells Fargo
