The Kensington Sierra Madre is honored to host an intimate conversation this month with Patti Davis, the daughter of former President Ronald Reagan.
On Sept. 22, Patti Davis will discuss her 10-year journey as a family caregiver during a one-hour Zoom event and share her reflections and advice for fellow caregivers in The Kensington community.
Read on to learn more about the event, and all the ways The Kensington Sierra Madre is here to support our residents and their families.
Who is Patti Davis, and what is her caregiver story?
Patti Davis is an actress, author, and activist. She’s also the daughter of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, who announced in 1994 that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
With her entire family and Mrs. Reagan rallied behind her, she became her father’s caregiver for the next 10 years until his passing in 2004. She will share her journey as a caregiver in a conversation with Kensington Senior Living during a Zoom event moderated by Marianne Sciucco, Founder of AlzAuthors.
The Kensington Sierra Madre is proud to partner with Patti Davis so our community can hear her fresh perspective and supportive insight about changing family dynamics, navigating transitions, and self-care.
We’re passionate about supporting caregivers, and amplifying their voices so they can access the resources and information they need.
How does Patti Davis serve as an inspiration for The Kensington Sierra Madre’s families and caregivers?
Patti Davis’ journey as a caregiver inspired two of her books, “Floating in the Deep End: How Caregivers Can See Beyond Alzheimer’s,” and “The Long Goodbye: Memories of My Father.”
Her journey also inspired her to begin Beyond Alzheimer’s, which supports caregivers and family members of those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
“During the 10 years that my father was disappearing into Alzheimer’s, I rarely — if ever — was asked how I was doing,” she said.
She eventually realized there were many others in the same situation who also felt isolated and alone.
The Kensington Sierra Madre chose to partner with Patti Davis because we share the same passion to support those who care for others. We hope that hearing Patti Davis speak will comfort our community and introduce them to other caregiver resources.
During the event, Patti Davis will discuss her books and provide honest dialogue on her father’s disease and their family’s journey as caregivers.
How The Kensington Sierra Madre supports caregivers in all stages of their journey
At The Kensington Sierra Madre, Our Promise is to love and care for your family as we do our own.
This promise includes both our residents and their families who love and care for them. We are here for you, and promise to remain accessible to you for information, advice, a compassionate ear, and hugs of comfort if needed.
We welcome couples, families, sons, daughters, and grandchildren to our community, and offer community programs to ensure families feel supported and heard.
As your loved ones transition to becoming part of The Kensington family, our programs and events are meant to keep you and your family involved in all aspects of care.
How senior communities support both residents and their caregivers
Sometimes, despite our best efforts, caregiving becomes too much.
This isn’t a sign of failure. In fact, it takes great strength to admit when we’re at capacity emotionally, mentally, or physically.
Our loved ones struggling with memory loss due to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease may someday require a significant amount of care, which can be extremely difficult for families to do on their own.
Eventually, it may be time to move our loved ones to a specialized memory care community that is equipped to handle all aspects of care, including creating brain-nourishing meals and providing a full calendar of life enrichment activities.
Then, the focus for caregivers shifts from the stress of caring for a loved one, to the freedom to fully enjoy the precious moments with them that remain.
The right community will be there to guide you through these moments.
The Kensington Sierra Madre is your partner in care
The Kensington Sierra Madre provides assisted living, specialized memory care, and rehabilitation services for residents who require all levels of care.
We have two memory care “neighborhoods,” Connections and Haven, designed to meet your loved one’s specific care needs and emphasize their safety and comfort.
The Kensington understands that memory loss is life-changing for all involved. Although we recognize the general patterns of Alzheimer’s and dementia, we always seek ways to capitalize on a resident’s individual strengths and interests.
Our focus is on helping residents and their families enjoy the beauty of all the special times to come, even if they are only small moments.
Patti Davis wrote in “Floating in the Deep End” that her father was often detached and unavailable during her childhood, but she discovered her father’s true spirit during his struggle with Alzheimer’s.
Patti Davis’ journey to discovering her father’s true spirit deeply resonates with The Kensington team. We hope to help all residents and their families connect and grow in new ways on their care journeys. RSVP for the event with Patti Davis here.
Wherever you are in your caregiver journey, we’d love to hear from you.
Reach out to our loving team today to discuss care options for your loved one. Be sure to check out our upcoming caregiver events, and our caregiver resources page.