Jacqueline Marcell

Biography

Jacqueline Marcell barely survived the most wrenching year of her life as the sole caregiver to her challenging elderly father and sweet but ailing mother, both with early Alzheimers which went undiagnosed for over a year. But after fighting through an unsympathetic medical system, and having her once-adoring father hauled off by the police for violence (choked her) several times to a psychiatric hospital where he'd promptly be released, and depleting her parents life savings and most of her own, with sheer determination she solved the endless crisis medically and behaviorally.

Shocked by what Jacqueline had endured so needlessly compelled her to give up her stalled career as a television executive to become an advocate for eldercare awareness and reform. Passion to save others from a similar experience (especially from getting so frustrated they commit elder abuse) resulted in her best-selling book, written with humor to make a tough subject palatable, "Elder Rage, or Take My Father...Please! How to Survive Caring for Aging Parents." That led to hosting the Coping with Caregiving radio show and interviewing over 1500 healthcare professionals; media including TODAY, CNN, PBS Documentary, Womans Day, AARP Bulletin cover story, hundreds of radio/television interviews; and hundreds of presentations including to the California Governor Conference, National Security Agency and Florida House of Representatives.

JACQUELINE'S MISSIONS: To help improve eldercare laws; encourage long-term care planning; show healthcare professionals how they can better help families; empower caregivers with solutions and to put their health first; advocate for funding for Alzheimer's research and heighten early diagnosis awareness; expose elder abuse/exploitation; and bring attention to Adult Day Care which saved her parents' lives as well as her own. Jacqueline testified before the Assistant Secretary on Aging and received a Media Award from the National Adult Day Services Association. She was also honored with Advocate of the Year from the National Association of Women Business Owners at their Remarkable Women Awards.

Publications

ELDER RAGE is a Book-of-the-Month Club selection (first time a book on caregiving selected) receiving over 280 five-star Amazon reviews and being considered for a film. Over 50 endorsements include Hugh Downs, Regis Philbin, John Hopkins Memory Clinic and Harvard Medical School. It is also required text at numerous universities for courses in geriatric assessment and management.

"This is an extraordinary story of caregiving in the face of enormous odds and unrelenting obstacles. The author's devotion to her parents and tremendous capacity for problem-solving and perseverance, helped put my caregiving issues in perspective The writing style is light and ironic, enabling me to grasp the horror without running away. I was hooked and stayed up until the wee hours. I have a background in counseling psychology and the techniques and strategies are useful and sound. This is the book to give your family and friends who are dealing with eldercare issues." -Caregiver

Titles

-Laughter & Tears in the Caregiving Years

-Managing Family, Career, Elderly Parents and YOU!

-How to Write, Self Publish, Market, and Get Famous People to Endorse Your Book

Jacqueline's presentations feature a triumph over adversity message and are easily modified to the focus of an event and adjustable to any audience from students to seniors (CEU/CME for healthcare professionals). She also moderate panels and speaks to corporations about reducing absenteeism and increasing productivity. And since Jacqueline was a college professor in her first life, she keeps an audience "edu-tained" with poignant and humorous anecdotes amid interesting key points. She also speaks about surviving invasive breast cancer and numerous complications, sharing insights from both sides of the caregiving aisle. Jacqueline stresses the importance of closely monitoring our own health, promoting the value of gratitude and humor and never giving up!

-Normal Aging/Senior Moments vs. Dementia/Alzheimer's: Warning Signs, Stages, Types, Stats
-Finding the Right Medical Team for Accurate Diagnosis, Prognosis and Treatment
-Preparing for Our Later Years and Dementia Prevention
-Behavior Modification: Distraction/Redirection, Reminiscence, Validation, Rewards
-Getting Elders to See Doctor, Take Meds, Eat, Stop Driving, Accept Caregiver, Attend Day Care, Move
-Aggression, Depression, Delusions, Hallucinations, Repetition, Sun-downing, Wandering
-Adult Day Care, Activities, Time Consistency
-Safety-Proofing the Environment, City Grants
-Financial and Legal Issues, Elder Law Attorneys, LTC Insurance
-Hiring Caregivers and Geriatric Care/Case Managers
-Adult Protective Services, Elder Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation
-Moving to Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing, Dementia Care
-Resources, Support Groups, Respite, Hospice
-Affirmations, Gratitude, Humor, Spirituality, Faith
-Care for the Caregiver, Coping with Siblings, Stress, Guilt, Grief, PTSD