Bio

Kareen King is founder and creator of The Golden Experience, enriching lives in long-term care settings through keynotes, concerts, workshops, and social media. Kareen is a Registered Drama Therapist, Singer/Songwriter, Storyteller, Puppeteer and member of the former Kansas Arts Commission Arts on Tour Roster. Her original songs and stories stem from her work with individuals in long-term care settings, having served as Activities Supervisor at a skilled nursing facility and currently serving as Life Enrichment Consultant at two different long-term care communities. She has keynoted for the National Association of Activity Professionals, West Virginia Health Care Association, Kansas Health Care Association, Kansas Activity Director Association, Minnesota Statewide Activity Professionals, Illinois Pioneer Coalition, Missouri Long-Term Care Ombudsman Training, Florida Healthcare Activity Coordinator Association, Ohio Person-Centered Care Coalition, Kansas Department on Aging, Jackson County Caring Community Council, Missouri Coalition Celebrating Care Continuum Change, Alzheimer’s Associations of Kansas, Activity Director Association of Missouri, and Northern Nevada Activity Professionals Association as well as presented concerts and workshops for various national and state associations. Kareen’s CD’s have been used as a resource for staff training and have provided inspiration and motivation toward person-centered care. Her presentations focus on the enrichment needs of lives in long-term care, placing them on center stage and giving them the applause they deserve.
Kareen and her husband, Jeff are the parents of five children and make their home in Kansas, the land of “Ah’s.”

Artist's Statement:
My heart for the overlooked took root at an early age, cringing at my observations of those who were ignored or dismissed, and agonizing over my own quest to be acknowledged and included. My passion came full circle during my work as a Registered Drama Therapist/Activities Director at a skilled nursing facility where I was drawn to the elders who seemed in most need of love and attention. Within a year, I had already composed a collection of songs giving voice to individuals in long-term care settings, a voice which is a reflection of the universal need to love and be loved, and to enjoy life to its fullest regardless of physical or mental limitations. This work led me to develop my concept, The Golden Experience.

The Golden Experience, as a live presentation, incorporates original songs and stories that give voice to the spirit that lies within each of us, but can often be invisible to others because of eschewed perspectives including stereotyping, ageism, stigma, burn-out, indifference, fear, and busyness. The music is folk/pop with hints of blues, jazz, and country. The stories are both heart-wrenching and heart-warming - showcasing the enrichment needs of human beings, those needs that go beyond basic physiological and safety needs, sometimes referred to as existence needs; and addressing what often can be overlooked in our efforts to maintain status quo, meet protocol, tackle to-do lists, and more. The Golden Experience places a spotlight on our deepest longings for love, acceptance, belonging, esteem, self expression, and peak moments.

In short, The Golden Experience showcases through keynotes, concerts, workshops, and social media; the enrichment needs of life which include: 1) The Golden Nugget Pursuit (looking beneath the surface), 2) The Golden Rule principle (looking toward your neighbor), and 3) The Golden Age philosophy (looking beyond what's basic).
Look beneath the surface
See the gold that lies within
Look toward your neighbor
See the gold behind the skin
Look beyond what's basic
See the gold that waits therein
Then take in all the richness
As you let the quest begin


Credentials:


MA in Theater with a Concentration in Drama Therapy, Kansas State University, 2006
Registered Drama Therapist, 2007
Bachelor of General Studies, Emporia State University, 1994
Member of National Association of Drama Therapy
Member of the Kansas Arts Commission Touring Roster
Member of National Association of Activity Professionals
Member of the Kansas Coalition for Culture Change


Clients:


Professional Associations:
National Association of Activity Professionals
Pioneer Network
National Association for Drama Therapy
Hawaii Pacific Gerontological Society
West Virginia Health Care Association
Kansas Health Care Association
Florida Health Care Association
Ohio Person-Centered Care Coalition
North Dakota Long-Term Care Association
Association for Gerontology in Higher Education
Minnesota Statewide Activity Professionals
Illinois Pioneer Network Coalition
Kansas Activity Director Association
Florida Health Care Activity Coordinator Association
Activity Director Association of Missouri
Alzheimer's Association, Heart of America Chapter
Alzheimer's Association, Central & Western Kansas Chapter
Missouri Long-Term Care Ombudsman Training
Missouri Coalition Celebrating Care Continuum Change (MC5)
Kansas Department on Aging
Northern Nevada Activity Professionals
The Tutera Group
Jackson County Caring Community Council
Kansas Electric Cooperatives
North Central Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging, Inc.
Ottawa Agency on Aging
Kansas City Area Activity Professionals


Higher Education:
Kansas State University
Allen Community College
Association for Gerontology in Higher Education
Hawaii Pacific Gerontological Society
Eastside Institute (Performing the World)


Long-Term Care Communities:
Brookside Retirement Community, Overbrook, KS (Activities Consultant)
Wellsville Retirement Community, Wellsville, KS (Activities Consultant)
Osage Nursing Center, Osage City, KS
Holiday Resort, Salina, KS
Medicalodges Wichita. Wichita, KS
Medicalodges Eudora, Eudora, KS
Medicalodges Holton, Holton, KS
Medicalodges Herington, Herington, KS
Peterson Nursing Home, Osage City, KS
Baldwin Healthcare and Rehab Center, Baldwin City, KS
Osawatomie Care Center. Osawatomie, KS
Valley Vista Good Samaritan, Wamego, KS
Deercreek Senior Living Community, Overland Park, KS
McRite Plaza, Topeka, KS
Country Meadows Retirement Communities, Leader Organization
Redbud Plaza Assisted Living, Onaga, KS
Ridgecrest Village, Davenport, IA
Community Health Care Systems, St. Mary's Manor, St. Mary's, KS


Hospitals:
Coffey County Hospital


Churches:
United Methodist Church, Osage City, KS
Wellsville Baptist Church, Wellsville, KS
Federated Church, Burlingame, KS


More on Kareen's work as a drama therapist/activities supervisor at a long-term care community:


On September 1, 2005, the Today Show featured an interview with an African American family who survived the trauma of waiting out Hurricane Katrina. When asked how the family dealt with the nightmarish events that unfolded around them, the adolescent grandson commented, “We tried to play games to get our minds off of drowning.” Kareen discovered this to be a profound metaphor for dealing with life’s difficulties, a metaphor which captures the essence of my work as a drama therapist.


Kareen worked as Ulyssean Program Director/Activities Supervisor at Brookside Retirement Community, a long-term care facility which offers skilled nursing care, assisted living, and catered living units. She oversaw the activity program at the Manor, which during her season of employment (May, 2006 - January, 2009), had a census of 70 residents, ranging in ages 52 to 100 and who suffered from a variety of physical and mental limitations. Her drama therapy training equipped her to introduce the value of play to not only the residents, but also her coworkers. Conventional nursing home activities such as exercise and current events were transformed into theatrical productions. Quality of life for both residents and coworkers improved through drama therapy exercises that facilitate self expression and contribute to a sense of community and belonging. These were contributing factors, among many others from the outstanding staff members of Brookside, toward Brookside earning the PEAK award (Promoting Excellent in Alternatives in Kansas Nursing Homes) two years in a row.


For example, a weekly gathering called Java Jive, which was once a coffee and news gathering, became a platform for storytelling, puppetry, group poetry, sing-along’s, and improvisational theater games. Exercise, which normally consisted of nothing more than traditional stretching and strengthening, was transformed into a showcase of movement with streamers, colorful paper plates, rhythm instruments, balloons, and improvisational brain stretches. Typical bus outings became imaginative adventures by creating a theater space out of the bus itself. Since many of the residents came from the skilled nursing facility, it was not practical to have them venture out of the bus while on an outing. Thus, Kareen transported the residents to a variety of people's homes -  inviting musicians, quilters, storytellers, artists, animals, hobbyists, and much more inside.


Kareen also developed the Ulyssean Philosophy (UP) training program which borrows its concepts from Dr. John McLeish, author of The Challenge of Aging. The program, which met one hour weekly for twelve weeks a session, was offered to Brookside’s employees who were selected through an application process. The Ulyssean elements which include 1) learning, insight and creativity, 2) exploration of the self, 3) growth and development in the later years, 4) meeting change pro-actively, and 5) a zest for living; were introduced through various drama exercises and assignments. The program produced several UP graduates who were transformed by the process. They not only experienced a higher level of vitality both personally and in the workplace, but also played a more significant role in contributing to the activity life of each resident.


And finally, Kareen's background in non-fiction playwriting inspired her to compose a collection of story songs which have been released in two CD's including her 2008 release, The Person in the Picture Ain’t Me and her 2010 release, Find Me. The purpose of the album is to empower current and potential caregivers to embrace the humanity of individuals who reside in long-term care facilities and to provide them with more quality care. The songs serve to increase the listener’s role repertoire by inviting the listener to place himself in the shoes of another.