KEYNOTE CONCERTS
The Golden Experience
Kareen King's presentation provides a soul-wrenching, heart-warming account of the lives of those who live with dementia and other age-related limitations. Kareen King, shares her original songs and stories based on her work as a drama therapist in a long-term care community. She weaves philosophical concepts developed by Naomi Feil, Martin Buber, and Abraham Maslow into her presentation, providing a view of the inner world of those who are often overlooked. She also applauds the role of the caregiver, reminding us all that the golden opportunities are often in the little things that are of great value. Participants go away with a greater propensity toward empathy, creativity, and renewed passion for the world of long-term care.
Finding Emilou
Beyond the most unlikely landscape, there lies an immeasurable treasure. Emilou, an 89-year-old woman who was a Polio survivor and lived with dementia for many years, was considered by some to be the stereotypical nursing home shouter. In a unique case study format using original song and narrative, Kareen King, MA, RDT illustrates several crucial person-centered care lessons she has learned from someone who might otherwise be deemed useless at first glance. The Golden Rule takes on new meaning as a result of this personal account of Kareen’s work and friendship with Emilou. Participants go away with a greater propensity toward empathy and creativity; ultimately geared to improve the quality of life for their clients and themselves.
Stinking Water Creek- A Customer Service Odyssey
Everyone encounters a worst case scenario at some point in their journey. It’s often a refining experience, ultimately revealing what you, and the others involved, are made of. Kareen King, MA, RDT, uses a disastrous winter road trip as poignant and humorous metaphor to reveal a variety of customer service applications as well as providing a new appreciation for both The Golden Rule and the famous parable of the Good Samaritan. Participants walk away with a greater empathy for some of the unpleasant predicaments of the customer/client/resident as well as some golden nuggets on quality customer service.
WORKSHOPS
Gold Nuggets of Stress Relief: Enriching Your Experience in the Workplace Kareen King, MA, RDT, knows first-hand how chaotic and overwhelming the life of an Activity Professional can be. She shares how she made the shift from wanting to quit, to wanting to create. Through journal accounts, testimonials, story-telling, and song, she relays how she moved from being a martyr to maverick. Laugh along with her as she shares how her racket-filled job description almost stopped a potential coworker from joining forces with her. In this session, Kareen helps others realize that it’s possible to lighten up in the face of frustration and disappointment.
Objectives:
1. The participant will be able to execute a plan to identify personal stress-related triggers.
2. The participant will be able to classify the emotional, physical, and financial cost of stress.
3. The participant will be able to create a repertoire of personal revitalization remedies.
Enriching Communication Through Music: Golden Oldies and Beyond!
How is hope for working with individuals afflicted with memory loss and confusion defined in the context of music? Are specialized skills necessary to open doors of connection with those who struggle with Alzheimers and other age-related limitations? Kareen King, MA, RDT, shares what she has learned in her experience as a drama therapist and musician in a nursing home setting. Through story, song, and personal testimonial, Kareen will reveal insights she has gleaned about connecting with this unique population.
Objectives:
1. The learner will increase conversational skills through the use of familiar songs.
2. The learner will gain practical tools for eliciting therapeutic movement to music.
3. The learner will develop practical methods of crafting songs to empower elders.
Therapeutic Play for Caregivers and Clients: Letting Down Your Golden Hair!
During a television interview which featured a family who dealt with the nightmarish events that unfolded around them during Hurricane Katrina, the adolescent grandson commented, “We tried to play games to get our minds off of drowning.” Capitalizing on the aforementioned metaphor, this workshop features the intentional use of drama and/or theater exercises to achieve therapeutic goals for caregivers. In short, an opportunity to experience symptom relief and personal insight will be afforded in a playful and creative environment.
Objectives:
1. The participant will discover creative forms of self expression.
2. The participant will discern how play creates an opening for renewed focus and energy.
3. The participant will appreciate the cathartic value of play.
Go For the Gold! Creating a Center Stage Experience for an Activities Program
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players,” (Shakespeare). In the nursing home setting, why not let the “last scene of all,” be the grand finale? Kareen King, MA, RDT offers practical ways to add dramatic flair to conventional activities, drawing residents into a world that nurtures their inner child. Ideas include effervescent exercise, boundless bus rides, animated announcements, curiosity evoking calendars, memorable music, and more!
Objectives:
1. The learner will be able to explain how theatrical elements can be added to conventional exercise programs to engage the mind and body.
2. The learner will be able to transform a bus outing into a traveling theater of discovery.
3. The learner will list ways to transform classic poems, special days, holidays, and residents’ names into therapeutically theatrical experiences.
CHILDREN’S PROGRAM
The Story of Emilou (Alternative title: Emilou Makes a Splash!)
(a 45 minute program for elementary school children)The Story of Emilou (Alternative title: Emilou Makes a Splash!)
Themes: Bullying Prevention, Stigma, The Golden Rule, Respect for Elders
Kareen tells the endearing tale of Emilou, an 88-year-old woman who spent the last 17 years of her life in a nursing home. Audience members will discover that they share some very common traits with this overlooked individual who wanted nothing more in life than to be loved. Kareen will involve the audience with theater exercises, group singing and chanting; and will include puppetry as part of this soul-stirring, gut-wrenching, heart-warming, and laughter-evoking presentation. Kareen will share how her life was turned around when Emilou literally made a splash, and in turn inspire audience participants to find creative ways to make their own splash in life.
Objectives:
- Participants will learn the value of respecting others.
- Participants will be empowered to make their own creative “splash” in life.
- Participants will learn some old classic tunes, preserving important traditions that will continue to be passed from one generation to the next.
- Original and traditional songs
- Story-telling
- Puppetry
- Theater games
“There is no such thing as an uninteresting subject; there are only uninterested people.” - English writer G.K. Chesterton
