Not Dead Yet: A Concert That Will Transform Your Care-giving Experience

"Not Dead Yet” is a soul-wrenching, heart-warming account of the lives of those struggling with dementia and other age-related limitations. Kareen King, MA, RDT, shares original songs and stories based on her work as a drama therapist in a long-term care facility. She weaves philosophical constructs developed by Naomi Feil, Martin Buber, and Abraham Maslow into her presentation, providing a passport to the inner world of those who are often overlooked.  Participants go away with a greater propensity toward excellence in person centered care.

HELP! Emilou: A Case Study in Concert                                                                         

Emilou, an 89-year-old woman who was a Polio survivor and struggled with dementia for many years, was considered by some to be the stereotypical nursing home shouter, but underneath the unusual behavior is a life story and a lot of wisdom.  Through storytelling and song, Kareen King, MA, RDT, illustrates several important life lessons she has learned from someone who might otherwise be deemed useless at first glance. Practical applications from Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as well as Martin Buber’s I-Thou relationship principles are apparent in this personal account of her work and friendship  
 

Communicating Through Music

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.  
 

Humpty Dumpty, Snow White, and You: Therapeutic Play for the Caregiver

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, Kareen’s 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. 
 
 

The Show Must Go On! How to Make an Activities Program Take Center Stage

Consider that much of what we do in the workplace is improvisational – conversation, meeting emergency needs, and simply rising to the occasion. Improvisation is simply the practice of creating in the spur of the moment, in response to the stimulus of one’s immediate environment. The skilled nursing environment provides some of the most fertile ground for improvising, often producing magical experiences for both residents and staff alike. Kareen King, MA, RDT reveals practical ways to add dramatic flair to conventional activities such, so that your activities program will take center stage. Attendees walk away with plenty of creative ideas to take back to the workplace to enliven, entertain, and enrich the individuals they serve. 
 

UP, UP AND AWAY! Creating a Ulyssean Culture in the Long-Term Care Environment

Is it ever too late to dream, create, experience wonder, exhibit curiosity?  Kareen King, MA, RDT, reveals her unique approach in addressing these issues in a program she developed during her work as a drama therapist in a skilled nursing facility. Through testimonials, songs, stories, and drama therapy techniques, she reveals positive results that occurred from the Ulyssean laboratory she cultivated. In this session, various Ulyssean elements will be explored and how they can effectively benefit both elders and staff members as they embrace and implement culture change. 
 

Frazzled to Dazzled! Making the Shift from Surviving to Creating 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. 
 

Puppetry Practicum: Basic Puppetry Tools for the Activity Professional

If you haven’t already noticed, puppets aren’t just for kids anymore. Kareen, drawing from years of experience as a professional puppeteer, demonstrates her love of puppetry and how it all began at a workshop facilitated by an 83-year-old puppeteer!  Learn puppetry basics including how to properly maneuver puppets, how to develop character voices, how to use puppets to connect with elders, and how puppets can be a means of self exploration and expression.