Work with Seniors

Katrina Z has a unique gift of working with seniors, instilling joy and purpose in their lives. Our mother responded immediately to Katrina's loving attention and gentle encouragement, growing a strong bond that continues to this day. Katrina engaged our mother musically and the two had great fun planning a concert with audience participation (Katrina plays the violin beautifully and made song books for the 35 participants!!). With Katrina's support, our mother (who has dementia) was able to stand in front of the group with Katrina and sing along with gusto; it was so pleasing to see our Mother have positive feelings and a contribution to her community again. 

It's important to note Katrina's talent in finding music our Mother is connected to; as her memory declined, her ear for music did not and at one point she was reluctant to get out of bed, however when she heard Katrina singing to her from the iPad on her desk, she arose and with assistance sat down for a wonderful virtual visit...Katrina literally sang our mother out of bed which is a moment I am forever grateful. 

Our mother loved travel and formerly worked as a travel agent; Katrina's keen sense of connection was apparent when the two engaged in a number of armchair travel sessions, including browsing around the farm where our mother was raised in the midwest! Not long ago, dear Katrina sent a postcard from her travels and our mother remembered her fondly and recalled the concert they shared together as well. Katrina has enhanced not only our mother's life, but our family's as well as we continue the journey of her memory loss. Thank you Katrina!  

Katrina is beyond amazing and HIGHLY recommended! She worked with our loved one both in person and then virtually through Covid.  We truly feel like life without Katrina's assistance is just not right, there is a beautiful quality of life added by her attention, love and care that is irreplaceable.  

Katrina uses music, outings, dancing, and SO much more to provide personalized care.  Her ability to create personalized plans that TRULY fit the individual is inspiring and full of genuine love.  

We also benefited greatly from Katrina's ability to provide suggestions, and ideas to help others build a sense of connection and rapport with our loved one too.  Katrina successfully modeled ways to engage with our loved one to help ease agitation and confusion when other needed caregiver rapport felt challenging.  This was no easy task and Katrina made it happen. We also GREATLY appreciated Katrina's intuitive sense of cultural awareness and her planned inclusivity of activities to honor our loved one's connection to personal heritage.  Katrina made it a priority to learn our loved one's favorite songs specific to her background and Mexican heritage.  She also sought out local family to reconnect with and revived past interests like attending or visiting local churches that brought back positive memories and associations for our loved one's connection to her important sense of spirituality.  

In addition to all that Katrina was able to accomplish with our loved one in person, it goes without saying that her ability to continue all of the above goals virtually as well was truly magical and amazing.  Katrina was especially creative through Covid, using zoom and phone check-ins to engage our loved one through music, reminiscing, and creative storytelling that allowed our loved one to continue to feel connected and engaged with relationships that brought much needed joy and companionship during a time that we all wondered how that could ever happen.  Katrina made it happen.  I cannot say enough about Katrina's impressive and amazing skills.  We believe she is truly an angel on earth. 

Those who have the opportunity to work with Katrina are blessed beyond measure.  We LOVE Katrina and hope that others may be blessed by sharing time with her as well.