Email Suzanne
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As
owner of the West Portland, Oregon, franchises of Home
Instead Senior Care, Suzanne Roberts works with adult
children of aging parents every day. Her staff provides
non-medical, in-home care for the elderly. She recognizes
the stress and overwhelm in the children of her clients
as feelings she experienced herself when caring for her
aging parents |
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When
Suzanne discovered Home Instead Senior Care, she assessed
her degree in Human Services and her career skills in medical
staff recruiting, counseling, intervention, and employee assistance
-- and knew everything she had ever learned would be utilized
as she pursued this new direction for her life. Today, Suzanne
says, "If I won the lottery, I would do exactly what
I'm doing now -- except I'd pay my caregivers more!" |
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Suzanne's background
in radio, television, and theater gives her the communication
skills to teach, lecture, and "schmooze." She is
both motivator and cheerleader for the elderly and their families.
She has developed workshops and seminars for adult children
of aging parents and enjoys a busy schedule of speaking engagements.
A
skilled extemporaneous speaker, Suzanne is the perfect
talk show guest.
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Suzanne lives
in Portland with her husband, Bud Roberts, an Urban Design
Specialist for the Oregon Department
of Transportation and International Seniors Gold Medal Barbershop
Quartet bass. They share a blended family of eight adult
children and nine grandchildren.
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Update,
2004
In the four years since the original date of publication,
Suzanne has become the emerging expert in her field. She has
addressed regional and state conventions of the Care Management
Association, Guardian and Conservators Association and Oregon
Healthcare Association and has accepted events that are outside
the Pacific Northwest. She will be guest instructor at the
School of Geriatrics’ at Portland State University and
Marylhurst University. Her speaking schedule has grown from
local one hour presentations to five day trips around the
country which include presenting 3 CEU Workshops for Social
Workers, Speaking events for her fellow Home Instead Senior
Care franchises, book signing events as well as guest radio
and television appearances. Suzanne’s volunteer service
is to facilitate and be a guest speaker at monthly caregiver
support groups in the Portland area. Understanding that there
is a family system in flux which affects everyone, Suzanne
is frequently asked to speak to aging parents as they deal
with their children. |
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