Parkinson's Warrior: Turning Pain into Purpose Through Advocacy
04/30/24 • 53 min
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George Ackerman shares his personal caregiving journey caring for his mother, Sharon, who battled Parkinson's disease for 15 years. As a New York native turned Florida resident, George came from a background of success as a lawyer and police officer. However, when his mother's Parkinson's progressed and she needed more support, George stepped up to become her primary caregiver.
He faced many challenges in caring for his mother, from managing her hallucinations and dementia to struggling to find trustworthy in-home caregivers. Throughout it all, George found purpose in advocating for others affected by Parkinson's through the foundation he started called Together for Sharon. Even after losing his mother, George continues fighting to support those diagnosed with Parkinson's, their caregivers, and others who have lost loved ones to the disease. He shares his story openly to raise awareness of the challenges of male caregivers and hopes to be a voice for those who feel unseen in their caregiving journeys.
About George:
Dr. George Ackerman (Sharon’s son) is from Brooklyn, N.Y. Now residing in Florida, he works in the fields of law, police, and education. George lost his mother, Sharon Riff Ackerman on 1/1/2020 due to Parkinson’s Disease.
George wanted to honor his mother and continue to help in the Parkinson’s awareness cause, but he did not know how to bring about change. We started TogetherForSharon® as a family to keep my mother, Sharon Riff Ackerman, ’s memory alive and share the message of Parkinson’s Awareness and hope for a cure.
Today https://www.togetherforsharon.com/ reaches thousands of individuals across the country for PD Awareness. George currently interviews individuals throughout the Parkinson’s community including various foundations, caregivers, and Parkinson’s warriors to help share their stories and causes.
Connect with George:
Websitehttps://www.togetherforsharon.com/
Email[email protected]
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-ackerman-ph-d-esq-mba-00871a82/
TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@togetherforsharon1
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/togetherforsharon112020
Tw
Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver
Sisterhood of Care, LLC
Ready for even MORE honest caregiver conversations? Become a supporter of "Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver" and unlock bonus episodes, behind-the-scenes peeks, and resources you won't find anywhere else! Plus, your support makes this podcast possible! Sign up at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2101429/subscribe
**********************************************************************************************
George Ackerman shares his personal caregiving journey caring for his mother, Sharon, who battled Parkinson's disease for 15 years. As a New York native turned Florida resident, George came from a background of success as a lawyer and police officer. However, when his mother's Parkinson's progressed and she needed more support, George stepped up to become her primary caregiver.
He faced many challenges in caring for his mother, from managing her hallucinations and dementia to struggling to find trustworthy in-home caregivers. Throughout it all, George found purpose in advocating for others affected by Parkinson's through the foundation he started called Together for Sharon. Even after losing his mother, George continues fighting to support those diagnosed with Parkinson's, their caregivers, and others who have lost loved ones to the disease. He shares his story openly to raise awareness of the challenges of male caregivers and hopes to be a voice for those who feel unseen in their caregiving journeys.
About George:
Dr. George Ackerman (Sharon’s son) is from Brooklyn, N.Y. Now residing in Florida, he works in the fields of law, police, and education. George lost his mother, Sharon Riff Ackerman on 1/1/2020 due to Parkinson’s Disease.
George wanted to honor his mother and continue to help in the Parkinson’s awareness cause, but he did not know how to bring about change. We started TogetherForSharon® as a family to keep my mother, Sharon Riff Ackerman, ’s memory alive and share the message of Parkinson’s Awareness and hope for a cure.
Today https://www.togetherforsharon.com/ reaches thousands of individuals across the country for PD Awareness. George currently interviews individuals throughout the Parkinson’s community including various foundations, caregivers, and Parkinson’s warriors to help share their stories and causes.
Connect with George:
Websitehttps://www.togetherforsharon.com/
Email[email protected]
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-ackerman-ph-d-esq-mba-00871a82/
TikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@togetherforsharon1
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/togetherforsharon112020
Tw
Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver
Sisterhood of Care, LLC
Previous Episode
Bridging Gaps in Care: Ali Ahmadi's Caregiver Revolution
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Ali Ahmadi's caregiving journey began unexpectedly when his mother-in-law was diagnosed with stage four lymphoma cancer over seven years ago. As a former Navy aviator and aerospace engineer, Ali prided himself on navigating difficult situations. However, nothing could have prepared him for the challenges of caring for his ill mother-in-law while balancing work and family responsibilities. Ali and his wife decided to bring her into their home without hesitation. Still, they soon found themselves overwhelmed trying to manage her complex medical needs and navigate the healthcare system alone.
At his wit's end, Ali was introduced to the TCARE protocol. Developed by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, TCARE helped Ali and his family better understand the emotional toll of caregiving through clinical assessments. To Ali's surprise, the recommended care plan focused on marriage counseling rather than just medical support. This unexpected recommendation opened Ali's eyes to how caregiving impacted every aspect of his life. Through TCARE, Ali also discovered local resources he didn't know existed, like free family counseling. Inspired by the difference TCARE made, Ali developed the program into the caregiver support platform it is today.
Now, Ali dedicates his career to helping other caregivers avoid burnout through TCARE's individualized support plans and focus on preventing emotional hardships. Driven by his caregiving experiences and commitment to family, Ali continues working tirelessly to validate caregivers' challenges and connect them with the resources needed to care for their loved ones without sacrificing their well-being.
About Ali:
Ali Ahmadi is a veteran of three venture-backed tech startups, having raised over $100 million in funding. A former U.S. Naval Aviator, he holds an M.S. and B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and an Executive MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. Ahmadi has vast experience in the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) industry and has developed strategic partnerships with Fortune 100 companies, including Microsoft, RGA, PwC, SAP, Salesforce, McKinsey, and Aflac.
Currently, he serves as the CEO and Co-Founder of TCARE, a company that provides a CMS-approved platform aimed at reducing family caregiver burnout and delaying nursing home placement through predictive analytics. TCARE has formed significant partnerships with companies such as Aflac, BlueCross BlueShield, Microsoft, Unum, Anthem, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare.
Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver
Sisterhood of Care, LLC
Next Episode
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About Will:
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Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver
Sisterhood of Care, LLC
Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver - Parkinson's Warrior: Turning Pain into Purpose Through Advocacy
Transcript
Hey guys, it's your favorite sisters with the Confessions of a reluctant caregiver podcast and you're listening to after the confession. Now, let's listen in as it was just getting good.
UnknownDon't start it.
UnknownI know you're going to do it, you're going to start saying,
UnknownI know I went ahead and just jump
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