Toni Claire GitlesWith 40 years in the healthcare industry, personal development training, and caring for her mom for fourteen years, Toni Gitles is an expert in teaching people to be confident, supportive caregivers. Toni navigated physical, emotional, and mental strssors, learned many lessons through trial and error, and now shares principles and practices to transform the caregiving experience into a journey of connection, advocacy, and discovery.Caring for a family member is an act of love from the heart. However, you can lose touch with your heart connection to your care journey when the struggles and challenges outweigh the cherished moments and memories. Toni strives to keep love at the forefront by encouraging caregivers to embrace their role and thrive, helping them to avoid the pitfalls and roadblocks on the journey that may derail them from a meaningful experience.Toni is a Certified Caregiving ConsultantTM, Certified Caregiving EducatorTM, Support Group Facilitator, Happiness Trainer, and professional speaker. Her training and personal experience enable Toni to meet family caregivers where they are, whether their loved one's health issue is due to aging or a chronic or progressive disease. Toni gently guides caregivers by offering advice, resources, and a compassionate ear.Toni and her partner, Dennis Dulniak, locate restaurants willing to provide Dementia-friendly Dining. Additionally, owners of establishments reach out to Toni and Dennis after seeing them in the media. The pair train restaurant staff with information about dementia, situations they may encounter, and how to interact with family members and the person with dementia to create a pleasant and memorable experience for all of them. For Dementia-friendly Dining, the restaurant owner provides a quiet area and establishes specific days at off-peak times. Toni and Dennis also organize conferences with Elite Supported Travel on Holland America Cruise Lines for caregivers and their loved ones with dementia-related diseases.Toni's ultimate goal is to change the conversation in the United States about caregiving and people with disabilities. Medical personnel benefit by acknowledging family caregivers as knowledgeable support systems who help maintain their patient's health and well-being. All people need to be respected and understood. People who understand caregiving and common diseases that affect us encourage others to be more kind, compassionate, and helpful to families in their communities.An international speaker who contributed to three caregiving and lifestyle management books, Toni Gitles is the author of the new book 21 Mistakes Caregivers Make & How to Avoid Them: Solutions and Strategies to Reduce Stress and Increase Happiness, available September 2023.Toni is a competitive ballroom dancer in her free time and enjoys gardening and playing with her Maltese dog, Jasmine. She is a volunteer with the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA), and in 2022, she received the Emerging Leadership Award from the Foundation. Read More Read Less