About KJW

PRACTICE EDUCATION SCIENCE  WHOLE-PERSON-CENTERED WELLNESS FOR A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR ELDERS

Kathy J. Ward

Universal Peace Ambassador
MA, MS, CTRS, ADC, CALA, CGP, Author,
President of WEL, World Elder Land™

Kathy J. Ward is a Gerontologist, Psychologist, Recreation Therapy Consultant, President and co founder of WEL, World Elder Land™ which has two major components; ERT, Elder Recreation Therapy™ and BWCA, Better World Community Adventures™. Kathy strongly believes in, and has invested the last twelve years designing and implementing community-based and health promotion programs for the betterment of elders and the communities they live. Kathy's burning passion and clear understanding is “Clinical Therapeutic Recreation For Elders”. This profession did not exist prior to her work. Now Kathy offers with ERT, Elder Recreation Therapy a very comprehensive training to clinically certify persons that want to find better ways to help elders nurture their quality of life; physical, mental and spiritual healing and wellness of the body, mind and spirit. Kathy has develop a training course “Listening Beyond Cultures For A Better Life For Elders And Their Communities.” These nurturing ways include: choosing purposeful programs; facilitating creativity, curiosity, self-learning, motor coordination skills, cognitive reserve behavior modifications, cognitive psychology, memory, social relations, inclusion, spirituality, awareness of the body, breathing, movement and creative arts. Her training also focuses on nurturing cognitive reserve, cerebral activation and the development of neuroplasticity for healthier brains. Kathy says “Everyone can nurture and influence a healthier brain, a more functional body and a stronger mind and spirit as part of their daily lifestyle.”

Kathy is the author of "A Happy, Inclusive and Meaningful Recreation Program for Elders", "The Journal For A Better Life" and most recently “Poems and Reflections For A Better Life”. She holds a degree in Psychology, Master of Arts in International Relations, Recreation Therapy Certification, Group Psychotherapy Certification, and a MS in Gerontology. Kathy completed her Neurology and Dementia internship at John Hopkins University and The Copper Ridge Institute where she was the recipient of the Mildred Baron Scholarship Program in 2001. Her Geriatric Mental Health and Professional Development Program in Geriatrics and Gerontology at the Veterans Affairs Hospital, Division of Geriatrics, Providence Hospital, and Geriatrics Department of Medicine at Howard University Hospital in Washington D. C. She is National Assisted Living Administrator Certified, Activities Director Certified, Holistic Health Practitioner and Consultant and Recreation Therapy Consultant. Kathy has also published numerous articles in newspapers and magazines about Community Integration and Synergy For Better Health, Montessori Interventions and Alzheimer’s, Creativity and Aging, Whole-Person Wellness For Elders, Clinical Therapeutic Recreation and Human Evolving vs Aging.

Kathy has been Guest Professor of Wellness, Neuropsychiatry of Dementia and Applied Neurology at the Catholic University of America in Washington D. C., Howard University School of Social Work , Golf Coast University in Florida, and George Washington University, the Hearing and Speech Science Clinic.

Prior to founding WEL, World Elder Land, a non-profit organization, Kathy worked with elders and their caregivers in institutional settings as Recreation Director, Wellness Director and Resident Services Director; Independent Living, Assisted Living, Long-Term-Care, CCRCs and Dementia/Alzheimer’s, Hospice, End-Of-Life Care communities; and senior community centers for 11 years. Kathy also has dedicated 4 years to health promotion strategy development with community-based and international organizations like The World Bank, the World Health Organization, the International Monetary Found, the Inter-American Development Bank, The Smithsonian Institution and other diplomatic agencies.  Kathy organizes with WEL three annual events; World Brain Awareness Week in March, WEL World Environmental Week in June, and World Elder Peace Week in September. Everyone is invited to participate. (Please visit WEL Annual Events site for more information)

Kathy lectures widely, in English and Spanish, to elders and caregivers about “Whole-Person-Centered Wellness Programs; outlining pathways to a better life and wellness of mind, the physical body and spiritual body. Kathy welcomes invitations to TV and Radio shows on wellness and wholistic living for elders and their caregivers, dementia, creativity and spirituality for elders.

Kathy is a member of the Alzheimer’s Association Speakers Bureau and Editorial Board Member of the Activities Adaptation and Aging Journal. She is also a Love Ambassador by the Love Foundation in FL, Member of the World Poet Society in Greece and Ambassador of Happiness For Elders by the Happiness Foundation in Connecticut, USA. Kathy was appointed Universal Peace Ambassador by the Universal Peace Embassy in Geneva in 2005. In January 2007 Kathy received a Goodwill Ambassador nomination from H. R. H. Infanta Cristina of Spain, and sent her fraternal greetings to the WEL family.

To view photo collages of public speaking, seminars and community-based wellness programs please visit www.kathyjward.com/blog

Kathy's websites are; www.kathyjward.com, WEL, World Elder Land www.worldelderland.com, ERT, Elder Recreation Therapy www.elderrecreationtherapy.com and BWCA, Better World Community Adventures www.betterworld7.com

One of her dreams is to facilitate the creation of United Nations Goodwill Ambassadors For Elders. Her goal is to help focus proper attention and resources toward community integration, meaningful networks, and wellness to continue nurturing a dignified and better quality of life for elders all over the world.

For more information about WEL calendar of events, speaking engagement and other community-based programs with elders, please visit www.kathyjward.com/blog  To contact Kathy J. Ward, please send an e-mail to: wel@worldelderland.com

Kathy also loves to write poems and here are some of them for you...

Can We Handle God?
Decide To Be A Joyful Elder (Click here for a printable version pdf of this poem)  ====
Can We Handle God?

By Kathy J. Ward, December 2006
from my book: Poems and Reflection For A Better Life

Can we handle a nice God?
Not a merciful judge, just a nice loving God?

Can we handle a visible God?

If God was a child,
could we handle that?

If God was a tree,
would we cut them anyway?

If God was not inside the temple,
mosque, synagogue or church,
where could I find God?

If God wasn’t smart,
could I handle that?

If God was a convict,
would I put him in jail anyway?
what would be fair to do with God?

If Heaven was on Earth,
could we handle that?

If God was air, would we pollute it anyway?

If God was an elder very ill,
with no money or medical insurance
what would you do to keep God alive?
or would you let God die?

What color is the skin of God?
Perhaps, anything but the color of your skin
could you handle that?

If God was counting on you
to do a miracle today,
how would you love God?

If God was an immigrant already here
and did not ask for permission or visa
would you deport God?
Where would we send God to?

If God was illiterate,
would you steal from God?

God lives in me!
can we handle that?

If God has dementia
who will keep track of me?
would all my good actions matter anyway?

And why, why
why has God left us alone?

The truth
God never left
God is the elder, the convict,
God is the tree, the air
God is visible and invisible
God is PEACE on earth
God is hear and everywhere

Can we handle that?

Decide To Be A Joyful Elder
By Kathy J. Ward - March 2006 (English version)
from my book: Poems and Reflection For A Better Life

Decide to be a joyful elder
Decide to always wear your smile
in spring, winter or fall
the joy that you give to others
is the joy that multiplies

Decide to dream your dreams
life is for living as you know
and if you live, serve and love
you'll never grow old

Decide to enjoy the ride
decide to sing and dance
letting the rhythmic happy heart
compose the songs
lighting up the passion
for a better world

Decide to plant seeds of love
brother wind spread the deeds!
Teach the children and humanity
songs and good words
not judging but listening
not imposing but sharing those better ways
not dwelling on the problem
but treasure-mapping the solutions
together, always together...

The windows of your soul
can not hide the magic and fun world behind
for as long as there is life in you
there will always be a better way
and it is the spark of your personality
and your tireless spirit for peace
what I have fallen in love with

Oh! How lucky we are
with joyful elders like you
this is the Paradise!

For you have taught me and everyone
the meaning of life and love
it is a blessing
a sweet adventure
as I discover and write
travel and dream
the world can be better
because of you and me

Congratulations!
for what is coming
your ways have inspired me
you DO believe in me
and this is what I need

Decide to be a magnificent elder
beyond the weave
that shapes your presence in this world
and if reincarnation is an option
come back as art, pencils and paper
trees or butterflies
harmonicas or nightingales
the essence of humanity
will rejoice again!

Decide to be a joyful elder
a human being with everlasting
sense of wonder
sense of humor
reverence for life
love for the green and for the black
love for what can be seen and feel
love for the impossible dream
Decide to be like Robert Muller
the youthful eternal light
that remains intact.

This poem is dedicated to Robert Muller (www.robertmuller.org)
in his 83 meaningful 'primaveras', and to all the joyful elders and people in the world that have decided
to never grow old.