The Complete Guide

An award-winning journalist, Virginia Morris has devoted her career to researching and writing about health care, medical research and related social and political issues. She lives with her husband and two children in Sag Harbor, New York.

Contact information

Speaking Engagements



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Virginia Morris c/o Workman Publishing
225 Varick St.
New York, NY 10014

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For information on setting up a speaking engagement, contact John Duggan at Workman Publishing (johnd@workman.com or (212) 614-7748).

Virginia Morris speaks extensively on issues of eldercare, addressing three primary audiences:

Family caregivers
Daughters, sons and other caregivers need not only practical tips, but also simple reassurance that they are doing okay, that their best is good enough. They want solid information on how to help their parents, but also guidance on how to take care of themselves during this trying time. Ms. Morris offers both solid advice and tender support.

Professionals
Doctors, lawyers, staff of long-term care facilities and other adult services, and others who deal with the elderly and their loved ones often need a brief refresher course on how to best help families, as well as some reinforcement that their efforts are much needed and much appreciated.

Employees
Perhaps the most important audience right now is employees across the country. Studies suggest that 12 percent of the workforce is actively involved in eldercare and that that figure is on the rise. In addition to their regular workday and home responsibilities, these people are providing, on average, 18 hours of care a week. Nearly one in five caregivers provides either “constant care” or more than 40 hours of care each week.

Because of these extra duties, one-fifth of working caregivers give up work completely or temporarily, and more than half make changes at work to accommodate their eldercare responsibilities — for example, going in late, leaving early and taking days off.

Employees who are prepared and educated about eldercare are less apt to be called away from work because of a crisis, distracted at work, or forced to leave their jobs. Ms. Morris can help workers prepare for any possible emergency and schedule their time so that eldercare does not interfere with their work.

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