What people say about working with Mary.

"The folks here learned so much. Your energy, speaking/presenting skills plus knowledge and firsthand experience combine into one incredible workshop!"

"Mary Donnelly is an exceptional speaker and a highly valued resource for MemoryCare's caregiver education initiatives. Her engaging style, energy and delivery are superb. She has excellent knowledge to share, as well as compassion and insight for families who are facing dementia. She will inform, inspire and impact your life!"

"We loved your delivery. We are both retired teachers and we could easily see that you are one of the best ever!"

"The class Mary offered at our church, Living Next Door to Dementia, was wonderful! Mary possesses great empathy, compassion and a depth of life experience with people who are living with cognitive impairment and memory loss and their family members, loved ones and care givers who are companions with them on this journey towards the end of life. Mary ably created and held the space for our congregation to honestly and empathetically engage this challenging and nuanced yet pertinent issue. Her wisdom, adept facilitation skills, playfulness and humor enabled us to delve deeply and honestly in learning and sharing on this topic and, in so doing, to discover mutual support, inspiration and hope."

"This information is invaluable and your style of presenting is incredible! We can't wait to have you back!"

"I've attended Mary's workshops, listened to her presentations and participated in her support groups. She is pure gold. Her knowledge of dementia is wide and deep. It's what she does. It's all she does. Her teaching and communication skills are excellent. In dealing with caregivers, she is empathetic and supportive (she listens long and well), but her focus is on action – helping people cope. Her help is specific and practical. When caregivers come up against a behavior that is baffling and crazy-making (why are they doing that?), Mary explains why. And offers half a dozen specific ways to deal with it."

"Mary has a true gift and the knowledge to back it up."

"I want to add my thanks and admiration for … her ability to hold an audience's attention for five (+) hours. None of us really want to know about dementia. We would rather that it just disappeared. But we MUST pay attention. And pay attention we did. I spent a short seven years working with aging folks in an Assisted Living … During that time I attended occasional workshops on dementia and I really thought I had little more to learn. What a surprise. I not only learned — a lot — I actually enjoyed it."

"You are so good at helping caregivers. You helped keep us half-sane and, more importantly, made it possible for us to work with my sister in ways that made her transition easier."

"Every time you present I think to myself, 'It can't get any better than this one!' And then I am wrong. Yesterday's [session] was wildly successful and deeply appreciated. Your passion for the subject and your style of presentation are such gifts to all of us."

"Those of us with the usual academic credentials who work (or in my case worked) with elder folks have much to learn from your eloquence and understanding. You have the gift of being a superb communicator, and that is vital to improving how our society faces dementia."

"I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate this program! the presenter is phenomenal. She is so knowledgeable, experienced, insightful and compassionate. She really understands dementia! Everything she says is so informative and helpful. Thank you so much for doing this program. It's exactly what I need in order to know how to cope with family members who are showing these signs of dementia."

"What an insightful, informative, helpful, pratical and most professional talk you gave this am … This info is so rich. One needs to hear it more often."

"You have a gift for making learning about dementia a truly enjoyable experience."