About Brenda Avadian
Since becoming a caregiver 16 years ago, Brenda Avadian brings hope and strength to caregivers around the world through knowledge, humor, and tears of joy.
Brenda Avadian, MA, an award-winning speaker, became a national spokesperson for family and professional caregivers and an internationally acclaimed author of eight books during a time when only a handful of caregivers shared their experiences. She served as a pioneering voice for caregivers while she and her husband cared for her father with Alzheimer’s.
Brenda advocates making use of the caregiving continuum, including support groups, geriatric assessment, educational sessions, in-home care, adult day care, elder law services, clinical studies, and residential, assisted living, or nursing care.
Brenda believes one person can make a big difference in people’s lives.
Instead of saving for her own retirement, she donated her book sales proceeds and services (speeches, coaching, and consultations) over a ten-year period. The amount? Over one million dollars. In hindsight she questions the wisdom of this. Still, she believes (as has been written):
To the world you may be one person,
but to one person you are the world.
Having depended on a wide range of services while caring for her father, she shares poignant stories of her own and other caregivers’ experiences to illuminate the caregiving journey while helping families confidently and knowledgeably navigate a potentially confusing maze of choices. For more information, click on Resources & Links.
Before becoming a caregiver, Brenda helped others to become better leaders and communicators, first as a college professor and then as an organizational development consultant and corporate coach.
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Brenda earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She met her husband, David Borden in Milwaukee. They live on five acres in the Angeles National Forest in Southern California with an aging but well-cared for orange tabby cat who has survived FIV for 8 years and lymphoma for 2 years. Brenda is training for the 2012 Los Angeles Marathon after running 26.2 miles in March 2011 (Time: 7H 28m) during one of Los Angeles’ worst storms. It even hailed in Santa Monica!
She has diverse interests as reflected by her membership in and involvement with the organizations noted below. Click on the logo or name to be taken to the organization’s website.
