Kathryn Kilpatrick received her Master’s Degree in Speech and Language Pathology in 1968 from the University of Massachusetts. She has worked in a variety of settings, primarily in Ohio, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, home health care agencies and she has her own private practice.

Kathryn is the author of over 30 products sold nationally including the Visiting Nurse Service Therapy Guides (Volumes 1 - 5) for Speech and Language Disorders.  Her background in speech and language pathology, specializing in serving the older adult population for over 3 decades, led to the development of Communication Connection in 2000 as a geriatric communication consultant.

She is a motivational speaker, marketing consultant and trainer on the local, state and national level and her programs and more recent products focus on enhancing the quality of life of the older adult and supporting their families, friends and caregivers.

She conducts family support groups and staff training on Life Enhancement
and  she specializes in working with families coping with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Her website (www.connectionsincommunication.com) provides a multitude of communication and activity suggestions that will enhance time spent with an older adult along with a free quarterly email newsletter. 

Kathryn is the author of a MEMORY FITNESS TOOLKIT which includes Walking the Path to Memory Fitness One Week at a Time and Brain Teasers. She created Memory Fitness Matters (www.memoryfitnessmatters.com) to meet the needs of those interested in learning more about brain health and successful aging. Her motivational and informative memory fitness programs are presented to all ages, from senior groups to corporate America.

She specializes in helping those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias to help enhance the quality of their journey. Kathryn has contributed a chapter in Mother Stories, sharing her story about the gift in the journey she walked with her mother’s hearing loss and dementia.

Many of her clients often have significant communication limitations and it not only can it become a challenge for them to effectively provide the necessary information, but those closest to them may not know some of the everyday details.

 Kathryn advocates each of us creating a our own Lifestyle Care Plan (http://www.connectionsincommunication.com/pages/Lifestyle_Care_Plan.htm )

so that if it is necessary to be in the care of others, our values, wishes and preferences for daily living are communicated especially if we are unable to provide the information. This proactive choice allows for the development of a person-directed care plan that will help families, friends, and caregivers support a person’s quality of life preferences.