Today we’d like to introduce you to Talia Lopez.
Talia, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
It all started as a dream I had when I was 14 years old, volunteering at a nursing home. A resident stopped me to thank me for a party I was hosting for them for Halloween. Tears were in her eyes. She said that she didn’t have many visitors these days. She wanted to truly thank me for coming out to make her day just a little better. Then ten minutes later, she said the same thing. It broke my heart, but I then knew this was the field I wanted to pursue in college. I continued volunteering throughout high school and college, where I was able to land an unforgettable internship at The Guest House. It’s the most lovely adult day center! I then knew working with those specifically with dementia was a huge goal of mine. In college, I studied social work while working with a number of families and their loved ones at home as a private caregiver and continued to volunteer at different nursing homes.
It struck me one day… This is hard work! There must be a way to make dementia care easier. I then enrolled in a dementia specialist program and learned so very much from awesome professionals. Becoming educated has truly changed the game for me. Upon receiving my dementia specialist credential and completing my social work degree, I started Dementia Care Advocates! Interning at The Guest House showed me where the dementia caregiving standard should be. They are the goal, and I will make sure other individuals with dementia are getting that same compassionate care they need as well. Throughout my journey, I noticed that some nursing facilities don’t have that same standard. They are doing their job but not being personable. Note: some facilities do an awesome job at this. But some just don’t. They are just working with the knowledge or experience they have, but they are not dementia educated. I saw families struggling to care for their ones as well. There is so much you need to know in order to be able to keep your loved one independent or at home. They are often left with just the disease diagnosis and no instruction manual.
My mission is to educate caregivers. I am going to teach them what dementia is and everything that comes with it. I will help them understand dementia-related behaviors better and learn how to properly manage them because we together can make caregiving easier! Dementiacare-advocates.com
Where woman helping women consulting started. After launching my dementia course (which was my life goal) I was like now what?? That was passive income because it’s an online course. Many women entrepreneurs I found in some Facebook groups said that they loved my graphic work and asked me to help them out. I was making so much money helping women out with logos, flyers, business cards and creating their online courses. I decided to go full time and help women take their business all online! I save them months even years of searching the “how to’s” on how to create an online course. I teach them how to do it themselves! From creation to launching to marketing I have their back! and I am continuing to do graphic design through that business as well! https://www.facebook.com/AlwaysAdvocating/
I also created two t-shirt lines. One for women’s success and one for dementia awareness.
https://teespring.com/stores/alwaysadvocating
https://teespring.com/stores/dementiacareadvocates
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No. No. and again no. If being an entrepreneur was easy, everyone would do it!
Background information (I have severe Ulcerative colitis and another inflammatory disease that they can’t place a name on it) These are both horrible things that affects my everyday life. Sometimes I woke up unable to actually get up, sometimes my stomach hurt so much I was bed-bound when I’m in the heat I get severe hives. I still managed to be a straight-A student. I can honestly say I tried my very hardest in school even with the cards I was dealt. I worked two jobs, volunteered, was apart of 3 leadership programs, and was completing a dementia specialist program while being a full-time student at UNG. Not many people knew about my condition. I was not a charity case, I was going to be successful.
After I graduated college, I wanted to “get a big girl job” so they say.
I still had the Dementia care advocates dream in my head and heart but I couldn’t just go for it (or so I thought) I began applying for jobs everyday all day long! The rejection was real. They looked at me like a child. Also at this time, my health declined drastically and I was unable to keep a job. I spent all my savings on paying bills. My saving was my business money. And after months of tests and procedures, the doctors told me the one medication that could keep me in remission was $500 a month. I could have cried and given up but I didn’t. During this time was when I built Dementia Care Advocates. I created all my courses during the spaces I had when I lost my jobs due to my flare ups. I went through over ten jobs in 6 months. After I launched my courses I looked back and realized I have built an awesome organization. And, I found some natural supplements (turmeric) that has kept me in remission. I look back and I am truly grateful. If it wasn’t for me not being able to keep a job because of my health I wouldn’t have built what I did. I would be a regular 9-5 person waiting for “the right time.”
Not to mention, I had so many interviews at nursing homes that did not want to give me a leadership role. They wanted to start me at the absolute bottom of the food chain. Even with having an “amazing resume” I was too young they said. Now I have Nursing home directors asking me to create online courses for their staffs. Don’t give up.
Please tell us about Dementia Care Advocates and Woman Helping Women Consulting.
It all starts with education!
One of the most effective ways to help ensure optimum care for those with dementia is through caregiver education. Learning about the disease and understanding how to respond to behaviors can help you feel more in control and better able to minimize your stress. AND We are 100% based online making learning from anywhere easier!
Our courses are written by caregivers, healthcare professionals, and those with dementia. That is what sets us apart.
Woman helping Women Consulting
I help women take their business all online! Let me save you months even years of searching the “how to’s”. Plus, I teach you how to do it yourself! Don’t spend $$$$ when you can EASILY do it yourself. Let me spill all the online course secrets. From creation to launching to marketing I have your back!
I love all the positive comments and feedback I get back from my clients!
Working with Talia was a breath of fresh air! As a new business owner, I spent countless hours listening to podcasts, reading books, scouring YouTube, asking friends, asking family, and I needed someone to explain to me how to take my business to the next level. Talia is my chosen someone. While we as consumers are inundated with sales pitches costing us ridiculous amounts of money, Talia’s prices and value outshine any other business coach I’ve encountered. Instead of paying thousands to someone trying to take advantage of what I lacked in understanding, work with Talia! She connected the dots for me, and my company is flourishing and thriving! Thank you, Talia! I definitely suggest booking a consultation with her. She’s a brilliant, powerful, personable game changer! – Evelyn Corley with Mrs. Evelyn Educates
I truly aspire to help women business and NOT break their bank. I had little to no start-up money, so it’s my mission to give them all the secrets I’ve found over the years that have taken my business to the next level.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
NOTHING I’d remind myself that God knows what He is doing.
Pricing:
- $49 Online Dementia Caregiving course (Everything you need to know about dementia and how to care for those with dementia)
- $150 Coaching Call (Everything you need to know about taking your business online!)
Contact Info:
- Website: talia.teachable.com Dementiacare-advocates.com
- Email: taliaAlopez@gmail.com
- Instagram: @always.advocating @dementiacareadvocates
- Facebook: Facebook.com/alwaysadvocating Facebook.com/dementiacareadvocates
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