Laird Landon

Laird Landon and his co-author Glen Hinshaw, founded the Caregivers Support Foundation to ensure their work helping Caregivers would continue. Landon was a caregiver for his wife, Marilyn, for ten years before her death from pseudo bulbar palsy.  Landon had a long career as a university professors and a consultant and leader in marketing education for businesses worldwide. Landon pointed out in one of the Caregiver Support videos: “You reach a time when you can’t do it all.”   To ensure that their work continues and helps more and more caregivers, Landon and Hinshaw organized the Caregiver Support Foundation to coach and support caregivers. The foundation also makes it easier for folks to support their work financially.    “We have had some people offer financial support, but our LLC was not a good channel for receiving funds,” Landon said.    “I am, of course, excited that we came together to create something new — something to help caregivers,” Landon said. He adds that Glen’s condition was the catalyst. “We are so fulfilled and rewarded that we have been able to help others.”  

Ronda Steenburgen is a veteran of 45 years as an occupational therapist. She was also the caregiver for her husband for more than three years.      Steenburgen is a veteran caregiver herself, as well as having been an occupational therapist for 45 years. She also served on a school board for eight years and  on a local council of the Area Agency on Aging. . She brings hands-on experience with end-of-life care through a hospice agency.  “For three years I was caregiver to my late husband, who had brain cancer, until his passing at 46. I also cared for my parents after they moved to Montrose and their health began to deteriorate. That lasted five years. In those days there was no support for caregivers.  

Cheryl Jennings, of Montrose, jumped at the chance to serve on the board of the new foundation.  “Why would I do this? Because I have walked in the caregivers’ shoes for several years. I continue on that path even though my husband is in a critical care facility,” said Jennings. She, too, knows the terror, the exhaustion and the feeling of utter helplessness that a caregiver experiences. “It is time for me to give back with the wisdom of my experiences, though it is hard to relive them,” Jennings said. “If I can make even one caregiver’s journey a wee bit easier, then I feel the need to step forward and do it!” 

Bill Bottomly said he became a caregiver without knowing what he was doing. His wife was changing and not for the better. They both assumed her behavior was part of the aging process — that is until an MRI in 2009 told the real cause. It was a silent ischemic stroke. Caregiving expanded to lifestyle management to prevent more strokes.  The damage from the first stroke caused continued deterioration. Dementia set in and eventually Bottomly found himself in an unsafe 24/7 monitoring and treatment regimen. It became time for placement in the Colorow Care Center in Olathe, where she has been since 2018. 

Jay Johnson joined the Caregiver Support Foundation board of directors  to take a more direct role in supporting the vision and mission of the foundation.

The role of caregiver is difficult and unique to every person and often develops slowly over time.  The support groups provide many benefits for people who find themselves in this role.

Mr Johnson started attending the support groups after taking on the caregiver role for his mother who suffers from Dementia.   He moved his mother from Milwaukee to Montrose with the intent of letting her continue her daily routine as much as possible and realized she needed more attention than he was able to provide.

Fortunately, they found and moved her into an assisted living facility where her routine has changed a great deal but she still has some independence.   Now he is working diligently to create as many moments of joy as possible.

“I had never attended a support group and was a bit hesitant but the benefit was obvious and impactful from the first meeting.

His goal is to support the foundation by communicating the benefits of the support groups to all those who find themselves in a caregiver role.  

Glen Hinshaw (deceased) is a Colorado Native who served in wildlife management for four decades.   Hinshaw and Landon met through a mutual friend at Glen's church. Both men found themselves lost along the painful and exhausting journey they shared.     “I had written a couple of books and had the idea to write another one with my friend Laird,” Hinshaw recalls. Hinshaw, recently diagnosed as a dementia patient, said that he and Landon, an author, retired professor, consultant, and public speaker, hatched a plan to offer help to the lost souls in the caregiver army.  “We thought it would be valuable if caregivers could share their experiences with others,” Landon said. “Caregiving is isolating, and most friends don’t understand how to help. We grieve every time our loved one loses a function or important memory. Glen and I help caregivers understand that it is normal to feel overwhelmed and that they are not alone.