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 Caryl
Derenfeld has a lifelong commitment to older
adults. As Learned Conversations Founder,
Owner and Senior Communications Consultant,
she continues to develop innovative
communications approaches that integrate
psychosocial and pastoral elements for
seniors in a variety of settings. Caryl
discovered her passion for seniors years
ago, beginning as a nursing home volunteer,
and continuing on with stints as an Activity
Director in both retirement and assisted
living communities. Caryl enjoys every
encounter she has with audience members, and
encourages them to deepen the roots of their
communications by sharing the stories of
their lives.
Caryl is a member of the Association of
Senior Service Professionals and multiple
Continuity of Care Chapters, and serves as
the Vice President of the Lake/McHenry, IL
chapter. She is an instructor with the
University of Illinois Department of
Continuing Education, Training for Non
Physicians, and is a certified para
chaplain. She leads religious services at a
local retirement community on a weekly
basis. Caryl has held leadership positions
at the Council for the Parliament of World
Religions, Young Women's Board of the Jewish
United Fund and Toastmasters.
Every Learned Conversations program starts
with a three-point purpose; to inspire
participants to:
To achieve this, our
programs each begin with a question to
immediately draw in the audience and to
invite their thoughts and participation.
Everyone in the room may not answer this
first query, but the goal is to get everyone
thinking and stimulated right away. Memory
retrieval and audience participation varies
from person to person and group to group.
Some may be quicker with verbal expression
or thought. Others might be more introverted
and less likely to speak up. Learned
Conversations programs are designed to
ignite emotions, trigger thought processes
and inspire heartfelt connection. Although
some may choose not to participate verbally,
they are still learning and involved through
the thoughts and comments of others.
Through a creative assortment of program
'tools' and strategies, Learned
Conversations invites the group to go where
they are most comfortable and intrigued.
Group dynamics dictate which tools are
chosen, resulting in a varied and unique
event at each venue.
Our goal is to actively involve each member
of the group. We aim to get them thinking,
talking and reminiscing. But the best
account of success of a Learned
Conversations program is the conversation
that happens AFTER the presentation is over
- the buzz as people are leaving the room
and are still engaged, reminiscing, making
social connections, finding new
commonalities with their neighbors. This
is what we at Learned Conversations do.
Some links from Learned Conversations:
National Association of Women Business
Owners/Chicago Area
www.nawbochicago.org
www.il-coc.org/mc/page.do
www.toastmasters.org
For more info on writing a life story,
please contact Beth Sanders at
www.lifebio.com or
Life Stories/Creating a Memoir at
Zortam@aol.com.
Association of Senior Service Providers,
www.assp-dupage.org
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