About Toni
As much as I accomplished throughout my career and life, I know there was no greater purpose than walking this journey with my mom and now, helping family caregivers finding meaning, support, and validation through your own experience.
Caregiver Consultant
Empowering & Educating
Family Caregivers
I started Heart of Caregiving, to help family caregivers overcome the stress and negativity of caregiving and to find meaning and resilience in this life-changing journey. I want to help you solve your biggest worries and concerns and not only turn overwhelm and chaos into control, but also find peace of mind, love and light, throughout not only the best of times, but the worst of times. Working with me, I promise to help you more effectively manage your responsibilities through education, planning, and organization, become more confident in your decision-making, learn effective communication techniques and successful strategies to lessen the stress of daily living.
With over 40 years in the healthcare industry, I am both a Certified Caregiving Consultant ™ and Certified Caregiving Educator™, in addition to holding a Master’s Degree in Audiology. As a member of several professional speaker organizations, I am also an author, dynamic speaker and well recognized Distinguished Toastmaster. As a former instructor for Baylor College of Medicine, I have extensive experience working with physicians and patients in hospital and crisis environments.
Author
Speaker
Workshops & Presentations
Toni’s career in the healthcare industry for over four decades and 14 years of caring for her mom positions her as an expert in caregiving and happy, healthy aging. She delivers caregiver conferences aboard dementia-friendly cruises for caregivers and their loved ones. As a consultant, educator, and dynamic speaker, Toni trains businesses and provides group support and one-on-one guidance. The principles she shares transform the caregiving and aging experience into a journey of discovery and adventure.
You were relaxed and joyful and I loved the photos and stories.
Partners & Affiliations
Dementia Friendly Dining
Establishing dementia-friendly dining has been the goal of founding champion Dennis Dulniak, care partner for his wife Nancy who was placed in a memory care community a year ago. He has teamed up with Toni Gitles, Certified Caregiving Consultant and Educator with Heart of Caregiving and Edith Gendron, Chief of Operations with the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center. The Meatball Stoppe is the first restaurant identified for training personnel, scheduling and publicizing, with more planned in the upcoming months.
Toni at the
first Dementia Friendly Dining event
Dementia Friendly Cruises
ELITE CAREGIVER RESPITE ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA FRIENDLY
“Living Everyday to Enjoy Life” will include: Caregiver respite sessions, time for the caregivers to relax, experience an adventure or simply take a nap. Available RN private duty care one-on-one client support at a minimal hourly fee. Accessible accommodations (at no additional charge) and rentable mobility scooters. Dementia / Alzheimer’s interactive conference sessions intended to educate, inspire and create new ideas.
Discover Demhttps://youtu.be/IAt7VIq3aOMentia-Friendly Cruises
