Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Cynthia J. Hickman
Hi Dr. Cynthia J., it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story begins with becoming a professional nurse and using my education, skills, and talents to become a full-time caregiver to my elderly mother. She moved to Texas with me and my husband in 1997 from Ohio. She lived alone in a house with stairs and a basement, which became very problematic. My father died in 1965, leaving her to raise 4 curious and ambitious girls. We were TK kids “TeacherKids.” As her health challenges developed, it was no longer safe for her to live alone. Collectively, we made the decision to relocate her to our home. I became her full-time caregiver. She lived with us for 20 years. She died at the young age of 97 years old. My family often declares that Mommy, our Queen, lived a full life because I care for her. I was not a reactive caregiver. I was a proactive caregiver. After her passing my brand was born: Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate, a platform to educate and inform future and current caregivers with information designed to fuel the caregiver experience and make the journey less stressful. As a keynote speaker and nurse educator, I have positioned myself to make a difference in the caregiving space by using my platform to provide tips and strategies to navigate the caregiver’s experience. The acronym I want our readers to remember is: B-I-S-K:
*Be prepared
*Important information on loved ones is vital
*Support systems in place
*Keep loved ones wishes
Caregiving must encompass the physical, mental, and the business side, a side most don’t attend to, until they must. Preparation is the revolving and constant theme I want to remind caregivers.
After my mother’s passing, I wanted to remember the joys of seeing her smile when I put lotion and warm socks on her feet. I used my grief to start the Socks 4 Seniors Community Project in Missouri City, Texas in 2021. The project each year, with the help of supporters, has given over 1600 socks to area senior centers. Last year, I was blessed to have Bombus donated socks to the project. I can’t wait to bless seniors in 2024. For any readers interested in supporting this project, please reach to me.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Caregiving is never a smooth road. There are ups and downs, good days and bad days, but you learn to put things in perspective. I often remind caregivers that if our elderly loved ones could, they would. It is sometimes important to put oneself in the shoes of a once independent person who now needs the assistance of someone. It can be depressing. The challenge oftentimes is ensuring our elderly loved ones do not feel like a burden. Caregivers must show love, compassion, and empathy when caring for someone. Why is this important you ask? Caregiving can be a lonely road. Family members sometimes forget they have a role to play and getting them to participate in the care can be hard. It comes down to the sacrifice required. The sacrifice is not time or day-specific. The care of an aging loved one requires attention 24/7 for safety’s sake. When one person is paying attention, day in and day out, it is exhausting. The importance of family participation cannot be overstated. As we see our family members age, family conferences are a great way to iron out the potential obstacles and challenges that may develop. Getting the family together can be a huge challenge, but keep trying. Remember also to infuse fun and entertainment. Our loved ones desire and need all hands on deck!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Dr. Cynthia J. Hickman retired from St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital (SLEH) in 2013 as a registered nurse. My specialty was cardiovascular nursing. In the last 10 years of my career, I have become a heart failure case manager, working with patients and educating them on best practices and aftercare. Retirement came early because I became a full-time caregiver to her elderly mother, who passed away in 2017.
Dr. Hickman is a graduate of the Toledo Hospital School of Nursing, Toledo, Ohio, Prairie View A & M University, the College of Nursing, and completed two graduate degrees: Master of Nursing specializing in nursing education and her Ph.D. in Health Services with a leadership specialization from Walden University. She received the Johnson & Johnson Community Service and Health Care Leadership Award and $50,000 for her community service during Katrina. She used the funds to establish The Cynthia J. Hickman “Pay It Forward” Nursing Scholarship and has awarded 18 nursing scholarships to date.
Dr. Hickman is a Multicultural & International Student Organization member at Walden University and an ambassador alumnus. In 2022, she was honored to serve as Walden University’s 66th keynote commencement speaker. She is the 2019 Walden University Social Change Fellow, sharing research on eldercare and nutritional health.
Dr. Cynthia J. Hickman is a Keynote speaker and author. She is called Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate and has written 2 books: From the Lens of Daughter, Nurse, and Caregiver: A Journey of Duty and Honor, sharing her 20-year journey of caring for her mother and the 2nd book 1: The Black Book of Important Information for Caregivers. It details the necessity of mindfulness of the business side of being a caregiver. She has become a nurse storyteller, passionate about sharing caregiving tips and strategies to help others navigate life challenges while celebrating reality successes. Stay tuned; she is working on her 3rd book, hoping to be out in the summer of 2024.
Dr. Hickman is a blogger and podcaster on all things caregiving. She is a contributing writer for the Forward Times Newspaper, a Black-owned Houston-based newspaper sharing caregiving tips and strategies weekly. She is a proud soror of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., the Outstanding Omicron Gamma Zeta Chapter.
What sets you apart from others? My brand is Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate. We live in a reactive society. We wait for something to happen, then react. I have been able to educate the community on the importance of preparation in the caregiving space. The motto is true: when we know better, we do better.
What are you most proud of? Completing my Ph.D while caring for my mother full-time. My mother was an educator and stressed the importance of education. While her health was failing, she pushed me to complete my degree. I am grateful. I have been able to teach at a university giving back to my nursing profession. I am proud to give back to my profession.
How do you think about luck?
I do not believe in luck. I believe in God’s favor. Starting my business was the result of a time in my life when I needed to care for my mother. My platform as a caregiver advocate, keynote speaker, and educator has blessed so many people. Writing my two books helped me, and they are helping others care for their loved ones.
No luck! Just Blessed!
Contact Info:
- Website: cynthiajhickman.info
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hickcynthia/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drcynthiaSpeaks/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaregiverAuthor
- Other: https://speakerhub.com/speaker/dr-cynthia-j-hickman
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