Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Scott.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Former “Video Girl” turned Podcast Practitioner, an entrepreneur before it was cool. Starting the 1st nationwide online video production company for “Apartments,” putting videos on YouTube, Google Video Beta, Myspace, etc. before Google bought YouTube.
I was the renter that was tired of looking at photos and bad virtual tours, who wanted to see a video of not just the inside but also the area. We raised $1,000,000 in 2006, stretched it over three years, and selling the company in January of 2017.
Since selling CTM, I have been podcasting and “brand ambassading. for companies in multifamily while I podcast. “My 1st podcast, Industry Celebrities, I interview industry professionals (in any industry) and ask them questions about their industry or passion plus guests share a little advice to their younger self.
In 2019, I became clear on my passion and purpose in life, educating others on the struggles of being a caregiver, I started, my 2nd podcast, #CaregiversStories; where caregivers share their stories to educate others on Dementia, what becoming a caregiver means, and the joys/struggles of caregiving.
Both podcasts can be found on Alexa, iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Anchor, Breaker, Castbox, Radio Public, Overcast, Pocket Casts, and YouTube.
January 2020, I decided to share my caregiving story and many others that are unpaid caregivers via #NoRegretsDocumentary series and push it out via FB, IG, LinkedIn, YouTube, Snapchat, Twitter, and TikTok.
March 18, 2020, I launched Do As We Do, a non-profit focused on advocating, educating future caregivers and assisting the 40 million Americans that go unpaid for helping a loved one because based on health care/Medicare/Medicaid laws, they fall into the “middle category” that doesn’t qualify for assistance.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The biggest challenge for me was not being prepared to be a caregiver to my mother when she was 65, diagnosed with Dementia. I was 38ish; I am 47 now. I was not emotionally or financially prepared for either. As Latins, we are taught it is the family’s responsibility to care for our elders and I agree and disagree, depending on the day of the week.
With that said, I became a caregiver without hesitation, however, I wish we would have had a discussion on the what-if, my mother lives and can no longer care for herself. What is her plan? What does she want?
When my mother was diagnosed, her doctor stated to me that her routine, socialization with her friends and familiar environment are of most importance to keeping her dementia stabilized so her condition (no short-term memory) does not worsen. Plus, My mother has stated many times, she does not want me moving back to El Paso, because “this is not my life”, as she put it. She also says, she does not want to be a burden, to myself or my brother, and in the same breath she says, it is our responsibility as a family unit to handle her care even though she doesn’t feel she needs help driving, cooking, medicines, bills, etc. She needs help with all of it.
We will all need help one day, whether it is late in life and for a brief time or if it is 5+ years, we will need help. Think about it, we needed help coming into this world and we will need help going out so we should start talking about this fact sooner rather than later.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
On November 14, 2019, I watched my 1st Ways & Means committee hearing on Elderly care and learned, since 2011, every day 10,000 people turn 65.
40 million Americans are doing selfless work by serving as an unpaid family caregiver for a loved one.
25% of those Caregivers are millennial and women, who often feel forced to choose between their careers and caring for their aging parents & grandparents.
I decided to share my story 1st while creating a documentary series on Caregivers called #NoRegretsDocumentary series to build awareness, educate and brand kickoff Do As We Do, non-profit that gives services to caregivers that go unpaid.
The non-profit model we follow is called “100% Model.” This is where private donors fund our operating costs. This way, 100% of the contributions (from grants, fundraisers, small donations) will go to the caregivers in need of services and help.
Do As We Do will build awareness of the documentary & non-profit using Facebook. LinkedIn. Snapchat. TikTok. YouTube. Twitter. Pinterest. Podcasting.
Stats on the cost of elderly care in The U.S…. (according to Elderly Care meeting on C-Span)
Around the clock in-home care cost: about $180,000 a year
$80,000 a year to live in a nursing home
$43,000 a year for assisted living
None of us are really prepared for the silver tsunami that will occur in the next decade so it is my mission to help now and educate the next generation of caregivers.
What were you like growing up?
I am the youngest of 3 older brothers. Always chasing my brothers to let me play on their team and my dad did a great job of not allowing me to give up and practice to be good at whatever I wanted to play so they had to pick me.
I loved dancing and unicorns. I played basketball, I was a cheerleader and ran track (hurdles) in high school. I have always been outgoing and a little louder than others along with I always danced like nobody was watching.
I wanted to be a Fly Girl (when JLo was a dancer) on In Living Color and my mom said I had to go to college because there was no money in dancing on TV. So I went off to college and got a degree in Marketing to make my mother happy; my transcripts are still sealed. I still love unicorns and now I get to dance on TikTok whenever I want.
Contact Info:
- Website: thatkimberly.com
- Phone: 214.930.1482
- Email: doaswedofoundation@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatkimscott
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThatKimScott/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/that_kimberly
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thatkimberly
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW1s607pKPYLgCMZkn8GrobEWTHEokM1o
Image Credit:
Diana Benitez 3 of the 6
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