Harry van Bommel M.Ad.Ed.

Topics

Presentations

The New Corporate Imperative: A Culture of Care

Putting Care Back into Healthcare

The Caregiver Tsunami: It Can be the Best Experience of Your Life

The Magic Touch: Caregiving Made Simple

Caring from a Distance: Coordinating Care of Loved Ones

Speak Care to Power: Caregivers Do Climb the Corporate Ladder

Summary Profile

Harry van Bommel is an adult educator with over 30 years experience in the fields of caregiving, home and hospice care, and public speaking. He is the author of over 40 books. His caregiving books Caring for Loved Ones at Home and Family Hospice Care have reached an audience of over 1,000,000 patients, family caregivers, professionals and volunteers across the country.

van Bommel speaks passionately from the perspective of patients and families when addressing national and international audiences. He cared for both of his parents and his grandfather at home until they died and recognizes that more than one quarter (26.6%) of the adult population has provided care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend during the past year most with inadequate information on how to provide that care well. The pool of family caregivers is dwindling. In 1990 there were 11 potential caregivers for each person needing care. In 2050 that ratio will be 4:1. Harry wants to ensure that all caregivers (family, professional and volunteers) have the information they need when they need it. He wants to help corporations support their workforce to meet the caregiving challenges they face now and in the near future.

Harry founded the Canada 150 project in 1997 to encourage 1.5 million Canadians to record short and full-length family histories as well as corporate and community histories. These stories will be preserved forever as our gift to Canada on its 150th birthday. Harry helps corporations, communities and the general public work together to record and preserve these stories as a legacy to future Canadians.