Lindsey Klebenow has worked in home care and assisted living in Bozeman, Montana from the time she was in college. She’s a certified nurse assistant (CNA), an emergency medical technician (EMT) and operates her own home health agency.
Earning a Master of Science in Gerontology from the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology has given her added credibility. “When I say I’m a gerontologist, people talk to me on a different level,” Klebenow says.
They also listen to what she has to say.
Changing the status quo in aging
In 2022, Montana closed 11 rural nursing homes. There are also ongoing problems at the state’s psychiatric hospital, which affect older adults with dementia. These issues prompted Klebenow to become active in state politics, armed with skills she learned in her degree program.
“Our long-term care system is broken. It’s heart-wrenching for families,” Klebenow says. “I show up to committee meetings and advocate for our most vulnerable citizens. A public policy class at USC Leonard Davis School gave me the tools to navigate the legislative process.”
Klebenow says applying what she learned in class has helped her contribute to the state’s great strides in caring for older adults through working directly with congressmen, the state legislature, and area agencies on aging. She is a key member of the steering committee for the state’s recently awarded Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) Infrastructure Public Health Program grant from the Centers for Disease Control.
She also travels all over Montana as a Dementia Live trainer. Dementia Live is a program for caregivers that simulates what it’s like to have dementia. Participants put on headphones, glasses and gloves and try to complete tasks. After, they learn about how they can better respond to dementia-related emotions and behaviors. The feedback has been incredible, Klebenow says. The training gives people a new, often life-changing perspective on the people they care for.
Finding success through adversity
Klebenow’s academic journey at the USC Leonard Davis School wasn’t easy. She applied in the fall of 2019 and was set to start classes the following fall.
In that time, Klebenow found out she was pregnant after five rounds of in vitro fertilization (IVF). She also launched Heart to Heart Home Care by necessity when the previous home care agency she worked for closed. Then, COVID-19 hit.
“There’s a saying that God doesn’t give you more than you can handle,” Klebenow says. Klebenow found she could handle more than most — in March 2020, her husband sustained a traumatic brain injury.
Klebenow stayed the course. Her work experience was an advantage as she became her husband’s full-time caregiver. Her classes in physiology of the mind and body were also helpful. “I was learning why conditions such as brain injuries and dementia affect people’s behavior.”
Despite the many challenges, Klebenow graduated in 2.5 years with a 3.8 GPA.
Education that enlightens and prepares students
For Klebenow, the USC Leonard Davis School offered a level of diversity and professionalism she hadn’t experienced in rural Montana. Paul Nash, PhD, from whom she took several classes, made a particularly significant impact on her.
“It was not only the content of Dr. Nash’s classes, but the way he taught,” Klebenow says. “He was welcoming, unbiased and compassionate. He also had a unique ability to see other points of view and tie them into his teaching.”
Klebenow’s last course at USC Leonard Davis School, “Gerontology: A Multidisciplinary Approach” with Elizabeth Zelinski, PhD, was also valuable. Part of the class involved writing a grant proposal. Klebenow still uses this outline when applying for grants — with great success. For example, last year she received funding for her Dementia Live program.
Developing connections and lifelong friendships
Living in Montana, Klebenow completed her degree entirely online. The USC Leonard Davis School has been a leader in distance learning for many years. The professors made every class interactive, Klebenow says.
Despite the distance, Klebenow bonded with her fellow students. What began as a study group for a sociology class turned into deep, meaningful friendships. It’s been rewarding to follow her classmates’ successes. For example:
- Alexandra Gleysteen, MAG, is helping lead the Women’s Alzheimer Movement at Cleveland Clinic.
- Zora Benhamou, MAG, is empowering women to biohack menopause.
Making life better for older adults and people with dementia
Klebenow is a caregiver at heart. “If I wasn’t taking care of someone or making a difference in somebody’s life, I wouldn’t have a purpose,” she says.
That focus developed from early experiences of loss and love. Her father passed away when she was nine, and her grandparents helped raise her. On the other side of her family, Klebenow’s grandmother developed Alzheimer’s disease, though few resources were available at that time.
“Throughout my childhood, we all just did our best to take care of each other,” she says.
As she looks to the future, Klebenow plans to continue this tradition of care. She renovated a commercial building to create an adult day care center that specializes in dementia. Patients can come for the day and participate in enriching activities. They can also receive personal care and salon services. Klebenow proudly explains that her’s is the only adult day care center in the state of Montana that is not associated with an assisted living or corporation.
In addition, she collaborated with Montana State University to write a children’s book on dementia for the Crow Indian Tribe and will be working with the state’s other tribes on books tailored for each of them.
“My goal is to keep helping families and communities give older adults the care and respect they deserve,” says Klebenow.
To learn more about a Master of Science in Gerontology at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, call us at (213) 740-5156.
