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Kim Campbell
Widow of Grammy Hall of Fame & Award-Winning Music Artist Glen Campbell, Alzheimer’s Advocate
Kim Campbell
Widow of Grammy Hall of Fame & Award-Winning Music Artist Glen Campbell, Alzheimer’s Advocate
Biography
"On behalf of the entire Project Lifesaver team, I want to thank you for your participation in the 2020 Project Lifesaver Conference. We have received overwhelming positive response to the conference, and it is in no small part due to your participation. Your interesting, personal, and moving presentation painted a portrait of the true challenges of providing care for an individual with Alzheimer’s, a portrait no one in attendance will ever forget. Without question, the quality of your content, the delivery of that important information, together with a common theme of dedication, hard work, and a high ethical standard made your presentation the highlight of this year’s conference and a major success." -Project Lifesaver
Kim Campbell was dancing with the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall when she met music legend Glen Campbell on a blind date. They fell in love, married, and had three children, Cal, Shannon, and Ashley, all musicians following in their father’s footsteps. Their marriage of over three decades became a testament to God’s grace and faithfulness as the couple overcame Glen’s addictions, only to face their greatest challenge when Glen was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2011.
Kim, Glen and their three children courageously went public with the diagnosis and invited filmmakers to document Glen’s “Goodbye Tour” and inevitable decline resulting in the award-winning documentary Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me, two Grammys, a CMA Award, and an Oscar nomination.
Glen lost his battle with Alzheimer’s on August 8, 2017.
Determined to help other families on the same journey, Kim founded CareLiving.org, a blog and lifestyle guide, to encourage caregivers to take care of themselves while caring for others.
Kim continues to advocate for caregivers as a member of the Milken Institute Alliance to Improve Dementia Care, and serves on the board of Abe’s Garden, the memory care community in Nashville, TN where Glen spent his final year battling Alzheimer’s Disease.
The Kim and Glen Campbell Foundation is currently working with Abe’s Garden to create a world class music lab to study the benefits of music for people living with dementia and other neurological disorders.
She recently released her memoire: Gentle On My Mind: in sickness and in health with Glen Campbell, available where books are sold.
Speaker Videos
Insightful Conversations on the Future of Aging
Careliving: Don't Feel Guilty for Doing What's Right
Wife of Glen Campbell on Living with Alzheimer's
Speech Topics
Gentle on My Mind: In Sickness & In Health with Glen Campbell
Kim Campbell was a fresh-faced 22-year-old dancer at Radio City Music Hall when a friend introduced her to Glen Campbell, the chart-topping, Grammy-winning, Oscar-nominated entertainer. The two performers from small Southern towns quickly fell in love, a bond that produced a 34-year marriage and three children. In this talk, Kim tells the complete, no-holds-barred story of their relationship, recounting the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, including battles with alcohol and drug addiction and, finally, Glen’s diagnosis, decline, and death from Alzheimer's.
With extraordinary candor, astonishing bravery and a lively sense of humor, Kim reveals the whole truth of life with an entertainment giant and of caring for and loving him amid the extraordinary challenge of Alzheimer's disease. This is a remarkable account of enduring love, quiet strength and never-faltering faith.
A Family’s Journey with Alzheimer’s: Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me
According to recent statistics, more than 6 million Americans are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease— that’s one out of three seniors. In 2016, Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases cost our nation more than $236 billion. This disease kills more people than breast and prostate cancer combined. Currently, there is no way to prevent it and no cure. Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills. In her heartfelt talk, Kim shares her family’s journey and how Glen’s farewell tour and film, Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me, began a national conversation about the effects of Alzheimer’s. It’s a remarkable story of the human spirit and how Kim and Glen decided to continue to live a very public life despite the challenges and adversity of this disease. It’s also a story of hope and how music helped Glen retain his mental well-being far longer than expected and demonstrated to the world that a life lived fully does not stop with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. Kim will leave you inspired and with a sense of hope.
CareLiving.org: Turning Caregiving into CareLiving
When Kim’s late husband Glen was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, she and her children rallied together to support him. They faced many challenges as a family. And through the emotionally draining moments, Kim realized how important it is for caregivers to take care of themselves while caring for others. Kim founded CareLiving.org, a blog and lifestyle guide providing resources, inspiration and a sense of community to this underserved group. Kim discusses the importance of not becoming the “second victim.” She explains the emotional, physical and mental hardships that accompany the caregiver’s life, and offers advice on ways to ward off depression and illness. This talk is a positive and encouraging outlook on this often-overlooked subject and will inspire and restore faith and joy to those caring for loved ones.
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