About Rainwater Consulting

Smiling woman outdoors, with bridge in background

Shoshawna Rainwater, LCSW (she/her), is a dementia consultant in private practice based in Portland, Oregon. She has worked as a social worker for over twenty years and has expertise in the areas of dementia, older adulthood specific issues and palliative care. 

She is also the daughter of a person living with moderate-stage dementia, so she knows first-hand the types of planning and support that can ease the stresses and uncertainties of caring for a loved one with dementia.

Her deep experiences with dementia caregiving revealed a need for more support options for caregivers. So she began Rainwater Consulting in 2020 to help guide individuals and families who are challenged by the enormity of caring for a loved one with the disease. She provides one-on-one consultation and education to help caregivers understand the stages of dementia and the kind of support that will be required each step of the way.

She also offers a wealth of resources and insight for navigating medical care and the health care system. Learn more about Shoshawna’s services for dementia caregivers here.

Education and Licensure

She received her master’s degree in social work in 2003 from Portland State University and clinical licensure in 2007.

Shoshawna has spent the last two decades studying dementia and its effects on those involved: the trajectory, stages, and unique/difficult facets of the disease, plus its impact on caregivers. Shoshawna has served on the OHSU Geriatric ECHO faculty and SPADO (State Plan for Alzheimer’s & other Dementias in Oregon).

Co-Host of the Dementia Caregiver Podcast Hope Floats

As part of her personal commitment to help others who are caring for a loved one with dementia, Shoshawna co-hosts the original podcast, Hope Floats. The podcast offers honesty, guidance, and opportunities to connect with a community for all things dementia-related. It’s a place where your well-being as a caregiver takes center stage… and where hope and peace of mind are cultivated along the dementia journey.  Listen to episodes here.

Public Speaker on Dementia Caregiving

Shoshawna is a frequent presenter on best practices in dementia care. Her audiences have included healthcare systems like Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) and Providence, as well as the Social Work Hospice + Palliative Care Network (SWHPN). See some potential topics below. Then, connect with Shoshawna about speaking opportunities here.

She has shared her expertise in educational and informative presentations on a variety of dementia care-related topics (see below for ideas):

  • “Ethical and Clinical Considerations in Dementia Advance Care Planning.”

  • “Increasing Visibility, Reducing Suffering: Supporting people living with dementia and those who care about them.”

  • “The Invisible Second Patient: Reducing suffering in caregivers of people with dementia.”

  • “Dementia’s Ontological Challenge: How Dementia Changes Relationships.”

  • “Whose Job Is It Anyway? Transdisciplinary palliative care practice and team health.”

  • “The Invisible Second Patient: What Caregivers Need Us to Know About the Dementia Experience.”

  • “Having Difficult Conversations: Goals of Care”

  • “Non-Pharmacological Symptom Management in Patients with Serious Illness.”

  • “Advance Care Planning Challenges with Older Adults.”

Shoshawna lives in Portland, Oregon with her family. When not working, you can find her crafting, exploring meditation practices, and spending time outdoors with friends and family.

Shoshawna Rainwater smiling in a rose garden

Book a Free Introductory Phone Call

Let’s spend 15-20 minutes together on the phone, so I can get an understanding of your situation and challenges, answer your questions about me and my services, and ensure that working together is the best fit for you.

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