Rise Anyway

with Melody Vachal

Keynote speaker, caregiving expert, and Master Certified Health and Wellness Coach. Family caregiver — and care recipient — turned Amazon #1 bestselling author of Still, I Rise: A Guide to Navigating the Caregiver Journey.

5 star review

“Vachal's suggestions make this book extraordinarily practical.” — Lori Doyle

Watch the speaker reel
1 in 4
caregivers struggle to care for their own health while caring for someone else
7 in 10
family caregivers hold down a job on top of their caregiving

Your people are carrying care at home. Are they supported?

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Source: AARP & National Alliance for Caregiving, Caregiving in the U.S. 2025
30+ Years of Expertise · Caregiver & Care Recipient · Amazon #1 Bestselling Author
Speaker Reel

See Melody in Action

Keynotes, workshops, and wellness programs that meet caregivers where they are — and move organizations to act.

About Melody

Thirty years of caregiving, from both sides of it.

Melody Vachal cared for her son for three decades and built a clinical career supporting families — then a car accident left her temporarily paralysed and dependent on a caregiver herself. That combination shapes everything she writes, teaches and speaks about.

Melody Vachal, speech-language pathologist and caregiving expert
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Caregiving expert

M.S., CCC-SLP · Master Certified Health & Wellness Coach

  • 30+ years as a family caregiver to her son
  • Speech-language pathologist supporting families in clinical practice
  • Master Certified Health & Wellness Coach
  • Care recipient after a serious accident — the view most experts never get

She pairs clinical training with lived experience, which is why her advice tends to land with people who have already heard the usual self-care talk.

Melody Vachal speaking to an audience
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Speaker

Keynotes · workshops · panels · corporate wellness programs

Melody speaks to healthcare and human services conferences, employers and caregiver support groups — on burnout in caring professions, on what caregiving costs a workforce, and on what two decades of giving care did not teach her that months of receiving it did.

Recent stages include the ServiceNet Shared Living & AFC Conference and Next Monday’s Women of Influence Summit.

See speaking topics
Cover of Still, I Rise: A Guide to Navigating the Caregiver Journey
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Author

Still, I Rise: A Guide to Navigating the Caregiver Journey

A practical guide for people caring for someone they love: personal stories, journal prompts and small daily practices built for caregivers who do not have a free hour, a quiet house, or a spare weekend.

Amazon #1 bestseller · 4.8 stars · paperback, Kindle and audiobook

About the book
Media

Featured podcast appearances

Conversations about caregiving, burnout, and what employers miss about the people carrying care at home.

Intentional Conversations Podcast with Melody Vachal

Melody Vachal, Featured Guest

With Jamie J NP
March 15, 2025
45 minutes

Melody joins host Jamie J for a conversation about caring for her son over three decades, the accident that put her on the receiving end of care, and what she learned about asking for help before you are forced to.

Melody Vachal featured guest on the Emotion Well EFR Podcast

Navigating the Caregiver Journey

Featured Guest: Melody Vachal
August 25, 2024
35 minutes

Melody shares her powerful experiences on both sides of caregiving as a primary caregiver to her son with special needs and as a care recipient after a serious car accident. She provides practical advice on creating the mental, emotional, and physical spaces caregivers need to show up as their best selves for those who rely on them.

Testimonials

5 star testimonial rating

Melody brings such a unique perspective—not just as a caregiver but as someone who had to relearn life after a major accident. Let’s be honest, no one would’ve blamed her if she chose to be persistently angry about it all, but instead, she came back stronger and with a mission to make sure caregivers feel seen and supported too.

Jaime Jones - Family and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner

Jaime Jones

Family, and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
5 star testimonial rating

The feedback from our team was overwhelmingly positive, with many
employees expressing gratitude and even hanging up key takeaways from Melody's presentation. I highly recommend Melody Vachal as a speaker for any organization looking to support the well-being of their employees and their families.

Bri Torborg - Falcon National Bank

Bri Torborg

Falcon National Bank
5 star testimonial rating

“Melody Vachal was a breath of fresh air and gave such great insight on how to better care for those who wear the honorable badge of “caregiver”. What a joy to be a part of. Thank you Melody for your dedication to inspire and uplift those within our community.”

Amanda Brunotte - Caregiver Client

Amanda Brunotte

Client
5 star testimonial rating

Employee & Family Resources partnered with Melody for a customized Road to Resilience workshop series. Melody engages her audience through connection — we all have a story, and that story brings us to the road we are traveling. Melody is a dynamic and engaging facilitator and shares personal examples that are evidence that no matter what happens, there is always a new day and new opportunity to move forward in life. Melody inspires a sense of purpose and clarity for the next steps on the road to resilience.

Johanna Dunlevy, EAP Operations Director at Employee & Family Resources

Johanna Dunlevy

EAP Operations Director, Employee & Family Resources

Get in touch

Looking for a speaker on caregiving, self-care and resilience for your next event? I would love to hear from you. Every talk is shaped to your audience and what they are carrying.

Melody Vachal logo
Melody Vachal - Speaker, Author and Caregiving Expert

Featured By

Sage ECG Aging — as featured by
PEG — as featured by
A Home for the Day — as featured by
Caregiving organization that has featured Melody Vachal
Caregiving organization that has featured Melody Vachal
Caregiving organization that has featured Melody Vachal
Caregiving organization that has featured Melody Vachal
Caregiving organization that has featured Melody Vachal
Caregiving organization that has featured Melody Vachal
Caregiving organization that has featured Melody Vachal
Caregiving organization that has featured Melody Vachal
Featured organization logo
Melody Vachal featured appearanceMelody Vachal featured appearanceMelody Vachal featured appearanceMelody Vachal media feature
Employee & Family Resources (EFR) — as featured by

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