This month, I would like to explain what Alternatives in Alzheimer’s Care is and what I do as a Dementia Specialist. Please see the video interview with Jon Younger, Owner of Assisted Living Locators below. I speak to what services I provide as a Dementia Specialist. My professional journey over the last 24 years in healthcare allowed me to work with people living with dementia, their families, and healthcare professionals.
My personal journey began with my grandmother’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. During the early years of my profession, my maternal grandmother Ruth began to display symptoms of dementia. Her memory was starting to fail, not knowing what day it was or what she ate for breakfast and was displaying signs that were concerning to me and my family. It was so hard to witness the progression of challenges, the depression of both my grandmother and grandfather, and the burden upon my mother.
My family relied on me for guidance, resources, and counseling through the difficult times. I was able to convince my grandfather to enroll my grandmother in a day program. She was incredibly social and needed engagement with people and my grandfather needed a break. That worked well for some time. The disease progressed and grandmother’s level of care exceeded what my grandfather could provide. I remember the day of our family meeting. My mom, my aunt, grandfather and I went to lunch. We needed to have the very hard conversation of admitting her to a nursing home.
This experience made me realize how much education and support was needed among healthcare professionals. It is one thing for me as a Dementia Specialist to counsel, educate, and support my clients, families, and healthcare professionals; but, it is a completely different experience providing this to my own family. Although this was a difficult journey, it gave me the strength, passion, and determination to continue to improve the quality of life for the person living with dementia, their families, and professional team of caregivers.
My professional journey created a successful path to a very purposeful career. I received my masters of counseling psychology and then went work as a Social Worker in nursing homes from 1997 through 2000. In 2000, I was founder, owner, and geriatric care manager of Care Convergence for Seniors. This offered a variety of challenges which enhanced my problem solving skills for dementia care.
I was recruited as a Memory Care Program Director position for a nursing home soon thereafter, and worked for this organization in many capacities, ultimately promoted to a corporate position. In 2008, I was founder, owner, and educator of Pleasantries Adult Day Services. Pleasantries was a residential based specialized memory care social model adult day program. Along this part of my journey, I developed a passion to educate healthcare professions. I began to write my own curriculum; along with, becoming credentialed in many capacities. Through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners, I hold credentials as Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer; Certified First Responder Dementia Training; and Certified Dementia Practitioner. I sold Pleasantries in 2018 and it continues to provide services as Better Day Adult Day program. I made this decision to bring my journey full circle sharing my expertise through education, modeling, inspiring, counseling, guiding, and supporting all caregivers. I draw from these years of experience to provide inspirational, creative, and exceptional service to those who experience my training and consulting.
I began to develop my training and consulting in 2010; however, I formalized Alternatives in Alzheimer’s Care in 2018. My specialized dementia staff education programs are delivered with passion, motivation, engagement, and interaction. Families benefit from the much-needed education and support I provide as they navigate their journeys with their loved ones living with dementia. Organizations who engage with me have benefited in many ways. These include the betterment of memory care organization, administration, programming, quality of training, and overall improved satisfaction of staff, residents, families, referral resources, and community.
A continuum of care community engaged with my services to establish a social model adult day program. This included recommendations for environmental design; the establishment of policies and procedures; interviewing potential staff; the creation of programming; staff education and training; staff credentialing as Certified Dementia Practitioners; promotion and marketing efforts; and continuous evaluation, education, support, and oversight.
A Newton a based home care agency engaged with me to assist in the development of their unique memory care services offered. This included working with leadership to create a memory care service product; formulate the best marketing efforts to promote this new service product; educate and credential designated care staff for the memory care services; consult for agency clients, their families, and care staff to improve the delivery of services.
Assisted living communities, skilled nursing and rehabilitation communities, home care agencies, and adult day health centers have engaged me for Alternatives in Alzheimer’s Care curriculum for staff education; training leading to the credentialing of staff as Certified Dementia Practitioners; assessment and improvement of memory care services; and issues arising with memory care for residents, clients, participants, staff, and families.
These organizations also engage with me to provide continuing education programs for healthcare professionals, in order to maintain and appreciate referral resources. I am also hired to provide community education programs for families and client prospects. I am a Certified Online Training Professional which has allowed me to provide curriculum, CEU programs, and seminars online.
I am a national speaker for many conferences, chosen by the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, Massachusetts Council on Aging; Massachusetts Assisted Living Association, New Hampshire Activity Professionals Council, and Map through the Maze: Alzheimer’s Association annual professional conference. Audiences span from 20 to 800 attendees.
I have been extremely involved in the Dementia Friendly Community movement throughout the commonwealth. I assist communities in striving to make their community knowledgeable and educated regarding dementia. They are provided with the tools to reduce stigma, enhance awareness, and allow for inclusiveness. Along this journey, I educate town employees, business leaders, first responders, and the communities at large. I assist in the development of Memory Cafes. I founded the first Memory Cafe in Massachusetts in 2011 called Create A Better Day Cafe.
If you or someone you know is a family caregiver of a loved one with dementia, a healthcare professional, or an organization providing memory care services, please contact me. I hope to offer you the opportunity to become the best care partner you can be. The result will definitely create a better day for you and the person you care for.
