November 13, 2024

#34 Creating Exceptional Dementia Care Programs: Insights from Rachael Wonderlin of Dementia By Day

47 minutes

Summary

In this episode of From Leads to Leases, host Jerry Vinci speaks with dementia care expert Rachael Wonderlin about the importance of creating customized dementia care programs in senior living communities. Rachael shares her journey in the field, the challenges of the consulting industry, and the significance of effective communication in dementia care. She discusses the impact of her online education platform, Dementia by Day School, and emphasizes the need for tailored programs that meet the unique needs of each community. The conversation also touches on the importance of branding, marketing, and the role of education for families and staff in improving care. Rachael highlights success stories from her work and addresses the challenges communities face when implementing new programs. The episode concludes with insights on promoting dementia care effectively and the importance of ongoing education in the field.

Learn More

Learn More about Dementia By Day

Watch Embracing Their Reality: The Short Film

Takeaways

Rachael Wonderlin emphasizes the need for customized dementia care programs.

Effective communication is crucial in dementia care.

Dementia by Day School offers valuable online education for staff and families.

Tailoring programs to specific community needs enhances care quality.

Branding and marketing are essential for attracting families to memory care.

Success stories demonstrate the tangible benefits of well-implemented care programs.

Resistance to change is a common challenge in implementing new care strategies.

Pre-packaged programs often fail without customization and proper training.

Staff retention improves with structured programs and clear communication.

Ongoing education is vital for all staff members in dementia care.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Dementia Care Expert Rachael Wonderlin

01:55 How Rachael Began Her Career in Dementia Care

05:20 Understanding the Consulting Landscape

06:20 Key Elements of a Successful Dementia Care Program

08:23 Common Gaps in Training and Education in Dementia Care

09:59 Dementia By Day School

14:44 How Dementia By Day Customizes Programs for Each Community

16:40 Cultural Differences in Dementia Care

18:21 How Branded Dementia Care Programs Create More Selling Opportunities

21:15 Success Story of How Dementia By Day Impacts the Entire Senior Living Organization

23:38 Challenges in Implementing Dementia Care Programs

25:25 Why the "Buy and Apply" Method of Programming Doesn't Work for Dementia Care

27:15 Staff Retention in Dementia Care

31:53 Promoting Dementia Care Programs

33:57 Justifying the Investment into Dementia Care Programs

35:55 The Need for More Dementia Care Education

37:55 The Short Film: Embracing Their Reality

41:15 Upcoming Projects and Future Endeavors

44:47 Wrapping up with Rachael

...more

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By Jerry Vinci

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