Leslie Pedtke is currently working as an adjunct professor at Maryville University in St. Louis, Mo. A long-time advocate of person-directed care (you may be familiar with her book, What Living as a Resident Care Teach Long-Term Care Staff), Leslie was taken aback when 13 students in her Gerontology class shared that they felt that although person-directed care was a wonderful idea, it was not realistic, especially given the climate of the staffing shortage in healthcare.

It seemed to Leslie that she had some “explaining to do”! And so, Leslie invited Pioneer Network staff members, Penny Cook, President & CEO and Joan Devine, Director of Education, to join her in sharing with her students just what Person-Directed care is – and how it can and needs to be a part of the future.

The lessons and stories shared in the interview will hopefully convince Leslie’s students that person-directed care is real and can thrive, even in today’s climate, and we hope they will also inspire others to continue their work in growing person-directed cultures.

Blogs referenced in the interview: