As the Community and Caregiver Support Liaison for Terra Vista of Oakbrook Terrace, I organize educational events and provide information for families, caregivers and the general community in regards to Alzheimer’s and dementia care. Terra Vista offers a variety of services open to the public, such as:• Family Support Groups• Educational Seminars• Private Consultations• Blogs on Current Dementia Related Topics• Local Resources

As the Culinary Director for a 100% Alzheimer’s assisted living community, I am responsible for choosing rotational menus, developing creative brain-healthy recipes and running the day-to-day operations of the kitchen and dining program. With over 30 years of hospitality experience in both front and back of house, I have developed strong communication and customer service skills. Paired with 6 years of experience in assisted living and dementia care for older adults, I have been able to combine two of my passions into one exciting role. In addition to the daily operations of running a kitchen, I also:• Collaborate with the Executive Director, Director of Operations, Director of Nursing and a licensed nutritionist to insure all health requirements and dementia care needs are met • Establish food presentation techniques specifically for a dementia population • Set and maintain quality standards• Oversee all food preparation for dining operations, including special events• Set and meet budgetary goals• Solicit feedback from residents, families and staff on menus and execution• Achieve culinary program operational objectives through estimating food and beverage needs, requisitioning or purchasing supplies and equipment• Am in charge of selecting, coordinating, directing and training of all personnel engaged in the preparing, cooking, and serving food to ensure high quality and efficient food service• Develop employees by providing ongoing feedback; establish performance expectations, and conducting performance reviews• Establish and maintain a regular cleaning and maintenance schedule for all kitchen areas and equipment• Create and oversee distinct, dementia friendly culinary therapy activities for residentsI have been certified through the Alzheimer’s Association’s EssentALZ Dementia Advanced Care program as well as The “Best Friend” Approach, created by Virginia Bell and David Troxel, for personalized dementia care.

Supported residents and families through the Medicaid process, including document retrieval, applications and renewals.

Responsible for website content, including blogs and press releases. Assist in on-line marketing efforts,