Emily Sitzes, Wellness Director at EverTrue, has been named a 2025 Reminiscence Care Innovation Award winner by Senior Housing Information.
The Reminiscence Care Innovation Awards program is designed to acknowledge passionate and revolutionary trade members who’re shaping the way forward for cognitive care throughout behavioral well being, dwelling well being and residential care, hospice and palliative care, senior housing and senior residing, and expert nursing. To turn out to be a Reminiscence Care Innovation Award winner, a person should be nominated by their friends. The candidate must be a high-performing worker who is aware of find out how to put imaginative and prescient into motion, serving as an advocate for these residing with memory-related issues and the dedicated professionals who guarantee their well-being.
Sitzes sat down with Senior Housing Information to share her journey caring for sufferers and residents with cognitive care wants, her ideas on the way forward for cognitive care in senior housing & senior residing, and rather more. To be taught extra in regards to the Reminiscence Care Innovation Awards program and think about this 12 months’s winners, go to https://innovation.memorycarebusiness.com/.
SHN: How lengthy have you ever been part of the reminiscence care, senior housing & senior residing trade?
Sitzes: I’ve been honored to serve within the reminiscence assist and senior residing trade for over 7 years as a part of the EverTrue group.
SHN: What drew you to caring for sufferers/residents with cognitive care wants?
Sitzes: My journey caring for people residing with dementia started throughout my time at EverTrue. My background as a Board-Licensed Music Therapist created alternatives for me to attach with our residents by music and specialised therapeutic companies. I discovered that this was a strong approach to construct relationships past phrases, meet folks the place they’re, and facilitate moments of pleasure and success for these with cognitive care wants. It was extremely rewarding to revive outdated recollections, assist reminiscing, and acknowledge our residents for who they nonetheless are and never their prognosis. I knew I had discovered my calling.
SHN: For those who might change one factor about cognitive care within the reminiscence care, senior housing & senior residing trade, what would it not be?
Sitzes: I need to see a way forward for inclusivity for these residing with dementia. Typically when this prognosis occurs, each the person and their caregivers are so centered on the day-to-day wants, that actions, friendships, even enjoyable fall to the wayside.
At EverTrue, our Reminiscence Assist models are sometimes within the combine with our Assisted Residing and Unbiased Residing areas, so we might be inclusive of these with a dementia prognosis whereas supporting their further wants. EverTrue does this throughout the continuum of care and in Wherever Care companies to the broader neighborhood utilizing our StillYou® patented care mannequin for Reminiscence Assist, constructing schooling and consciousness, providing supportive environments, and offering sources to people residing with dementia regardless of the place they name dwelling.
SHN: For those who had a crystal ball, what do you assume will most affect your capacity to supply cognitive care within the reminiscence care, senior housing & senior residing trade within the subsequent 5 years?
Sitzes: Innovation will likely be a driving drive impacting the way forward for reminiscence assist within the senior residing trade. We have now seen this already inside EverTrue as we implement items of revolutionary know-how, equivalent to Tovertafel and Crdl, that target strengths and talents whereas reinforcing human connection.
Different elements of care will likely be supported by innovation as nicely, equivalent to schooling and coaching by synthetic intelligence (AI) sources and well being and wellness know-how to assist mind well being. I stay up for seeing this evolution proceed.
SHN: For those who might describe cognitive care within the reminiscence care, senior housing & senior residing trade in a single phrase, what would it not be and why?
Sitzes: Evolving.
The senior residing trade as a complete is altering, and I imagine our strategy towards cognitive care ought to proceed to evolve as nicely.
There isn’t any “one measurement matches all” relating to supporting these residing with dementia and people’ wants change all through that journey – a key element of EverTrue’s StillYou® patented care mannequin. I used to be proud to be a part of the group that developed the StillYou® care mannequin, consistent with our EverTrue Life In line with You motto.
It’s inspiring to see a shift in approaches and care fashions in reminiscence assist grounded in compassionate care, whereas wanting ahead by innovation, analysis, and partnerships.
SHN: What’s been the largest lesson you may have discovered all through your profession?
Sitzes: Collaboration is essential. The perfect care for people residing with dementia is offered when the resident and the entire assist group feels knowledgeable and included. That’s the reason the EverTrue StillYou® care mannequin just isn’t a top-down program – it’s a reminiscence assist strategy constructed on perception from disciplines all through our group, in addition to partnerships in our broader communities and everywhere in the world.
SHN: For those who might give your self recommendation on the primary day within the reminiscence care, senior housing & senior residing trade, what would it not be and why?
Sitzes: I’d inform myself to by no means cease studying and always remember the affect one particular person could make. For those who strategy daily searching for classes to be taught and share, your ardour and function will proceed to encourage others.
SHN: In your opinion, what qualities ought to all Reminiscence Care Innovation Award winners possess?
Sitzes: Reminiscence Care Innovation Award winners ought to embody a singular mix of forward-thinking imaginative and prescient and deep-rooted compassion. They should be dedicated to steady studying by staying curious, knowledgeable, and open to new concepts that may enhance the lives of these residing with dementia.
Innovation on this trade can attain past know-how, specializing in reimagining reminiscence assist and celebrating and honoring every particular person’s individuality, dignity, and story. Winners ought to lead with coronary heart and design artistic options that hold connection on the core of their care.
