Our Partner for Exceptional Memory Care Services
Inspired Memory Care, Inc. (IMC) is a NYC-based memory care training and consulting firm founded on the belief that older adults should have access to life-enriching, esteem-building experiences while facing the challenges of aging and disease-related cognitive changes. IMC trains both professional and family caregivers through evidence-based, interactive methods. In addition, they provide assessments and consultations directly with individuals who have memory loss and other cognitive changes.
Beginning in 2019, we partnered with IMC to provide an exceptional level of in-home memory care. Our unique, well-matched caregivers now receive training and detailed client briefings that enhances their ability to provide effective support. Our comprehensive approach has made it possible to overcome so many of the challenges of memory care, including: difficult emotional states, resistance to care, apathy towards daily activities, and many others.
Every month, IMC provides Level I and Level II dementia care trainings to our caregivers. Learning occurs through a combination of demonstration-based exercises, role playing, group work, and case studies. In these sessions, our caregivers learn the “keys to connection” – techniques that effectively tap into their clients’ strengths, allow them to work through challenges, and achieve deeper connections. These resources empower caregivers to remain present, professional, and confident in their daily interactions with clients living with dementia.
We often find that our clients and family members can benefit from a detailed assessment and consultation from IMC, known as a Skills Discovery® visit. These consultations can help to overcome the most challenging situations.
The process starts with a one-to-one meeting between the client and one of IMC’s memory care experts. This is a chance to learn about the client’s:
Following the visit, the family and care team will receive a comprehensive Skills Discovery® report, highlighting the client’s areas of current strength and skill, as well as recommending ways to access them throughout a daily routine. The report will include engagement opportunities for the client and caregiver to explore together.
July 4th, 2021
Client: Sarah
When conversing with Sarah, it is important to:
Sarah enjoyed talking about gardening, horses, dogs, etc. Asking for Sarah’s advice as much as possible can help support her feelings of esteem and meaning. It is also important to find opportunities for her to use her voice. Sarah is having difficulty with her speech. She knows what she wants to say; however, she is having difficulty with finding and speaking the word.
To maintain Sarah’s feeling of control, ask Sarah’s permission throughout interactions and offer her controlled choices as mentioned above. Having a voice and a say over her daily routine is important to empower Sarah and support her mood and self-worth. Maintain an even tone of voice and volume: Sarah responds best to an even, soft approach. She shared that she prefers a one-to-one or small group interaction. When using transportation services, she will most likely be more timid due to the crowd and loud noise. It might be helpful to bring a book along with colorful pictures (flowers) that she can peruse to take her mind off the fear she may be experiencing.
Sarah is able to perform many tasks herself with guidance (verbal and demonstration) and a bit of time for processing. While it may be tempting to do things for her, this can cause faster cognitive decline and a loss of procedural memory (the memory of how to do things). It is very important to support Sarah to do as much as physically possible on her own.
Sarah requires additional time to process invitations and instructions. Please pause to allow her twenty seconds of processing time before repeating an invitation or instruction. If, after repeating, Sarah still does not initiate, she may require a visual cue through demonstration (as mentioned above).
Meet the team
Nettie’s career focus has been to highlight elders’ strengths and self-worth through well-designed programming.
Nettie holds both a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Masters of Science in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Florida. Nettie is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) and a Certified Montessori Dementia Care Professional.
For over 20 years, she has been a leader in the fields of memory care and recreation therapy, working to improve the quality of dementia care services in skilled nursing facilities, developing globally-implemented training programs, and holding the positions of Vice President of Operations, Director of Recreation, Alzheimer’s Unit Director and Dementia Specialist for some of the most well-regarded memory care programs in Florida and New York.
Kelly developed a curiosity and passion for supporting individuals living with cognitive change through her own familial experience.
She now has fifteen years’ experience developing programs and teams in the geriatric and memory care fields. Prior to co-founding Inspired Memory Care, she served as Executive Director of a Residential Treatment Center and Regional Trainer for a research-based dementia care organization.
Kelly holds a Bachelor’s in English and Psychology from Fordham University and certification as a Validation Worker through the Validation Institute. She is pursuing her Master’s in Social Work from Rutgers University.
