Many providers have seen great success in new programs that bring added purpose to the lives of their residents with dementia. Find out how work, volunteerism and other purposeful activities have been used to expand the lives and experiences of residents with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, with excellent results. Learn about pioneering programs, and how to start similar programs in your company.
Faculty: Rita Altman, RN, National Director, Memory Care Services, Sunrise Senior Living; Joann Fetgatter, RN, BSN, Senior Director of Quality Assurance, Silverado Senior Living
Rita Altman
Rita Altman, R.N., B.S.N., C.V.M., is the National Director of Memory Care Services for Sunrise Senior Living where she uses the latest evidence based research to design and oversee the implementation of their memory care programs. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, has completed some graduate work in nursing education at Villanova University, and is currently pursuing her Masters in Nursing Leadership and Management at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She has more than 30 years of nursing experience which includes nursing education, staff development training, intergenerational programming, and management in childcare, adult day care, assisted living and skilled nursing settings.
Rita is one of four Validation Masters worldwide, and studied under Naomi Feil, who developed the Validation Method. She has contributed to and published articles related to dementia care and Validation in nursing and trade journals. As a frequent speaker on the topic of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, she has presented both nationally and internationally, including the World Alzheimer’s Congress 2000, and has collaborated and participated in several televised media presentations related to communicating with individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Rita volunteers her time caring for those who are experiencing memory loss, educating caregivers and family members, and advocating for improved dementia care services and quality of life for those with Alzheimer’s disease. She is a board member of the Validation Training Institute, a member of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association Speaker’s Bureau, an adjunct faculty member at Mountain State University, and is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society of Nursing.
Joann Fetgatter
Joann Fetgatter earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degree from Michigan State University where she graduated with Honors. Shortly after graduating she joined the Navy as a Nurse Corps Officer and began her adventure. This Navy connection along with marrying a career naval pilot allowed her several unique opportunities to travel and to explore many areas of nursing. Joann’s highly diverse nursing experience includes positions both as a staff nurse and as a nurse manager in areas such as medical/ surgical nursing, pediatrics, oncology, orthopedic, emergency room, outpatient clinic, case management, school nursing and assisted living. Equally as diverse are the locations Joann has practiced, which includes Michigan, North Carolina, Hawaii, Ohio, California and Ankara, Turkey.
In November of 2003, Joann joined the Silverado Senior Living team as the Director of Health Services at Encinitas, California where she was the lead RN for a 122 bed dementia community. In August of 2006 she was promoted to Director of Quality Assurance for Silverado Senior Living and has since earned the title of Senior Director of Quality Assurance.
Joann lives in Ramona, California with her husband, horse and dog. She is the proud mother of handsome twin boys, a beautiful daughter and recently added a lovely Korean daughter-in-law to the family tree.
