Building Dementia Units That Truly Understand the Person

Why Training Isn’t Enough — and What Actually Creates Excellence

Dementia care is personal for me.

At sixteen years old, I helped care for my grandmother who was living with dementia. I loved her deeply — but I didn’t understand the disease. I unknowingly corrected her. I tried to reorient her. I became frustrated at times.

I was doing what most people do when they don’t know better.

That experience shaped my career.

For nearly three decades in senior care — as a nurse, Director of Nursing, Administrator, and Regional Operations Leader — I have made it my mission to ensure teams do the right things for residents living with dementia.

And here’s what I’ve learned:

Most dementia programs fail because they focus only on education.

But excellence in dementia care requires culture change.

Introducing the Dementia Care Excellence Transformation Program

At Nurse Leadership Solutions, we developed a 12-week Dementia Care Excellence Transformation Program designed to move communities beyond “memory care” and into true relationship-centered dementia living.

This is not a classroom training series.

It is a hands-on, on-site culture transformation initiative.

For six weeks, I am in the building 2–3 days per week working alongside staff — coaching, modeling, restructuring, and building systems that work in that specific environment.

Then we provide six additional weeks of structured virtual support to ensure the changes stick.

What Makes This Program Different?

There are many excellent dementia education models available.

I’ve trained in them.

I respect them.

But no single model works perfectly for every building.

The difference in our approach is this:

We combine the best elements of evidence-based dementia philosophies and build a customized program from the ground up for each community.

We start with:

• Listening to staff

• Completing a SWOT analysis

• Understanding your current residents

• Identifying workflow gaps

• Establishing staff buy-in

  
  

Then we build systems that can be duplicated for:

• New hires

• New admissions

• Ongoing family education

• Community marketing

  
  

Real Outcomes That Matter

When dementia units are developed correctly, we see measurable impact:

✔ Reduced behavioral incidents

✔ Improved staff confidence

✔ Lower turnover

✔ Decreased psychotropic reliance

✔ Fewer falls

✔ Increased family satisfaction

✔ Stronger survey readiness

✔ Improved occupancy stability

This is not theory.

When dementia care is done right, families feel it. Staff feel it. Residents feel it.

Why Hands-On Matters

One of the biggest reasons dementia initiatives fail is lack of follow-through.

That’s why this program is hands-on.

I don’t send a binder and walk away.

I am in the building:

• Coaching staff in real time

• Modeling communication techniques

• Supporting leadership

• Helping restructure workflows

• Taking pressure off teams during implementation

  
  

That presence is critical for lasting buy-in.

Dementia Care Is a Responsibility — Not a Marketing Term

Memory care cannot simply be a secured door and an activity calendar.

It must be:

• Purposeful

• Skilled

• Compassionate

• Structured

• Sustainable

And most importantly — centered on the dignity of the individual.

If You’re Considering a Dementia Transition…

Whether you’re developing a new memory care unit, transitioning an existing one, or simply want to elevate the level of care in your building, this program was created to help you do it right.

Because families deserve confidence. Staff deserve support. And residents deserve excellence.

If you’d like to learn more about the Dementia Care Excellence Transformation Program, reach out to Nurse Leadership Solutions. I would be honored to help you build something truly exceptional.

Tina Gotsch, RN, LNHA

Founder & CEO

Nurse Leadership Solutions

tgotsch@nurseleadershipsolutions.com