"Dementia consulting" has become a diluted phrase.
We're fixing that.
We help teams create customized approaches to dementia care for their residents, staff & families by planning, designing and executing on day-to-day operations.
CONSULTING — FRACTIONAL OPS — ONLINE EDUCATION — PROGRAM DESIGN — BOOKS
CURRENT CLIENTS
We knew we didn’t want to rely on the same traditional programming that has been used for years. Instead, we sought a partner who could help us elevate our approach — one who could support meaningful, sustainable transformation for our memory care residents and the teammates who serve them each day. The Dementia By Day team is the ideal partner to bring this vision to life. They are already demonstrating the expertise, creativity, and collaboration needed to take our dementia care to the next level and beyond.
Our residents living with dementia and their families depend on our expertise and knowledge to enhance their lives. Rachael and her team are going to give us that ability, and becoming excellent in our approach with older adults experiencing cognitive loss is one of Thrivemore's strategic initiatives. Rachael's proven track record and hands-on approach is exactly what we need to take our abilities to the next level.
"Dementia By Day School has such great content! The value is immeasurable and gives our dementia care team members the knowledge and insights they need to provide quality care to our Residents. On top of this, the customer service and responsiveness of the team at Dementia By Day can't be beat! 10/10 recommend!”
I had a great deal of fun today meeting with a family at the Bethesda Gardens Ft Worth Memory Care Community. It was fun and exciting to talk about BLOOM and all that we are doing to engage and enrich the lives of our residents. The topper was being able to explain that our program includes [Dementia By Day] resources for the families of our residents. They were thrilled to learn more about where and how their Mom will be living.
It's time to stand out against the competition.
Here's how we can help.
STAFFING & EDUCATION
BRANDING & MARKETING
FAMILY EDUCATION & MOVE-INS
PROGRAMMING
DINING & RESIDENT CARE
INTERIOR DESIGN
Hey there, I’m Rachael.
I started Dementia By Day as a blog in 2014 while working as a Dementia Care Director and later grew it into a hands-on consulting firm.
I believe that when you hire a consultant, you deserve more than a coach who provides guidance.
You deserve a team who will design a dementia care program and help you implement it in all of your communities. You need a team who will travel to your buildings, connect with families and staff, assemble and move furniture, and shop with the programming team for activity materials.
There’s no faceless consulting firm here! When you hire Dementia By Day, you will always be able to get me on the phone. We work closely with you and your team throughout the entire project.
Who am I? I have a Master’s in Gerontology and three books published with Johns Hopkins University Press. I worked a Dementia Care Director in three different buildings before starting my consulting firm. You might’ve spotted my poem floating around the Web, “16 (and 20) Things I Would Want If I Got Dementia.”
As Seen On:
Client spotlight...
How Sonida Senior Living created a branded dementia program and revolutionized their offerings:
When Sonida Senior Living (formerly known as Capital Senior Living) started working with us, they didn’t have a dementia care program. It was clear they had a love for dementia as an organization but not the internal expertise to create a comprehensive offering.
They knew they wanted to have a focus on programming but the consultants they worked with in the past hadn’t been able to provide them with an offer that was proprietary or specific to their needs as an organization.
After completing the Evaluate and Escalate process we got to work designing a program and coming up with a brand identity for Sonida that they could use across all of their buildings. We met with the leadership team every other week to assist with the creation of collateral for their program.
When rollout began, we helped the individual communities hire their Magnolia Trails Directors by hosting Zoom-based interviews and providing feedback for community-based teams. We conducted 1-1 trainings and education for each building who was rolling out the new dementia care program.
Over the next 14 months we worked closely with the Sonida Senior Living team to implement their customized program. From initial planning to implementation to roll out, this included:
- Developing a branded and named program for dementia care, “Magnolia Trails”
- A brand refresh and website copy on dementia
- Dementia-friendly interior design layouts and setups for communities
- Creation of a Program Guide for Magnolia Trails with all of the necessary guidelines and information
- Job descriptions, hiring assistance and a brand new role for each community: Dementia Program Director
- Daily calendars and programming creation for residents, along with product purchase assistance
Creating a branded care program has allowed Sonida Senior Living to meet the unique needs of their current and prospective residents living with dementia. Their brand and website refresh showcasing their Magnolia Trails easily sets them apart from their competition, increasing interest from prospective residents. The creation of the Dementia Program Director role with the added staff certification means they now confidently support existing and new dementia residents as well as offer practical support to their families.
“Dementia By Day did an amazing job in assisting with the creation of Sonidas Magnolia Trails Specialized Memory Care program, from the development of staff trainings, to the program guide and marketing materials.
The team was professional and always available to answer questions and provide valuable information to assist in the development of a program that supports the whole resident- mind, body, and soul.”
How we work with clients...
BLOOM by Bethesda Senior Living serves as an example of a branded dementia care program we are so proud to have built.
BLOOM places focus on gardening in resident programming, providing them with an activity that is meditative and extremely generative for other activities. (Homemade pizza, anyone?)
Our dementia communication philosophy, Embracing Their Reality™ is one of the pillars of Claiborne Senior Living’s Tempus program; English Meadows’ Lavender Hills program highlights food with their activities; ThriveMore’s Mindful Impressions brand is all about art; we’re building a program for Mennonite Village that puts community service and engagement at the forefront of resident life.
These aren’t just themes— they serve as a guiding light for programming, providing consistency and stability across buildings and across staff changes.
Programming is the heartbeat of dementia care. Residents who are engaged are happier and healthier overall, improving quality of life for everyone. The pillars of these brands are rooted in specific, intentional principles that marry the respective company’s values with their vision for their unique dementia care community.
What we build for our clients is comprehensive and intersectional. It isn’t just programming, education, or branding. It’s all of these things, and more.
Organizations WE've Worked With Include:
What people are saying...
“The [Bloom Program] truly shows your interest in knowing more of each resident.”
[The Bloom Program] in partnership with Rachael Wonderlin is most definitely a big positive for all the residents, and a move forward in quality of life.
Thank you and your team members for all you do, and always reaching for improvements. Everyone truly cares for each of the residents, and knows all their strengths and is always on the spot to help when needed. You all understand that each person is precious and special.
— Feedback from a family member provided to Bethesda Phoenix’s team
“Our dementia care program has become more than what I ever could've imagined."
With Rachael’s knowledge and guidance, our Dementia Care Program, now called Lavender Hills, has become more than what I could’ve ever imagined.
Our Residents are engaged on a whole new level and our Team Members are too! Rachael truly breathed life into our Dementia Care Communities at Lavender Hills and gave us the tools to provide a higher level of service to our Residents.
—TRISTA WILSON, COO AT ENGLISH MEADOWS
“Dementia By Day School™ is so needed in this industry."
I believe a lot more people need to know about your platform and there are a couple of reasons why: lack of education really hurts our residents, and there is a certain way that things need to be taught.
The bottom line is that we need to be in our residents’ realities and that’s what many caregivers don’t understand. What I enjoyed the most about Dementia By Day School courses was that you were hitting on that so much!
—MICHELLE KELLEY, RN, REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF CARE AT TWENTY20 MANAGEMENT
16 Things I Would Want If I Got Dementia
Get the FREE “16 Things” poster for your personal use—or better yet—your dementia care community’s staff break room!
A beloved classic. Since 2014, Rachael Wonderlin’s moving poem has offered comfort and insight into the world of those living with dementia.
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