Picture an activity calendar: a neat grid of boxes. Each one filled with the day’s scheduled programs and special events. In many senior living communities – especially in dementia support neighborhoods – these calendars serve as a helpful roadmap, providing structure and choice throughout the day. But for Linda Bresnahan, Community Life Engagement Manager at RiverWoods Durham’s Newfound Lodge, that approach is far too limiting.
For Linda, the smaller, quieter moments of connection that take place within the gaps of the calendar are where extra, individualized care happens. “If you’ve met one person with dementia, you’ve met one person with dementia,” she explains. “We all live differently. We have different hobbies and different things we like. We’re not going to make them into a little box on our calendar and say, ‘we are going to make you fit into this thing.’”
Linda has spent much of her career working alongside individuals with dementia and their families. Before joining RiverWoods, she served as the Executive Director of a local memory care community in the Seacoast. There, she witnessed the struggles of both residents and loved ones, especially in moments of transition. Early in her role, she recalls working with a daughter overcome with emotion as she left her mother after a visit. That heartbreak stayed with her. From then on, Linda made it her mission to support families as well as residents by teaching, guiding, and reminding them that connection is always possible.
Breaking Down Barriers
Her advice for families is simple but powerful: focus on what a loved one can do, not just what they’ve lost. “There are those little moments you’re going to have that will light up your heart. Maybe they recognize something you bring in, or they hum along to a favorite song. If you look hard enough you can find some way to connect with them. It sometimes only happens for brief moments at a time, but it does happen. They may be brief, but they’re real, and those are the moments that are going to carry you through.”
For Linda, education is the key to breaking down fear and frustration around dementia. She recently completed her Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer course as well as an advanced training with Teepa Snow, a leading dementia educator. She is committed to sharing that knowledge with staff across RiverWoods. Her goal is to create a collaborative team empowered with the right skills. “If we have the right culture of education, we can figure out what might work for this resident when we put our heads together.”
Building a Dementia-Friendly Culture
This philosophy doesn’t just extend to the clinical team, but to all departments. “Well, we’re all part of it, right? We all interact with the residents.” Linda has seen first-hand how creating a dementia-friendly culture can change how staff interact with residents and create moments of connection. “It’s nice to see someone from housekeeping walking with a resident or to see someone from dining sitting down and talking about the meal choices.”
Technology and innovation also excite her, especially when they create new ways to engage. She shares a recent moment when an aide used the interactive Mobii table to connect with a resident. “She didn’t need to come up with an activity,” Linda says. “It was gentle and it was calm. It was very calming for this resident who had been upset and it was easy and comfortable for the staff member to connect with that resident in a different way.”
Linda was drawn to RiverWoods because of the organization’s investments in its communities. “The culture is different from anywhere I’ve ever been.” she shares. “The people are genuinely nice, they want you to have a good day and a good journey here. The leadership takes a lot of time to make sure that they acknowledge the things that the staff does so people know and appreciate the little things.”
What’s Next on the Horizon?
“Here in Durham we just got certified to do a butterfly garden.” For her, the garden isn’t just about creating a beautiful space in the courtyard; residents will have the chance to take part in every step of the project, from planting to watching butterflies emerge. No doubt sparking moments of joy, conversation, and memory along the way.
Outside of RiverWoods, Linda is deeply involved in the Alzheimer’s Association through education, advocacy, support groups, and fundraising, including running the annual York, ME Walk to End Alzheimer’s. As an empty nester with her adult children living in Portland and Austin, Linda enjoys making time for herself by walking the beach and line dancing.
For Linda, it all comes back to breaking out of boxes. Dementia doesn’t look the same for everyone, so care shouldn’t either. “There is no exact science in this. This is like a little bit of heart, a little bit of personality, a lot of education. Put it all together and we make a difference.”
About Humans of RiverWoods
Humans of RiverWoods is an ongoing storytelling series that celebrates the vibrant, diverse, and inspiring individuals who make up our RiverWoods communities. Through candid interviews and personal snapshots, we share the everyday moments, meaningful experiences, and unique journeys of our residents and team members.