Meet The Team
Who We Are
NCCDP is comprised of team members deeply passionate about dementia care & training.
Advisory Council
MSW, CDP, CACCDT, CDCM
Lynn Biot-Gordon
Lynn Biot-Gordon is a clinical social worker with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master of Social Work degree from Boston University.
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Her social work experience spans more than 35 years and includes mental health, hospice, long term care, and school social work. Focused on geriatrics, Lynn has served in the areas of administration, direct clinical practice, health education, curriculum development and clinical supervision. She founded Gordon Social Work Consultants in 1997 to provide consultation and health education services for long term care facilities which includes training and in-services on a variety of topics for residents, families, and health care staff. She founded the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners in 2001 and the International Council in 2015 and continues to serve as a consultant to both organizations. As CEO of Gordon Social Work Consultants, she continues to develop clinical curricula, provides consultation to facilities, and is a recognized instructor and presenter for agencies here in the U.S. and abroad.practical tools and resources to help them provide high quality of life to our elder
population.
CTRS, CDP, CADDT
Rachelle Blough
Rachelle Blough is a senior living industry veteran with nearly 30 years of experience in the space.
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Rachelle has held a variety of community-level positions including Activities Director, Program Director, Associate Executive Director, and Director of Community Relations. She has worked for Sunrise Senior Living, Watermark, and many other senior living organizations in the US and Canada. Rachelle also presents and teaches at various conferences around the US with several of the state healthcare associations. She enjoys helping keeping inspired and equipped with
practical tools and resources to help them provide high quality of life to our elder
population.
ADC, CDP, CADDCT, CMDCP, CDSGF, CMDCPT
Denise Scruggs,
Denise has over 30 years of experience in education, gerontology, activities, sociology, criminology, writing, and more.
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Currently, She is the Director of the Beard Center on Aging at the University of Lynchburg. In this position, she serves as adjunct faculty, as well as a leader for the Region 2000 Consortium on Aging, a group of over 80 members who work together to promote a community for all ages. Denise also enjoys mentoring students, providing professional education seminars, and public speaking in groups as large as 300.
LNHA, CDP, CADDCT, CDCM
David Bahamonde
David is a season senior living operator with over 20 years of experience in memory care, adult medical day care, nursing homes, and assisted living.
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David’s experience is as an Activity Assistant, Activity Director, Activity Consultant, Memory Care Director, Memory Care Consultant, Assistant Executive Director, Executive Director, and Administrator. He has worked in skilled nursing, hospitals, assisted livings, and adult medical day care facilities. David is also a consultant that has helped facilities correct deficiencies in memory care neighborhoods, develop/implement policies and procedures, and has opened several assisted living facilities and adult medical day cares in the tri-state area. He has operated and assisted in having deficiency free facilities, provide training, in-services for healthcare staff, families, and residents.
MHA, LNHA, CTRS, CDP, CADDCT, CDCM
Danielle Micale
Danielle is the director for a local Department on Aging in New Jersey and is an adjunct instructor with the Rutgers University School of Social Work & Continuing Education.
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Prior to this, Danielle worked as a Training and Consultation Specialist with Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care’s Research and Training Institute & the COPSA Institute for Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Disorders, including a focus on older adults, long term care, mental health and neurocognitive disorders. She is also the past recipient of the Garden State Woman of Year Award for her commitment to community involvement as well as the Circle of Honor Advocacy Award from the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater New Jersey Chapter. Ms. Micale also continues to serve as a Congressional Alzheimer’s Ambassador and Advocate through the Alzheimer’s Association and had the honor to travel to the Netherlands as an elected U.S. Dementia Ambassador to learn more about the Dutch perspective on dementia care.
LPN, ACHO, CDSGF, CDP, CADDCT
Brenda Groves
Brenda has a wealth of knowledge and experience in dementia, geriatrics, health care quality/risk management and patient and family engagement.
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In early 2021, Brenda assumed the role of Facilitator for the Kansas Partnership to Improve Dementia Care, a subset of the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care. This group of stakeholders are committed to finding new ways to implement practices that enhance the quality of life for people living with dementia, protect them from substandard care and promote person-centered care. Additionally, Brenda is regularly asked to serve as a subject matter expert at various conferences based on her work and dedicated passion to serve the aging population and those who serve them. Brenda advocates and works to improve the quality of life for every person and she strives to ensure equality and inclusion for all.
OTR/L, CDP, CADDCT, CMDCP, CMDCPT, BCPA
Kari Johnson
Kari Johnson, an Occupational Therapist (OT), has over 25 years of experience working with older adults with dementia and complex medical conditions.
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Her unique journey, which began as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and evolved into a Social Worker at King’s College Hospital in SE London before she obtained her Masters in OT in the US, is a testament to her dedication and growth. In addition to having clinical OT specializations and certifications, Kari is a Certified Dementia Practitioner, Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer, Certified Montessori Dementia Care Professional, Certified Montessori Dementia Care Professional Trainer, and Board-Certified Patient Advocate.
MBA, LNHA, CDP, CADDCT
Lisa Lorius
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Lisa Lorius has dedicated her life to the world of healthcare from her formative years. Boasting an illustrious career, she has donned the roles of a Nursing Home Administrator and a Certified Assisted Living Director for over two decades. On a personal note, Lisa’s compassion and commitment shine through as she has overseen the patient-centered care of multiple family members navigating the challenges of dementia. In her professional sphere, her expertise stands unmatched, having significantly contributed to the care and support of numerous residents grappling with various stages of Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias. She has shared Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Training with hundreds of people across the world and is looking forward to bringing it you and/or your team as well! Not just a Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer, Lisa also possesses an academic background with a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and a Master’s of Business Administration degree from Michigan State University.
