Ingleside at King Farm, a non-profit Life Plan Community in Rockville, Maryland, is known for its expansive, walkable campus and progressive support levels. From independent living to assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and short-term rehabilitation, Ingleside provides a comprehensive continuum of care. While Maryland mandates dementia training for caregivers, Ingleside has gone a step further. Since 2021, all direct caregiving staff at Ingleside have received certification as Certified Dementia Practitioners (CDPs).
Maureen Charlton, BSW, CVW, CADDCT, serves as the Director of Memory Support Services and Programming at Ingleside. As the sole trainer on site, she has helped grow the CDP-certified team to 169 members. Charlton explains the training process: “We bring new team members in for a full day of regular orientation, followed by a dedicated day of CDP training. Once they’re on the schedule, it’s harder to pull them out, so we hold monthly training sessions. Our program includes caregivers, dining team members, life enrichment staff, and even our new driver next month. We extend training to our healthcare neighborhoods and independent living staff, ensuring anyone with hands-on involvement with residents has the tools they need. Our focus is on healthcare, but many independent living managers have also taken the training, and it’s open to everyone. We aim to make it fun, too.”
Currently, Ingleside is home to about 550 residents: 32 in Memory Support, 34 in Assisted Living, 40 in Skilled Nursing, and 450 in Independent Living. Charlton sees the certification as a defining feature of Ingleside’s care. “Our certification goes beyond state requirements, and I’m on-site daily to reinforce skills through in-services and coaching sessions,” she shares. “Residents value seeing those credentials. For caregivers, it’s a tangible asset—something they can carry forward in their careers, adding value to their practice, which is often underrecognized outside of their daily work.”
Since the program’s inception in 2021, Charlton has witnessed a cultural shift in caregiving, especially in memory support. “CDP certification has set a standard, establishing a framework for best practices and creating a level playing field for skills and knowledge in providing care. It’s become our baseline for team expectations.” She recalls a proud moment when a nurse expertly managed a challenging situation with a resident, using all the right techniques. “She said, ‘I just thought, what would Maureen do?’ Modeling the right approach makes a big difference in the care we provide.”
Maureen Charlton
BSW, CVW, CADDCT
Director of Memory Support Services and Programming
Training, Charlton notes, is one of her favorite parts of the job. “I aim to make people think, to step a little out of their comfort zones, role-play, and approach things from new angles. I love sharing stories and helping people find those ‘aha’ moments. I’m passionate about treating people living with dementia with respect and compassion, and teaching this program brings me joy.”
