CHARLOTTE, N.C.  /PRNewswire/ — Healthcare professionals working in senior living environments are gaining access to an innovative new training program called “Step into the Story.” The program is a partnership between Southminster, a non-profit senior living community, and Memory & Movement Charlotte, a non-profit physician practice specializing in family-focused care for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and other memory and movement disorders.

The Future of Senior Care

Southminster has invested philanthropic dollars and leveraged the expertise of its staff to design this comprehensive program under the leadership of Shelly Sedory, MEd, RN, and Dr. Charles H. Edwards, II, MD, of Memory & Movement Charlotte. Developed to honor the more than 1,000 patients and family members Edwards and Sedory have cared for at Memory & Movement Charlotte, the program is being called a transformative investment in the future of senior care.  (Continued below video…)

As Sedory explained, the course title, “Step into the Story,” reflects the reality that “stepping into” caring for seniors is a deeply meaningful experience when you learn their life stories and then become part of them. “Making this connection is where real caring happens – we are committed to helping professional caregivers go beyond the physical care of patients and embrace the deeper relationships that await,” she said.

8-Hour Care Program Goes Deeper

The 8-hour program is appropriate for CNAs and any professional staff working with seniors.  It is approved for 7.0 contact hours for Registered Nurses by the North Carolina Nurses Association.  

Many educational programs for seniors with memory loss, especially those geared toward CNAs, focus on medical diagnoses and behavior management. This course goes deeper, empowering professional caregivers to become part of the daily lives of assigned clients and to care for those with and without memory loss in domains beyond physical needs. It explores the impact of aging and memory disorders on patients, as well as professional and nonprofessional caregivers. The program includes topics such as:

• The stages of caregiving,
• Making the decision to enter long-term care,
• Compassion fatigue and burnout, and
• Challenges and strengths associated with aging.  

Storytelling is used to help caregivers understand how to Step into the Story of the seniors they care for.

Empowers Paid Caregivers, Improves Lives

“Working with Southminster’s staff and residents to develop this course enriched every aspect of the outcome,” Edwards said. “Our ongoing collaboration allows us to better understand the experience of living and working in a continuing care retirement community, and to identify opportunities to improve the lives of residents, caregivers, administration, and medical staff at every level.” 

Janet LeClair, Memory & Movement CEO, agreed. “Paid caregivers are the backbone of senior care, and this program empowers this critical workforce with practical tools, professional development, and merited recognition. Southminster shares our commitment to aging with dignity, and their partnership makes it possible to improve the experience of countless patients and families,” she said.

Dignity, Respect, and Holistic Support for Seniors and Their Families

Southminster President and CEO Ben Gilchrist cites three ways in which the partnership demonstrates the power of collaboration in creating a stronger, more compassionate community. “It strives for excellence and empowering healthcare professionals with the tools they need to deliver care rooted in compassion; it prioritizes the well-being of residents; and it fulfills our commitment to doing the right thing. Together, we’re not just raising the standard of care—we’re building a community that values dignity, respect, and holistic support for seniors and their families,” he said.

Southminster team members will make up the course’s initial cohort with plans to expand the training statewide in North Carolina, fostering a broader impact on senior care. “We anticipate this specialized training will have a ripple effect that will benefit seniors and professional caregivers across North Carolina,” said Tracy McGinnis, Vice President of Philanthropy & Strategic Initiatives at Southminster. “This is the kind of lasting impact philanthropic dollars should strive to achieve.”