What happens when someone enters senior living with zero industry background — and discovers a mission worth staying for?
In this episode of Foresight Radio, we sit down with Rebecca Barker, VP of Business Development at the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP), to talk about her journey from HR software sales into the heart of dementia care education.
We explore:
- Why senior living conferences feel like the “new kid in school” — and why that’s a good thing
- The surprising passion that keeps professionals in aging services
- The dangerous gap in dementia education for frontline caregivers
- How live dementia training improves retention, confidence, and census
- Why CDP (Certified Dementia Practitioner) certification builds pride and professionalism
- The connection between training, family satisfaction, and occupancy growth
- What it really means to set a national standard in dementia care
Rebecca shares how NCCDP’s live, instructor-led dementia certification differs from “click-through” compliance training — and why investing in education directly impacts staff retention, fall rates, deficiencies, and family trust.
If you’re a senior living operator, executive director, HR leader, or memory care professional, this conversation will challenge how you think about workforce development, dementia care standards, and long-term sustainability.
