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Title for your show: Coping with older adults with dementia
Name: Tawnya Christensen
Email: Tawnya.Christensen@ChristianCare.org
Website: https://www.fellowshipsquareseniorliving.org/campus/az/mesa/
About Tawnya:
Tawnya Christensen, ALM License #10127, CDP, CDCM, CADDCT License #52453
Tawnya is a native of Mesa, Arizona, where she was born and raised. Tawnya is honored to follow in the footsteps of her parents, whom both serve in the senior living industry. With over 28 years serving seniors, Tawnya has been fortunate to work in every department of senior housing. From Housekeeper to Executive Director, she has experienced it all. Tawnya earned her Assisted Living Managers License in 2010. She serves on the following committees; Memory Care Alliance for AZALFA and the C.N.A. Board for EVIT. She is a Paul Harris Rotarian and an Arizona LeadingAge Fellow. Due to the caregiver shortage, Tawnya has also chosen to be an Adult Education Instructor with EVIT, East Valley Institute of Technology teaching Caregiving Classes.
In 2014, Tawnya was certified by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners as a Certified Alzheimer’s and Dementia Instructor. Tawnya is currently serving Fellowship Square-Mesa as their Assisted Living Director.
She oversees the Services and Care for 130 Residents, their Families, and the Staff that care for her Residents. She is a Certified Dementia Care Manager where her Assisted Living Managers License is active at Reflections at Fellowship Square – Mesa, a memory care community focused on Resident Directed Care and Comfort. In 2015, Tawnya was introduced to “Comfort Matters” a nationally known evidence-based Dementia Care System that employs five very powerful key concepts: Comfort Care, Anticipation of Needs, Know the Person, Person-Directed Practice and Staff Empowerment that enables the Person to Live Better with Dementia. Using the five concepts effectively helps those with Brain Failure to Thrive not just Survive. Tawnya has been inspired by not only approaching those with brain failure correctly on their terms their way but also realizing that pain management is key to their success. In 2018, Tawnya earned Comfort Matter accreditation for Reflections at Fellowship Square-Mesa. There is nothing more important to Tawnya than building relationships and empowering those around her.
