February 2020 LeadingAge Catalyst

LEADINGAGE CATALYST | FEBRUARY 26, 2020 | BY GENE MITCHELL Meet the LeadingAge Catalyst for February 2020: Stephani Shivers, chief operating officer, community services for LiveWell, Plantsville, CT. Leadership and Innovation in Dementia Services An occupational therapist by training, Stephani Shivers is chief operating officer, community services for LiveWell, Plantsville, CT. Since joining the LiveWell team in 2013, Shivers has been developing innovative programs for people living with dementia (PLWD) and their care partners, and in 2019 she was awarded funding to lead 2 new significant programs that empower PLWD. Shivers is committed, not only to serving, but to empowering, PLWD. For her creativity and commitment to helping PLWD live their best lives, she is our LeadingAge Catalyst for February 2020. Help for PLWD and Care Partners The first of the 2 programs, Navigating Dementia, is a 3-year project funded by the Administration on Community Living (ACL). This project draws on partnerships with Alzheimer Scotland, Thomas Jefferson University, the Connecticut Area Agencies on Aging, and the UCONN Health Center on Aging. Participants can work with a LiveWell navigator, who meets with clients up to 10 times for a period of up to 12 months. Navigators help PLWD and their care partners identify their needs, goals, and strengths. The process is organized around “Five Pillars for Resilient Living”: