Compassionate Conversations: Helping Children Understand Alzheimer's and Dementia

January 11, 2024

Navigating the complexities of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease within a family is an emotional journey, and explaining these conditions to young children adds another layer of challenge. Witnessing the transformation of a beloved grandparent can be especially confusing and frightening for the little ones. Addressing their questions and concerns becomes crucial during these times. Here’s a guide on how to approach the conversation with your child and help them understand what’s happening to their grandma or grandpa:

Open Communication
Children are perceptive, and honesty is key. Engage in a sincere conversation with them about their grandparent’s condition. Encourage them to ask questions and share their feelings. Understanding their perspective is vital, especially if any unintentional actions or words from your parent have impacted the child.

Simple Explanations
Avoid complicated explanations and clinical terms. Use straightforward language such as, “Grandpa has an illness that sometimes comes with old age, making him forget things,” or “Grandma’s illness may make her think she’s in a different place.” Children may not grasp it immediately, but simple explanations are often more digestible, allowing them to ask more questions when they are ready.

Maintain Positivity
Despite the challenges of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia, try to project positivity for your child’s sake. If they see you remaining positive and smiling, it reassures them that everything will be okay.

Involvement
Depending on the severity of your parent’s condition, involve your children in spending time with their grandparent or participating in their care. Even simple activities like chatting, playing a game, or taking a walk together can strengthen the bond. If your parent resides in a care facility, bring the children along for visits to maintain a positive relationship.

Feel free to reach out to us for more information; we are committed to assisting you and your parent on this journey.

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Alyssa Carter

Regional Director of Operations

Alyssa joined YAD Healthcare in December 2024 and advanced to the role of Regional Director of Operations in October 2025. She brings extensive leadership experience in long-term care administration, having successfully led operational initiatives across Ohio, Indiana, and North Carolina.

She has served as a Silver Award Examiner for the American Health Care Association (AHCA) National Quality Award Program and has achieved both Bronze and Silver recognition for Quality Improvement within her organizations.

Alyssa is committed to operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and the development of high-performing teams. Through a strong focus on professional growth, system alignment, and quality outcomes, she works to ensure exceptional experiences for residents, families, and staff across all centers under her oversight.

Eula Parham

Regional Director of POPs

Eula Parham began her healthcare career as a receptionist, an experience that shaped her deep appreciation for first impressions, employee experience, and the importance of feeling valued from day one. She later transitioned into human resources, where she has focused on improving employee retention, strengthening morale, and fostering a positive, people-centered workplace.

As Director of People Operations at YAD Healthcare, Eula is passionate about investing in people and creating environments where employees feel supported, engaged, and motivated to grow. She believes that when organizations prioritize their teams, everyone thrives, employees, residents, and the organization as a whole.

Jamie Sanders

Regional Director of Operations

Jamie Sanders, LNHA, began her career in skilled nursing facilities right after graduating from East Carolina University. She first worked in the business office, then transitioned to admissions, and later became a hospital liaison, managing five hospitals to fill the facilities. From there, she progressed to Administrator and then to Regional Director of Operations. With over 20 years of experience in long-term care, Jamie’s dedication to residents, families, and staff is unwavering. As the Regional Director of Operations for our East facilities, she will be focusing on driving resident outcomes, census growth, and staffing excellence.

Amy Harrell

Regional Director of Clinical Reimbursement

With 24 years of nursing experience, Amy Harrell brings a wealth of knowledge and compassion to her role. She has spent 23 of those years dedicated to Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF), with a primary focus on MDS for the past 16 years. Amy is passionate about working closely with residents and staff alike, striving to achieve the highest standards of care and well-being. Her deep commitment to her work and her team is evident in everything she does, making her a valued leader and caregiver.

Kelly Phelps

REGIONAL BUSINESS OFFICE DIRECTOR

Kelly has over 17 years in healthcare. She started her career in healthcare at an assisted living as the Activities Director and then transitioned to the Business Office Manager. In 2009, she became the Business Office Director at a skilled nursing facility and worked there until she was promoted to the Area Collections Specialist in 2016. Kelly brings a wealth of knowledge in billing, collections, and HR/Payroll to our team.

Jessica Lee

REGIONAL BUSINESS OFFICE DIRECTOR

Jessica began her healthcare career as a billing supervisor with a DME company, where she managed hospice and private collections. She later joined a large skilled nursing company with facilities nationwide, initially serving as a Business Office Director before being promoted to Area Collection Specialist. With over 14 years of experience in healthcare, Jessica has extensive expertise in billing, collections, resident trust, and human resources. She brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for helping others to our leadership team.

Michelle Wilson

REGIONAL DIRECTOR of POPS

Michelle has 15 years of experience as a recreation therapist in the geriatric and psychiatric settings. She graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelors of Science in recreation management and policy, with a concentration in therapeutic recreation. Michelle is excited to combine her knowledge and expertise in leisure programming in order to foster a positive and encompassing work place for all employees.

Rebbeca Bell

REGIONAL CLINICAL DIRECTOR

Rebecca began her career as a nurse in the long-term care industry 37 years ago and is our Regional Clinical Director for Western North Carolina and South Carolina. Rebecca has a passion, not only for taking care of residents, but also for teaching and guiding facilities to achieve excellent clinical outcomes. She believes that providing excellent quality of care, while improving the quality of life of residents and staff, is an honor.

Rebecca has experience in many areas of skilled nursing, including Charge Nurse, Unit Manager, MDS Coordinator, Assistant Director of Nursing, Director of Nursing, District and Regional Directors of Clinical Services, Corporate Director of QAPI and Education, Regional MDS Consultant and Regulatory Compliance-Quality Assurance Specialist. She has several specialized certifications, including Risk Management, End-of-life and Palliative Care, Sepsis Prevention and SPICE.

Jennifer Davis

REGIONAL CLINICAL DIRECTOR

Jennifer Davis, our Regional Clinical Director for the Region North Carolina with 27 years of nursing experience, ensures skilled nursing facilities adhere to federal and state regulations, providing top-quality care, enriching residents’ lives, managing surveys, and offering employee training. A Magna Cum Laude graduate from St. John Fisher College in 1996, Jennifer holds several specialized certifications, including SPICE, Interact Champion, and MDS-RNAC 3.0. Beginning her career as a volunteer at Rochester General Hospital, she progressed from a home health aide to a Registered Nurse, eventually finding her passion in long-term care. With 20 years of experience as a Director of Nursing, she became a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator in 2012, serving for 11 years in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. Jennifer’s journey includes roles as a Mobile Director of Nursing in Maryland/West Virginia and a promotion to Regional Director of Clinical Services in West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland.

Michelle Tierney

VP OF REHAB OPERATIONS

Michelle currently serves in our Vice President of Rehab Operations role where she oversees the clinical and operational functions of our rehab departments across NC and VA. Michelle works collaboratively with the clinical and financial leadership teams and Directors of Rehab to ensure our facilities are delivering the highest level of therapy services in the most efficient manner with positive patient outcomes.

Michelle is an Occupational Therapist with both clinical and managerial experience in post-acute care and long-term care. She attended the University of New Hampshire for her undergraduate and graduate degree as well as Boston University for her clinical doctorate in Occupational Therapy. She is passionate about evidenced-based therapy practice, patient satisfaction, and outcomes, building cohesive teams, and quality improvement processes.

Amy Vines

Regional Clinical Director

Amy Vines, RN, is an accomplished nursing leader with nearly two decades of clinical and administrative experience and a proven record of elevating quality of care across diverse healthcare settings. In November, 2025, she joined YAD Healthcare as the Regional Director of Clinical Services, where she oversees clinical operations, supports Director of Nursing (DON) teams, and drives systemwide excellence in patient outcomes and regulatory compliance.

Throughout her career, Amy has established herself as a results‑driven leader with a passion for staff development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and building strong, empowered nursing teams. One of her greatest professional achievements has been consistently guiding facilities to successful survey outcomes. She is well‑known for introducing effective processes, innovative strategies, and supportive coaching that help DONs strengthen their leadership, improve care delivery, and reach their fullest potential.

Amy’s expertise spans CMS compliance, quality improvement, infection control, policy development, and geriatric and acute care. Her leadership style blends compassion with accountability, creating an environment where teams feel motivated, confident, and equipped to succeed.

Dedicated to improving the lives of patients, families, and healthcare professionals, Amy continues to champion safe, high‑quality clinical care while fostering growth and operational excellence across all the facilities she serves.

MEIR PREIS

REGIONAL VP OF OPERATIONS

Meir brings to YAD Healthcare multi state Health Care knowledge combined with data driven analysis geared towards patient care and quality outcomes. Meir has served as an Administrator for both large and small corporations and most recently was a Regional Director of operations overseeing Skilled Nursing Facilities in Virginia and Maryland. Combined with his MBA and people driven mindset he provides strong leadership to the teams that he operates with to ensure high a level of patient quality care while operating in a financially viable structure.

JOSEPH BRAUN

REGIONAL VP OF OPERATIONS

Joseph manages the daily operations of our facilities. His goal is to provide the highest quality of care, which he achieves together with the company’s exceptional group of administrators. Joseph oversees our staff’s hiring and training, as well ensuring a high staff retention and morale. He has the heart and a genuine compassion for his staff and residents. With his extensive experience as an Administrator in Nursing Homes in NJ, Joseph has his pulse on healthcare trends, that will help us expand our brand while upholding the best standard practices.

Lisa Merluzzo

REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL REIMBURSEMENT

As the Regional Director of Clinical Reimbursement for our Virginia region, Lisa Merluzzo brings over 34 years of nursing experience to the team. Beginning her journey in acute care as a neurosurgical nurse, Lisa’s commitment to patient well-being soon led her to transition to skilled nursing facilities in 1998.

Over the last 25 years, Lisa has discovered her true passion in clinical reimbursement, making significant contributions to this vital aspect of healthcare. With extensive regional experience covering multiple states on the east coast, Lisa has become a respected figure in the field. Lisa Merluzzo’s commitment to professional growth is evident in her achievement of advanced certification as a RAC-CTA, showcasing her dedication to staying at the forefront of industry knowledge. Her wealth of experience and expertise positions her as a valuable asset to the healthcare community, ensuring the delivery of high-quality care and adherence to regulatory standards.

MEREDITH WILLITS

REGIONAL CLINICAL DIRECTOR

Meredith Willits is the Regional Clinical Director for the Eastern Region of North Carolina, bringing 14 years of experience in clinical operations, regulatory compliance, and quality performance across acute and long-term care settings. She graduated from the University of South Dakota and holds advanced certifications including RAC-CTA, DNS, SPICE, and ICD-10 coding, reflecting strong expertise in reimbursement, regulatory readiness, and clinical documentation.

Meredith began her career in the hospital setting, followed by enterprise-level EMR training and clinical workflow optimization. She transitioned into long-term care leadership through roles in MDS and as Assistant Director of Nursing before serving as Director of Nursing. Her five years as DON provided executive oversight of clinical operations, with a focused expertise in quality measures, performance improvement, and regulatory compliance. Meredith’s leadership emphasizes measurable outcomes, sustainable quality improvements, and alignment of clinical excellence with organizational strategy.

MARIA CRAWFORD

REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Maria has been a nurse for 22 years and has worked in long term care for the last 18 years. She graduated as an LPN in 2000 and worked while going to school and ultimately became an RN in 2002. Maria has a strong passion for supporting and meeting the needs of our elderly and rehab population. Over the last 7 years, Maria has overseen marketing and development for a national brand, focusing on the transition of referrals into admissions.

CINDY HUNTER

REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL REIMBURSEMENT

Cindy serves as the Regional Director of Clinical Reimbursement for the East Division at Yad Healthcare, bringing more than 27 years of nursing experience to her role. She began her career in the hospital setting but quickly discovered her passion for skilled nursing, where she has built a diverse and impactful career.

Throughout her journey, Cindy has held a variety of leadership and support roles, including Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON), Staff Development Coordinator (SDC), Unit Manager, Case Management, and Admissions & Marketing. Her professional path ultimately led her to the MDS department, where she found her true calling. She has extensive experience with both MDS 2.0 and 3.0, successfully guiding facility teams through regulatory transitions before advancing to a Regional MDS role.

Cindy is committed to ongoing professional development and maintains multiple certifications through AAPACN. She is passionate about mentoring others, sharing her expertise, and supporting the growth and success of her healthcare teams.

In her current role, Cindy provides oversight and guidance in key areas, including the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI), Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM), Quality Measures, Medicaid Case Mix, and Medicare and Medicaid compliance. She collaborates closely with interdisciplinary teams to ensure effective processes are in place, with a strong focus on capturing the resident voice through bedside validation, as well as resident and staff assessments that accurately reflect the needs and acuity of those they serve.

KRISTEN PIERPONT

CHIEF CLINICAL OFFICER

Kristen Pierpont now serves as Chief Clinical Officer at YAD Healthcare, where she oversees all clinical systems, processes, and nursing operations across our regions. In this role, she is responsible for ensuring consistent excellence in quality measures, survey and regulatory management, and providing guidance and education to nursing departments. Her leadership is central to maintaining high standards of clinical care and advancing YAD’s mission of excellence.

Kristen has been a Registered Nurse for 28 years. She graduated from Saint Joseph’s University, West Hartford, Connecticut, in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, where she received high honors and the Florence Nightingale Award of Clinical Excellence. She is a member of the National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration in Long Term Care and the American Nursing Association, and she is also a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant.

Her nursing career began in acute care at Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut, as an Oncology/Stem Cell Transplant Care Manager. She later discovered her passion for caring for the elderly population while working as an evening supervisor in a 360-bed skilled nursing facility. Over the years, she has held progressive leadership roles including Supervisor, Charge Nurse, Unit Manager, MDS Coordinator, Infection Preventionist, Assistant Director of Nursing, Director of Nursing, Regional Clinical Educator, and District Director of Clinical Services in Eastern North Carolina.

GLENDA MANTYCH

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OFFICE SERVICES

Glenda began her career in Long Term Care in 2001 in an AP/Payroll position. Within a year, she was promoted to Business Office Manager where she was responsible for billing and collections for a 140 bed skilled nursing facility. After several years as a BOM, she was promoted to an Area Business Office Manager, overseeing 5 nursing facilities. The last 11 years have been spent as a District Director for a large corporation. Glenda has managed anywhere from 9-21 facilities across several states. Long Term Care is her passion, and she is bringing her many years’ of experience to Yad Healthcare.

ED GARRETT

VP OF REHAB SERVICES

Ed Garrett is responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing our compliance strategy across the organization. He brings over 30 years of experience in senior healthcare, with a strong background in program development and regulatory compliance. Ed has overseen rehabilitation programs and consistently ensured alignment with state and federal regulations, as well as internal policies and procedures.

He is a former member of the Professional-Technical Advisory Committee for Long Term Care with The Joint Commission. A licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, Ed has presented at both state and national levels on a variety of topics impacting the senior healthcare industry.

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Katie Hinchey

REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF POP’S

Katie transitioned into the Virginia region’s Regional Director of Personnel Operations (POPS) from the Amelia Rehabilitation and Healthcare facility. She has served at our Amelia location for 15 years, starting there in 2007 as an ancillary aide, obtaining her CNA in 2008, and later that year, working her way to Medical Records and Inventory, on up to Activity Director in 2016.

Katie is a compassionate asset to our team, bringing years of experience in creating engaging activities that promote a fun environment for all present. Katie’s priorities focus on employee appreciation, communication with team members, and maintaining a positive work environment. Our YAD Family is delighted to have her on board.

Hershy Alter, LNHA

CEO

Hershy Alter founded Yad Healthcare in 2019. He has experience in the senior care space and healthcare as a whole. As a LHNA he knows the ins and outs of quality, efficient, and profitable SNF operations, making him highly qualified to turn around relatively underperforming assets. He also has experience in NJ, MD, MI, and VA and has seen significant success within each region.

In his capacity as CEO, Hershy facilitates, hires, and trains new administrators and other key corporate nursing home staff. Working together with his impressive team, he has created clinical systems that have significantly reduced adverse patient outcomes.

Hershy has an exceptional understanding of the healthcare and reimbursement environment in Virginia. He has fostered strong relationships with the VHCA as well as various consultants within the state. He has a keen financial perspective of the market and is able to identify areas where facilities, both urban and rural, can improve.

Prior to forming Yad Healthcare, Hershy served as a nursing home administrator for a large healthcare provider for a number of years. He also served as CEO of a midsize healthcare management group, successfully turning a mediocre-performing company into a consistently strong performer. Hershy was extremely effective in expense management and driving down overall cost, while delivering a superior product.

AMY DEAN, RN, LNHA

Regional Clinical Director

As Regional Clinical Director, Amy oversees the clinical operations of each facility, ensuring that the highest standards of resident care are consistently met. She supports and mentors Directors of Nursing and other key clinical leaders, providing guidance in areas such as regulatory compliance, quality improvement, and staff development. Amy is responsible for monitoring clinical outcomes, implementing best practices, and driving initiatives that promote excellence in resident care. She works closely with facility leadership to ensure that clinical teams are well-trained, engaged, and equipped to deliver compassionate, effective care while meeting organizational goals.

Krista Carter

REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Krista started her Healthcare career in the hospital setting and transitioned into long-term care with a social work background.

Since 2008, Krista has dedicated her carrier to geriatrics after seeing firsthand her own family members struggle in their most vulnerable time of need. After working in a multitude of different positions within healthcare, from the Midwest to Virginia, Krista brings a well-rounded background. She uses her positive attitude and energy to encourage and support others to succeed. Her personal belief in a customer service focus has always resulted in business census outcomes.

FESTUS BOANOH, MBA, BSN

CHIEF RISK OFFICER

Festus provides oversight to Yad Healthcare’s nursing leadership in policy and procedure development and implementation, regulatory and compliance, EHR implementation and education. He also oversees the advancement, execution, and maintenance of our various clinical programs. Festus prepares each facility for their annual health inspection surveys and works closely with front line staff in identifying and addressing nursing goals. Furthermore, he oversees all clinical aspects of the facilities, such as wound care, falls, medication management, and resident care planning.

Festus graduated from the College of New Rochelle in 2002, and has since practiced as a Staff Nurse, Assistant Director of Nursing, Director of Nursing, and most recently as VP of Clinical Services. He joins Yad with a proven track record of achieving excellent survey results and patient outcomes.

STEVEN WEIDBERG, CPA

CFO

Steven Weidberg currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer at Yad Healthcare. Prior to the joining Yad, Steven served in finance and revenue cycle management leadership positions in the senior living and behavior health industry. Steven previously spent more than 10 years with PwC’s Audit & Assurance practice, where he led client service engagements in the real estate and healthcare sectors. Steven is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and earned a Masters in Accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU). Steven is also an adjunct professor of accounting at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU).