Dana Hentschel, outreach coordinator at Takacs McGinnis Elder Care Law, has earned the Certified Independent Trainer designation for the Positive Approach® to Care (PAC), a program developed by Teepa Snow, a renowned dementia educator. Dana is one of just three PAC-certified individuals in Middle Tennessee whose training was sponsored by Mental Health America of Middle Tennessee (MHAMT).
The certification enables Dana to deliver PAC training to civic and community organizations, caregiver support groups, professional and family caregivers, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and other long-term care facilities throughout Middle Tennessee. The goal is to help people have more positive interactions with loved ones with dementia, along with a better understanding of what constitutes normal aging.
To ensure continual availability of PAC trainers, MHAMT executives began looking to the community for volunteers. “Staff turnover means we lose really good trainers, so we sometimes invest in reliable volunteers who share our passion and plan to stay in the community,” said Tom Starling, MHAMT’s CEO.
For Starling, Dana Hentschel was a natural choice to become an independent trainer. “I’ve known Dana since 2000 and she has a passion for older adults and a proven track record as a trainer who relates well to all audiences,” said Starling. “We’re delighted that she will be using her skills to deliver this important information to the community.”
A Hendersonville native, Dana earned a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. After graduation, she joined Community Health Charities where she spent eleven years raising funds for more than 50 nationally known-health charities and eventually served as the organization’s executive director. Dana also spent six years as community relations director at Elmcroft Senior Living before joining Takacs McGinnis Elder Care Law in 2017. Dana is a member at large on the Senior Service Network board of directors and is committee member on the Williamson County Geriatric Council.
To schedule a customized PAC training to your organization or group, contact Mental Health America Mid-South at 615.269.5355 or lwood@mhamidsouth.org, or contact Takacs McGinnis Elder Care Law at 615.824.2571 or info@tn-elderlaw.com.
Congratulations to our very own Dana Hentschel who is now a Certified Independent Trainer for the Positive Approach® to Care (PAC). This dementia education program is perfect for delivery to support groups, senior centers, civic and community organizations, and more. If you would like to schedule the program for your organization, just give Takacs McGinnis a call at 615.824.2571.