Meet Danielle Taibi, OT, Dementia Specialist

Danielle Taibi, OT

Meet Danielle Taibi, OT, Dementia Specialist and Educator

RVNAhealth has been fortunate to have Danielle Taibi, Occupational Therapist and Dementia Specialist, play an integral part in the development and roll out of its Dementia Education and Resource Program.  Danielle has been with RVNAhealth for 8 years, working in occupational therapy and home health supervisor roles. Through her experience treating and assisting patients and families she became passionate about dementia care. Danielle is a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) and Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer. In addition to treating patients she is lending her dementia knowledge and training to RVNAhealth and the community. We recently sat down with Danielle to ask her a few questions about her most recent role and involvement in RVNAhealth’s Dementia program. You may read a summary of our discussion below or listen directly to our conversation through the linked audio files.

 

Connecting People with Dementia Information

Danielle’s interest and passion for dementia resources stems from listening to patients, family members and caregivers – many expressing the lack of information and resources to direct them where to start or where to go with a dementia diagnosis. “I am someone who wants to delve into what intervention strategies and what training is going to be the most helpful for people out in the community, and for RVNAhealth staff, who are more and more treating patients with dementia.”  Listen to Danielle talk more about her passion for dementia education >>

 

Spreading Knowledge and Creating Resources

RVNAhealth’s recent program is more than just an educational program. It is just a small part of the overall dementia initiative the agency has taken over the past two years. Efforts started with training clinicians across RVNAhealth as Certified Dementia Practitioners (CDP). And a few, including Danielle, have gone on to become certified as Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainers. In addition to continuing to train clinicians internally at RVNAhealth, Danielle is helping to take the same dementia-focused initiative out into the community in the form of training for local Assisted Living Facilities as well as for our community presentations.   Listen to Danielle talk about RVNAhealth’s dementia initiative >>

 

Advice To Newly Diagnosed Patients and Family and Caregivers

Individuals faced with a new diagnosis of dementia can become overwhelmed by the lack of resources and guidance, as well as the emotional stress encompassing the diagnosis itself.  Danielle shared a positive message for patients and caregivers, saying “You are still ‘you’. And you will be ‘you’ right till the end. The person does not go away […] There is still quality of life.”  Listen to Danielle’s thoughts and advice for those facing a new dementia diagnosis >>

 

A Unique Background Lending to a Unique Perspective

We concluded our sit down with Danielle by learning a little more about her unique background and how it has helped to shape her passion and approach to dementia care. We won’t spoil Danielle’s fun fact about her background, so listen in to learn more! >>

 

To learn more about RVNAhealth Dementia Education and Resources Program, please visit out website.  You will find details about various services, along with our current schedule of dementia education programming.

 

RVNAhealth is a private, 501c(3) non-profit organization which provides a continuum of care to people in 35+ towns across Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven Counties. RVNAhealth depends on financial support from individuals like you who believe that healthy communities improve the quality of life for everyone. Every gift — no matter the size — is critical to upholding our mission and sustaining our important work. If you would like to support RVNAhealth’s mission to deliver unmatched, compassionate healthcare when and where it is needed, please click here.

Join Us for Breakfast!

We hope to see you at our annual Spring Breakfast on Friday, April 26th, 7:30-9:00am at The Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury, CT. The morning will be complete with exciting auction items, great raffle prizes, delicious breakfast, and an inspiring impact speaker.

The Board of Directors, Spring Breakfast Committee, and friends of the organization look forward to celebrating the meaningful work of RVNAhealth and the continuum of care the agency provides throughout 35+ Connecticut communities.

Each year, the Spring Breakfast brings together 400 local business leaders, medical professionals, community groups, and RVNAhealth supporters to welcome spring and raise funds critical to patient care and program support. Funds raised allow RVNAhealth to care for patients and clients regardless of age, diagnosis, or financial circumstances and have a lasting impact on the lives of those served as well as their families. It is truly an inspiring morning and a great way to start the day!

Anne Mead, Ed. D., Director of Family, School and Community Partnerships for the Danbury Public Schools, will share insight into the partnership between RVNAhealth and the Danbury Schools, the profound impact of RVNAhealth’s Well-Child Program in Danbury, and the long-term, often life-changing, benefits the program provides to the families it serves and the community as a whole.

Laura Shulman Cordeira, MPH, Director of Community Health and Wellness at RVNAhealth, sums this up well in noting that “Our two teams have worked together to remove as many barriers as possible for students to meet the medical requirements needed to attend school. It is an innovative solution in a school district where the growth of the student population has outpaced the growth of pediatric practitioners.” Dr. Mead agrees, noting, “The partnership between Danbury Public Schools and RVNAhealth is invaluable to ensure health and access to education for our most vulnerable students and their families.”

This year’s Live Auction is filled with exciting opportunities including an African Safari for 2, a family summer vacation to Cape Cod, NY Yankees and NY Mets tickets, a NYC night out for dinner & a Broadway show, a four courses golf package … and more! Special thanks to our Sponsors, whose generosity provides invaluable support to our mission to provide unmatched, compassionate healthcare when and where it is needed.

You are invited to become a sponsor or host a table at this year’s event, which will include a delicious breakfast, live auction with travel and entertainment packages, and a raffle that includes dozens of prizes. You may purchase sponsorships or tables online at RVNAhealth.org or contact Jennifer Christensen at 203.438.5555, x1052 or jchristensen@rvnahealth.org.