Around The Table With Vickie

A fall can change everything, but recognizing the warning signs early can help protect mobility and independence.Vickie and Chris sit down with physical therapist Javier Acosta to discuss fall prevention, rebuilding confidence after a fall, the importance of staying active, and how tools like walkers and physical therapy can help seniors maintain their independence. Javier also shares practical signs families can watch for before a fall happens and why movement remains so important as we age.Grab your favorite coffee, pull up a seat, and join us around the table.

What if we looked at dementia differently?On this special episode of Around the Table With Vickie, Vickie is joined by internationally recognized dementia educator Teepa Snow, whose Positive Approach to Care has helped transform the way families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals understand Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.Teepa shares her insight into the changing brain, the importance of understanding what abilities remain, and how caregivers can respond with greater patience, dignity, and compassion.The conversation also explores Teepa’s GEMS Brain Change model, dementia care, communication, safety, caregiver challenges, family dynamics, and the importance of seeing the person rather than simply seeing the diagnosis.Runk & Pratt has incorporated Teepa’s approach into its memory care communities, helping caregivers better understand the people they serve and create environments where residents can continue to experience connection, purpose, and dignity.Whether you are caring for a loved one, working in senior care, or simply want to better understand dementia, this conversation offers practical insight and a completely different perspective on the dementia journey.Grab your favorite coffee, pull up a seat, and join us around the table.

Dolly Parton has given the world so much through her music, generosity, faith, and unforgettable spirit. But behind the spotlight was another role that millions of families can relate to: caregiver.In this special episode of Around the Table With Vickie, Vickie and Chris reflect on Dolly’s life, her nearly six decade marriage to Carl Dean, and the caregiving journey she experienced when his health declined.Through Dolly’s story, we explore the reality of caregiving and the importance of remembering yourself while caring for someone you love.This is a tribute to Dolly Parton, her legacy of love and generosity, and the countless caregivers who give so much of themselves every day.Grab your favorite coffee, pull up a seat, and join us around the table.

In Part 2 of our conversation on the impact of interior design in senior living, Vickie, Brian, and Chris continue discussing how thoughtful design can improve safety, independence, connection, and quality of life.From natural light and outdoor spaces to furniture, memory care layouts, and the expectations of the next generation of seniors, this episode explores why beautiful spaces also need to be functional and intentional.At the heart of it all is creating communities where residents feel loved, welcomed, and at home.Grab your favorite coffee, pull up a seat, and join us around the table.

What does interior design have to do with quality of life in senior living?On this episode of Around The Table With Vickie, Vickie and Chris welcome back Brian Runk for a conversation about the importance of creating beautiful, comfortable, and functional spaces for seniors.Vickie shares nearly 40 years of experience in senior care and explains how she discovered the powerful impact that colors, lighting, furniture, and thoughtful design can have on residents and their families.From transforming an old assisted living home on a limited budget to designing spaces across Runk and Pratt, the conversation explores why senior living communities should feel inviting rather than institutional, how design can help residents adjust to leaving home, and why future generations of seniors will expect more from the environments they live in.Vickie, Chris, and Brian also look ahead to how senior living design will continue to evolve as the baby boomer generation enters senior living.Grab your favorite coffee, pull up a seat, and join us around the table.