Culture Change aims to move towards a person-centered approach that promotes a higher quality of life.

Dorothy Crawford was involved in the launch of culture change in Texas in 2010 and currently serves as President of the Texas Culture Change Coalition.

Dorothy works as the Director of Policy and Regulatory Analysis for the Texas Health Care Association, a founding member of the Texas Culture Change Coalition. She is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and holds a business degree in statistics from the University of Texas at Austin.

She has worked many years with state and federal governmental bodies and private entities on long term care and quality issues.   In addition she has served on numerous boards and committees, with the most recent being the Advisory Panel of the Center for Excellence in Long Term Care.

Stephanie grew up in a small town where neighbors knew each other and looked out for one another. This worldview has guided her professional career in her home state of Texas. She is now the Regional Director of Music & Memory and acting VP of Education and Training for the Texas Culture Change Coalition. Stephanie is the former Director of AGE of Central Texas Adult Day Health Center, where she pioneered person-centered care and the former President of the Adult Day Health Care Association of Texas where she helped to pass legislation securing the dignity and autonomy for elders with SB1999. Stephanie is inspired by those who think differently and believes that strong creative collaboration is key to positive change in long-term care.

Eduardo Benavides, LNFA, has worked with residents and their families for many years in the Austin and Central Texas area. He has focused on creating a mutually defined understanding of what long term care involves. He brings to the discussion his background as a concert pianist, master teacher and instructor listening and responding to concerns and issues while providing a truly personal and realistic approach to care in today’s healthcare scenario. He also enjoys sharing his musical gifts with impromptu concerts when invited.

Rose Marie Vera began her career serving older adults as a nurse. Since then her passion has grown stronger and her drive moved into serving seniors in various senior living settings including assisted living settings and long term care. She has supported development and opening of communities for organizations and now advocates with owners and operators from the design phase to ensure the integrity and independence for older adults is honored. Rose holds a bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration and a Masters Degree in Business from Baylor University.

Chuck has more than 25 years of leadership and management experience. His strong background in organizational leadership, board leadership, strategic planning, human resource management, and financial management support his primary duties of operational management for the entire community.

He is a licensed administrator in Texas and Missouri as well as a skilled nursing facility administrator preceptor. He has spent the last 20 years in long term care as an administrator at individual facilities while providing multi-facility system wide leadership as a Quality Assurance Director. He gained experience in both group purchasing and quality assurance positions during his tenure a large multi-facility provider, from 2000 to 2008.

Chuck also served at individual facilities, including opening a new 165-bed facility that included assisted living, skilled nursing, as well as rehabilitation services and Alzheimer’s care. As a licensed nursing facility administrator at a 90-bed skilled nursing facility in Fredericktown, Missouri, from 2005 to 2007, Borst demonstrated his ability to provide quality care and improve financial results.

His career experiences include positions as a Quality Assurance Consultant, Group Purchasing Director and Quality Improvement Director helping troubled facilities for a large long-term care company.

Deborah has 25 years of leadership experience with a focus in Independent and Assisted Living, memory support, skilled rehabilitation services and Continuum of Care Retirement Communities.  Her experiences include 15 years of senior level leadership in not-for-profit organizations.

Deborah has served senior living communities in a variety of ways: start-ups; new construction; strategic and expansion planning; development of health and wellness programs; steering committees initiating culture change; transitioning teams from traditional staffing models to a universal worker model; coaching business owners through operational challenges, the development of a strategic plan, succession planning and financial health.

Deborah has an educational background in Social Work and Long Term Care Administration.  She has served on numerous boards and committees and currently serves as Vice President of Marketing and Development for TxCCC, Board Chair for National Assisted Living, and as the Director of Roaring Lambs San Antonio Chapter.  Deborah is also a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters