Barbara Lawrence, BSN, MS, Senior Outreach Specialist

Position

Senior Outreach Specialist, Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute

Barbara shares her experience and expertise with community leaders in their efforts to provide quality, accessible dementia care services that support persons affected by Alzheimer’s disease and their families. These services include diagnosis and treatment, respite opportunities, education for professional care providers and information and support for the person and the family. As communities identify needs for developing or enhancing dementia care services, she will work with them to develop a plan to meet those needs and to support implementation of their process.

Current WAI Projects

Coordinator, Outreach
Coordinator, Dementia Diagnostic Clinic Network
Professional Education

Education

B.S.N., Illinois Wesleyan University; M.S., University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, with a focus on Administrative Leadership and Adult Education.

Professional Interests

The emerging culture of dementia care that focuses on:

-the need for early diagnosis and treatment

-a philosophy of care that meets the need for well-being of the person with Alzheimer’s disease by providing a safe, secure and meaningful environment

-the collaboration within communities to enhance care and services for persons with Alzheimer’s disease and their families.

Background

Barbara brings 21 years of long term care experience to this position including nursing home staff development. Prior to joining the staff at the WAI, Barbara was the Program Director of the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Information and Training Center at the Southeastern Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Association; Director of Dementia Care at Lutheran Home and Services, Arlington Heights, IL; and Associate Administrator of Karrington Cottages, Rochester, MN.

Affiliations

Barbara is a member of the Wisconsin Family Caregivers Alliance.