Anna began her work as a Registered Nurse in the field of pediatrics, but within a couple of years her focus quickly changed to elders, all thanks to a job with a large corporate firm. In the early 80’s Proctor and Gamble was unveiling a new product, Attends, and hired RN’s to train nursing home staff on how to correctly use this new item. Anna traveled across the country in this position visiting many skilled nursing homes. For her, it was “love at first site” with elders and direct care workers. Anna felt a very special bond with them and at the same time recognized that skilled nursing homes could use some new creative operational practices. Thus, began her journey in gerontology and culture change. Anna went back to school for her Master of Science in Nursing, Gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist and has continued to be a driving force in the aging services industry ever since.
At the Green House Project, Anna is currently the Director of Innovations, where she oversees the development of resources and tools to successfully implement the Green House model. Here are just a few highlights of her work in aging services:
- Completed Dementia Special Care Survey Protocol and Pilot Test – Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
- Developed Preparing Leaders for the Future of Dementia Care: A Dementia Special Care Unit Directors Certificate Course – Rush University Medical Center
- Established the Celebrate the C.N.A. Annual Conference
- Vice-President, Executive Committee, Board – The Pioneer Network
In addition, Anna is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing; is on the Editorial Board of Alzheimer’s Care Quarterly; and is the primary author of LEAP for the 21st Century LTC Workforce, a Mather Institute of Aging and Life Services Network Workforce Initiative.
Anna was born and raised on the south side of Chicago and is the aunt to 18 nieces and nephews. She loves the theatre, musicals, reading and international travel!
