Senior Care: Unscripted

In this episode of the Senior Care Unscripted podcast, hosts Craig Heatherly and Sara Johnson chat with Dr. Hugh Davis, President and CEO of Greencroft Communities. Dr. Davis shares his experiences and strategies for leading Greencroft Communities, a network of nine communities in the Midwest. He discusses the organization's growth, beginning with its founding in 1967 by a local Mennonite church a...

In this episode of the Senior Care Unscripted podcast, hosts Craig Heatherly and Sara Johnson converse with Jason Lee, CEO of the Home Care Association of America. Jason discusses his role and the organization's focus on advocacy, education, and community building in the home care industry. Key challenges such as out-of-pocket payments, the increasing elderly population, and decreasing family care...

In this episode of the Senior Care Unscripted podcast, hosts Craig Heatherly and Sara Johnson engage in a deep conversation with Mark Prifogle, Vice President of Operations for BHI Senior Living Chairman of The American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA). Mark discusses his journey and current endeavors, emphasizing the significance of good management and systems, Mark shares insights i...

In this episode of Senior Care Unscripted , Craig Heatherly and Sara Johnson sit down with Manda Ayoub of Pomeroy Living to uncover the heart and humanity behind senior care. Amanda opens up about what drew her to the industry and how personal experiences shaped her mission to make senior living more than just a place—it's a home. From creating warm, homelike environments across Pomeroy's seven So...

In this episode of Senior Care Unscripted , hosts Craig Heatherly and Sara Johnson sit down with Leslie Friedel, CEO of Stillwater Hospice, for a thoughtful look at what it means to lead a mission that's been serving northeast Indiana for 137 years. Leslie shares her personal path into hospice care and the values that guide her leadership, from championing empathy to ensuring access for the most v...

This week on Senior Care Unscripted , we sit down with someone who practically grew up inside the heartbeat of senior living. Elaine Wilson, COO and Administrator of St. Anne Communities, began her journey as a teenage dining aide at Sacred Heart Nursing Home — and today she's steering one of the most mission-driven senior care organizations in the region. Elaine opens up about what truly sets St....

In this episode of Senior Care Unscripted , hosts Craig Heatherly and Sara Johnson sit down with Alex Kiefer, CEO of Lutheran Life Villages, for an inside look at the evolving world of senior care. Alex reflects on his 17-year journey with LLV as it expanded from two to six communities across Northeast Indiana, driven by a mission-centered, faith-based approach. He shares how LLV stays deeply conn...

In the first episode of season two of the Senior Care podcast, hosts Craig Heatherly and Sara Johnson sit down with Barry Carr, CEO from Ignite Medical Resorts. Barry shares the journey of Ignite, from its inception in 2018 and expanding to 28 buildings across various states. Barry discusses the company's vision, culture, and unique approach to short term rehab, including the investment in technol...

In this final episode of season 1 of the Senior Care Unscripted podcast, hosts Craig Heatherly and Sara Johnson conclude season one with Eric Essley, President and CEO of LeadingAge Indiana. Essley highlights the organization's focus on advocacy, education, and support for its members, and shares his personal journey from corporate law to senior care, noting the challenges and rapid changes in the...

In this episode of Senior Care Unscripted, hosts Craig Heatherly and Sara Johnson interview Jason Bishop, the director of Facilities at Friendship Village in Tempe, Arizona. Jason discusses the unique approach of Friendship Village in building relationships and creating a family-like culture for its residents and staff. He also shares innovations in facility amenities, such as rooftop pickleball c...

In this episode of the Senior Care Unscripted podcast, hosts Craig Heatherly and Sara Johnson interview Evan Lubline, the President and CEO of Hooverwood Living, a not-for-profit senior care organization in Indianapolis. Evan shares his journey, describing the organization's growth and the expansion of services, including assisted living, hospice, home care, and Indiana's only elder abuse shelter....

In this episode of the Senior Care Unscripted podcast, hosts Craig Heatherly and Sara Johnson speak with Rick Edwards, President and CEO of The Villas Senior Center, about the unique aspects of Villa Healthcare, including their skilled facility, Villa Total Rehab, and Villa West, which offers 24-hour nursing care. Rick shares his journey from the banking industry to senior living, emphasizing the...

In this episode of the Senior Care Unscripted podcast, hosts Craig Heatherly and Sara Johnson interview Joe Pohlen, CEO of Cardinal Senior Living. Joe discusses the unique approach of Cardinal Senior Living, emphasizing community autonomy and individualized branding, and shares the journey from starting with leased buildings to becoming a fully integrated senior housing operator with 20 communitie...

In this episode of the Senior Care Unscripted podcast, hosts Craig Heatherly and Sara Johnson chat with Loe Hornbuckle, operating partner of Sage Oak Assisted Living and Memory Care in Dallas, Texas. Loe discusses the unique, intimate residential model of Sage Oak, which focuses on small, home-like environments for their residents. The conversation covers the evolution of Sage Oak's approach, lead...

In this episode of the Senior Care Unscripted podcast, hosts Craig Heatherly and Sara Johnson welcome Heather and James Kesler from 1019 to discuss the inception and growth of their family-owned senior care business. The Keslers delve into their personal journeys within the senior care industry and recount the challenges and successes of turning around distressed senior care facilities. Heather an...

In this episode, Cullen Gibson, the COO of TLC Management, joins the podcast to discuss the unique aspects of TLC Management, a privately held, family-owned organization. Cullen shares the company's history and highlights the importance of culture, compliance, and customer service within the organization. The conversation covers the company's approach to expansion, especially in the competitive Fl...

In this episode of the Senior Care Unscripted podcast, hosts Craig Heatherly and Sara Johnson speak with Steve Wilder , president and founder of Sorensen Wilder and Associates , about trends and best practices in senior care safety and security. Steve discusses the evolution of risk management, emphasizing the importance of compliance, safety training, and proactive threat assessment. Steve also h...

In this episode of "Senior Care Unscripted", Aaron Stapleton, founder of Trinity In-Home Care, joins Craig and Sara to discuss the company's recent 13-year anniversary, the unique services they provide in non-medical home care, and the rapid growth experienced in the last few years. Aaron shares insights into expanding payer sources, the importance of understanding client diagnoses, and the impact...

In this episode of the Senior Care Unscripted podcast, hosts Craig Heatherly and Sara Johnson are joined by Stan Szpytek, President of Fire and Life Safety, Inc. and an expert in life safety and disaster planning. Szpytek shares insights from his extensive background in fire service and emergency preparedness, highlighting his transition to consulting for senior care communities. He discusses key...

In this episode of Senior Care Unscripted , hosts Craig Heatherly and Sara Johnson engage in an insightful conversation with Justin Kimbrell, the CEO of Grace Village Retirement Community. With decades of experience in the industry, Justin shares about the unique features of Grace Village, including its status as a Christian continuum care retirement community in Indiana. He discusses the challeng...

In this episode of Senior Care Unscripted, hosts Craig Heatherly and Sara Johnson chat with Jack Mueller, Executive Director of Holy Cross Village. He reflects on his extensive career and shares the unique vision of Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame, initiated by Brother William Nan, and its emphasis on a warm, hospitable culture influenced by the Holy Cross brothers. Jack discusses the challenges...

In this episode of Senior Care Unscripted, Matt Euson , president of Euson Lindsay, shares his journey of the senior care industry by founding a company that focuses on creating home-like, intimate settings for residents. He discusses the challenges faced in financing and building their first facility, the impact of COVID-19, and the success of their unique model that prioritizes individual care a...