Adrianne Gerard, right, and Nives Lizzul at Gulf Coast Village. PROVIDED

As Gulf Coast Village’s new memory support program manager, Adrianne Gerard brings a unique perspective to the role: After a 20-year foundation in marketing and community relations in Chicago and Southwest Florida, Gerard pivoted to senior care. Like many who enter the field, Gerard’s shift was influenced by growing up amid strong familial ties to older adults.  

An only child, the Michigan native was close to both sets of grandparents — including a maternal pair whom she accompanied on volunteer visits to nursing homes from an early age. On the other side of the family, a paternal grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s before Gerard turned 10. 

Those influences and life experiences guide Gerards’s work at Palmview at Gulf Coast Village, where she oversees the memory care community.

“It was devastating on our family,” she recalled. “There weren’t the resources we have now. You either stayed at home with a family member or went to a nursing home. There were no memory care communities. It was very tough on our immediate and even extended family.”  

Gerard calls her role as program manager a unique one that allows her to serve as a bridge between clinical staff, residents and their families. 

“This work can be challenging but so tremendously rewarding,” Gerard said. “It’s never boring, and we work with residents who are incredibly generous, funny, heartwarming and loving.”

“It’s not something you can be ambivalent about,” she added. “It takes a special personality – you kind of have to love it innately.”  

When it comes to resident relations, the Chicagoland transplant invokes one of the city’s famous cultural exports, The Second City improvisational comedy troupe.  

Its mantra: the “Yes, and…”  improv rule that requires one person to accept the other’s statement (“Yes”) and then expand on that line of thinking (“and”) – a principle also embraced in business and other forums as a way to support and encourage colleagues, clients and teammates. 

“It’s about validation,” Gerard said, “and figuring out what are those one or two things that are really going to bring that resident joy. What can we do to continue to provide purpose in their lives? We really try to meet each person where they are at.” 

One other unique aspect of memory support at Palmview is the number of community volunteers.

“We have several volunteers each week who bring their own amazing skills and talents to our residents,” Gerard said. “We have volunteers who assist with art class, live musical entertainment, special events, Pictionary and word games, and assist with one-on-one visits.”  

Greg Anderson, Gulf Coast Village’s executive director, credits Gerard for her role as both a resident and staff advocate, as well as lauds her engagement with community support organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association and the Dubin Alzheimer’s Resource Center. 

“Adrianne’s commitment to both our residents and care team members is commendable, as is her deep investment in building those connections, including establishing an educational series for families through her very valuable partnership with the local Alzheimer’s Association,” Anderson said. 

“Adrianne brings an in-depth knowledge of the educational and emotional needs of her residents and their families and is proactive in identifying resources to support them,” said Amy Schenk, a volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association who facilitates a monthly family support group and the “Ask Me Anything” series for families at Palmview. “The benefit of engaging with additional dementia experts broadens the scope of services that are provided at Palmview and provides families with other resources to help.”  

Gerard and Schenk have a shared goal for the support group – to provide them with a sense of community with others with an understanding that they are not alone in the journey.

“We encourage and emphasize the value of sharing thoughts, concerns, challenges and ideas in a confidential non-judgmental setting,” said Gerard. “Additionally, we share valuable tips and strategies on approaches to caregiving and self-care. Through meaningful partnerships as well as family and resident engagement, we can provide the tools, resources and support for those coping with dementia or Alzheimer’s in a caring and compassionate setting.”

Gulf Coast Village is at 1333 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral. Call 239-772-1333 or visit gulfcoastvillage.org for additional information about the facility and its programs.