Memory Care Innovation Award Winner: Sallie Carlin, Director Of Memory Care, Willow Gardens At United Hebrew

Sallie Carlin, Director of Memory Care of Willow Gardens at United Hebrew, has been named a 2025 Memory Care Innovation Award winner by Senior Housing News.

The Memory Care Innovation Awards program is designed to recognize passionate and innovative industry members who are shaping the future of cognitive care across behavioral health, home health and home care, hospice and palliative care, senior housing and senior living, and skilled nursing. To become a Memory Care Innovation Award winner, an individual must be nominated by their peers. The candidate should be a high-performing employee who knows how to put vision into action, serving as an advocate for those living with memory-related disorders and the committed professionals who ensure their well-being.

Carlin sat down with Senior Housing News to share her journey caring for patients and residents with cognitive care needs, her thoughts on the future of cognitive care in senior housing & senior living, and much more. To learn more about the Memory Care Innovation Awards program and view this year’s winners, visit https://innovation.memorycarebusiness.com/.

SHN: How long have you been a part of the memory care, senior housing & senior living industry?

Carlin: I’ve worked in the senior living industry for more than 30 years, with the last 10 years serving as Director of Memory Care focusing on resident care, team development, and operational excellence at Willow Gardens Memory Care.

SHN: What drew you to caring for patients/residents with cognitive care needs?

Carlin: I was drawn to this work because I wanted to advocate for people who often can’t advocate for themselves.

Supporting residents with memory loss requires more than clinical skill. It calls for empathy, patience, and respect. I’ve always felt called to ensure that individuals with cognitive impairments are treated with dignity and receive truly personalized care that honors their life story.

SHN: If you could change one thing about cognitive care in the memory care, senior housing & senior living industry, what would it be?

Carlin: I would elevate education and emotional support for caregivers and families. As an example, at Willow Gardens Memory Care at United Hebrew, we co-lead an Alzheimer’s Association caregiver support group that brings families together who share common struggles. This program has brought comfort and vital peer support to families who need advice, friendship, and coping skills to navigate their loved one’s care and the unique challenges that dementia brings.

Because dementia care is both intellectually and emotionally demanding, our staff need continuous, specialized training to provide the highest level of care. Just as importantly, they need emotional resilience programs and mental health resources to sustain them in this work. By investing in our teams, we enhance care quality and create an environment where both residents and caregivers can thrive.

SHN: If you had a crystal ball, what do you think will most impact your ability to provide cognitive care in the memory care, senior housing & senior living industry in the next five years?

Carlin: Securing consistent financial and policy support for memory care programs will be critical. The need for these services is growing rapidly, but funding and reimbursement structures have not kept pace.

As our population ages, we must ensure that specialized memory care remains both accessible and sustainable. Investment — whether from public or private sectors — will make all the difference in expanding high-quality, person-centered care.

SHN: If you could describe cognitive care in the memory care, senior housing & senior living industry in one word, what would it be and why?

Carlin: Compassion. It’s the foundation of everything we do.

To truly connect with someone living with cognitive impairment, you must approach them with compassion — for who they are, for where they are in their journey, and for the family members walking alongside them.

SHN: What’s been the biggest lesson you have learned throughout your career?

Carlin: Always lead with empathy. Be present for your caregivers and families. The relationships you build with residents, staff, and loved ones are what sustain you and define the culture of care.

SHN: If you could give yourself advice on the first day in the memory care, senior housing & senior living industry, what would it be and why?

Carlin: Meet each person where they are. Don’t try to pull them into your world — step into theirs. By entering their reality with openness and respect, you can connect on a human level that brings comfort, joy, and trust.

SHN: In your opinion, what qualities should all Memory Care Innovation Award winners possess?

Carlin: True innovators in memory care lead with heart. They practice person-centered care, see beyond the diagnosis, and understand that it takes a village — a coordinated, compassionate, and committed team — to support every individual and family affected by cognitive impairment.

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