2024 Excellence in Memory Care Award Finalists

Insight Memory Care Center’s Excellence in Memory Care Award recognizes programs and services that are models of excellence and are positively impacting memory care in our community. The 9th Annual Award will be presented at the event on October 4th. This year we have three fantastic finalists. The winner will be announced the evening of the event!

Our finalists include:

• Rebecca Harrison, LCSW
• Dr. Jennifer Pauldurai
• See Me at the Smithsonian

About our Finalists

Rebecca C. Harrison, LCSW, CDP

Rebecca is a licensed clinical social worker and therapist, providing experienced counseling and consultation to individuals and families facing the psychological impact of a dementia diagnosis, the challenges of dementia caregiving and other elder care issues.

She goes above and beyond in providing compassionate care, ensuring families have the tools needed for their dementia journey. One care partner shared, “Rebecca's experience, natural capacity for compassion and empathy and patient approach to counseling has helped get me through the first few years as my wife's caregiver. I seriously question how well I would be handling the "loss" of my wife to this terrible disease without Rebecca's support and advice. She has patiently listened and explained a lot of the issues I have faced and understands the anguish that is so common to a caregiver.”

Learn more about Rebecca Harrison

Jennifer Pauldurai, MD, MS

Dr. Pauldurai is a specialty care physician board certified in neurology and board eligible in neuropsychiatry, working as a part of the Integrated Neurological Care Team at Inova. She has a special interest in mental health and psychology and finds that she cannot care for brain disease without overlap with psychological wellbeing. Therefore, she integrates therapy and coping skills into her practice.

Dr. Pauldurai takes the time to look at the whole person, and their whole story, to provide personalized care. She makes sure to teach and explain the eccentricities of dementia so a family can understand it, and she is eager to share her knowledge in our community by partnering to provide lectures and new educational programs - making sure all families have the tools they need to succeed.

Learn more about Dr. Jennifer Pauldurai

See Me at the Smithsonian

See Me at the Smithsonian is a museum-based program designed to provide social interaction and cognitive stimulation for people living with dementia and their care partners. Through close looking at art, historical, and scientific objects, they encourage participants to discuss what details they notice and then make meaning based on their reactions to those objects and ideas.

The See Me team has been trained in the best practices for working with people with dementia and their care partners. They meet people where they are, honor their lived experiences, and provide opportunities to create meaningful moments with loved ones.

Research has shown that dementia-friendly museum programs like See Me can reduce isolation for both the individuals living with dementia and their care partners, as well as reduce caregiver burden. Additionally, it is a great way to help mitigate social stigma around issues of memory loss and dementia.

Learn more about See Me at the Smithsonian