As the first community to earn Purple Flag Excellence in Dementia Care™ accreditation and reaccreditation, McLean has helped demonstrate what a commitment to dementia care excellence looks like in practice.

In the videos below, leaders from McLean reflect on their Purple Flag journey, the work involved in achieving accreditation, and the impact it has had on their organization.

For McLean, the Purple Flag process was more than an application. It provided an opportunity to examine policies, strengthen staff education, evaluate best practices, and identify new ways to enhance the care and support provided to residents living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

“We thought we were doing well and right by all of our residents with dementia, but what could we measure it against?” explains Carlene Rhea, Vice President of Community Life at McLean.

That commitment to continuous improvement ultimately led McLean to become the first-ever recipient of Purple Flag accreditation, a distinction the organization continues to hold with great pride.

According to Ann Pavano, Director of Assisted Living, the accreditation reinforces McLean’s dedication to providing compassionate, professional, and innovative dementia care.

“Purple Flag has helped us improve the level of care and professionalism we provide to our residents,” said Pavano. “We are always looking for new and innovative ways to serve our residents, and Purple Flag has helped us do just that.”

Today, McLean remains a leader in dementia care excellence and an example of how organizations can strengthen their culture, education, and care practices through a commitment to ongoing improvement.

We are grateful for McLean’s leadership and proud to share their story.

Through the testimonials, leaders from McLean reflect on their Purple Flag journey, the work involved in achieving accreditation, and the impact it has had on their organization.