Empowerment in Action: Culture Change through Dementia Education

Elaine Eshbaugh‌

Dr. Elaine Eshbaugh is a professor of Gerontology and Family Studies and has coordinated the Gerontology program at the University of Northern Iowa since 2007. She earned her M.S. and Ph.D. from Iowa State University. She founded UNI’s Dementia Simulation House in 2022 and now serves as its director. She frequently speaks about dementia and enjoys training groups to be more dementia-friendly. She is active with the Dementia Friendly Iowa program and has created her own curricula for advanced dementia training in various sectors, including assisted livings, nursing homes, and memory care communities. She has been published in research journals such as the Journal of Community Health Nursing, Gerontology & Geriatrics Education, and the Journal of Community Psychology. Dr. Eshbaugh has more than 30 research publications in empirical journals and has presented at regional, national, and international research conferences. She teaches courses such as Families, Alzheimer’s & Related Dementias, Research Methods, Family Relationships, and Psychology of Aging. She has collaborated and consulted with various healthcare organizations, social service agencies, continuing care communities, adult day services, and hospices. She adopts a strengths-based approach to dementia, focusing on what is present rather than what is lost. She believes in the importance of validation therapy, which involves stepping into the world of the person living with dementia to better understand their experiences and feelings.

Dustin Baker

Dustin became a primary caregiver at a young age for his family. Supporting his loved ones with mental and physical disabilities. As a child he struggled finding the support and tools he needed to care for his family, which is why he is so passionate at helping others find their way today. As a behavior specialist, consultant, and trainer, Dustin has supported thousands of individuals with mental and physical disabilities as well as direct support professionals and guardians find the tools and skills they need to grow and succeed. In his sixteen years of professional experience Dustin has worked in many different roles in the health care and human services field. From direct support to social work, his objective has always remained the same: helping people help people.

Eran Hanke

Dr. Eran Hanke, Ph.D. LMHC, is an assistant professor of counseling at the University of Northern Iowa and a licensed mental health counselor. She became a UNI faculty member in 2019 and then joined Dr. Eshbaugh as a part of the team at the Dementia Simulation House in 2022. Eran is invested in training helping professionals to better serve older adults, including developing an opportunity for counseling students to earn a geronotological counseling distinction. She is also focused on providing support and resources to family care partners. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Eran took her first improv classes for helping professionals through the Improv Therapy Group in Chicago, Illinois. She works to integrate theater improvisation principles and experiential learning approaches to assist families and clients as well as to train and supervise counselors. Prior to her current position, Eran worked for over a decade at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. She served as a senior staff counselor and later as the director of the Medical Student Counseling Center. She has a passion for empowering helpers in both personal and professional roles, and she is grateful for people’s willingness to share their experiences to enhance quality of life for others.

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‌Megan Zimmerman

‌Megan Zimmerman is the coordinator of Dementia Friendly Iowa, a statewide initiative of the Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging, which she launched to help communities become more inclusive of people living with dementia. In this role, Megan trains volunteers, families, organizations, and communities to better support individuals living with dementia. She earned her bachelor’s degree in gerontology from the University of Northern Iowa and recently completed her master’s in gerontology at Iowa State University. Megan is also an assistant adjunct professor at the University of Northern Iowa. She is deeply committed to enhancing dementia support and awareness across Iowa and is especially passionate about elevating the voices of people living with dementia. In her free time, you can find her playing with her baby (Eli) or cat (Calvin).