ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Steven C. Greenwald, MSW, LCSW
Steven is a graduate of the University of Illinois School of Social Work (Urbana-Champaign). He holds both a Masters's and Bachelor’s degree in, Social Work. Mr. Greenwald's experience includes extensive work with geriatric, psychiatric, and medically impaired populations in residential, in-patient, and out-patient settings. He provides direction and consultation to many long-term care facilities in several states. Mr. Greenwald is a popular instructor at seminars and workshops addressing the delivery of social work and behavioral health care services in skilled care, assisted living, special dementia care environments. His expertise includes: Educating staff on best practices to comply with the Centers for Medicare/Medicaid (CMS) standards, JCAHO accreditation, care plan development, staff development/management/evaluation, quality improvement/performance improvement, deficiency refutations, and plans of correction. Mr. Greenwald is a nationally known author and the editor of the SocialWork Consultation Group Letter, a quarterly newsletter distributed to nursing facilities in the United States and Canada. He has developed over 200 PowerPoint presentations to facilitate the education of long-term care staff. He has received professional acclaim and recognition for his long-term care resource books. Mr. Greenwald received certification from the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW) early in his career and he is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). He is an advisory board member of the Activity Therapists Association of Illinois
DAVID J. BEARD
David J. Beard has been working in the long-term care industry since 1987 when he received his Master’s Degree in Social Work from the Jane Addams School of Social Work at the University of Illinois (Chicago). His long-term care experience includes individual, group, and family psychotherapy, cognitive/behavioral assessments for a national rehabilitation company, and psychiatric evaluation of geriatric and persons with psychiatric illnesses.
Mr. Beard has provided clinical consultation and education/training to administration, care plan staff, nursing departments, and social workers. He is an expert at resident assessments and one of the few professionals in the United States who truly understands the Minimum Data Set (MDS 3.0) and the Care Area Assessments (CAAs) and their relationship to the care plan process. Mr. Beard's Social Work Care Plan Training Manual has been referred to as the definitive text in this field.
He is licensed to practice independent clinical social work in Illinois.
Traci L. Pareti, CTRS
Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist / Certified Dementia Practitioner / Instructor
With 28 years of experience in therapeutic recreation, Traci L. Pareti is a highly respected Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) and Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP). Specializing in education and training for long-term care facilities, Traci has worked with both private and not-for-profit sectors, offering invaluable expertise in dementia care and program development. Throughout her career, Traci has held key roles, including Dementia Special Care Coordinator and instructor for Dementia Care, where she has passionately contributed to improving the lives of residents through education. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Recreation Administration from Eastern Illinois University and has developed deep expertise in serving geriatric and psychiatric populations in long-term care settings. Traci’s areas of expertise include advancements in dementia care (with a focus on Person-Centered Care), program evaluation, regulatory compliance (both state and federal), recreation administration, and staff development. She recently launched a comprehensive 42-Hour Activity Director Course, which includes 6 hours of specialized dementia training, and she plays an active role in the Ohio Activity Professionals Bootcamp Workshop held twice a year. A dedicated member of the National Association for Activity Professionals, Traci is also involved with various state healthcare organizations such as the Illinois Healthcare Association and Ohio Health Care Association. Outside of her professional life, Traci is a passionate Chicago Cubs fan and enjoys spending her free time on the lake.