Celebrating Denise Scruggs, NCCDP's Director of Education
Denise, NCCDP’s Director of Education, is much more than a colleague- she is a dear friend and an important part of our NCCDP family. Over the years, she has poured her heart into our organization, helping to strengthen and improve so many of the programs and resources we offer. She has rewritten and enhanced courses like the ADDC and MCDC seminars, supported our trainers whenever they needed guidance, traveled to conferences to share her knowledge, and created countless articles, educational programs, and resources. Her dedication, expertise, and passion have helped shape NCCDP into what it is today.
That is what makes this announcement so bittersweet. This summer, Denise will be retiring. While we are excited for her as she begins this well-earned new chapter, we will miss her tremendously. We will miss her wisdom, her creativity, her positive outlook, and the way she was always willing to lend a hand or offer support.
Denise has touched the lives of so many people throughout her career, and her impact on NCCDP will be felt for years to come. We are incredibly grateful for all she has given to our organization and wish her all the happiness she deserves in retirement!
In honor of Denise, we have done a brief interview. We hope anyone who has ever been impacted by Denise and her work enjoy reading about her history in the field and all of her accomplishments!
How did you get into this field?
I first encountered dementia in the late 70s while helping care for my grandmother after she was diagnosed. Back then, care looked very different.
People were often restrained, overmedicated, and treated as if they were invisible because they couldn’t communicate like they once had. We also promoted reality orientation and often argued about the day or time, thinking it would help them maintain their cognition. Even now, nearly fifty years later, many are still trying to get it right.
It became personal when I saw how it affected my grandmother, and even more so decades later when my mom passed away from an accident that might have been prevented with a better understanding of dementia. Those experiences really stayed with me and reinforced why this work matters so much. They’re also what led me to come out of retirement and join NCCDP as Director of Education.
What do you love most about your work?
I love knowing we are making a real difference and helping people better understand dementia and sometimes see it in a whole new way. Through education and mentoring, we support professionals, and that impact reaches people living with dementia, their families, and others they work with. It creates a ripple effect, which is incredibly rewarding. I also love working with the amazing team at NCCDP. They are knowledgeable, supportive, and truly passionate about what we do.
What has kept you passionate about this work throughout the years?
Seeing the impact is what keeps me going. When people realize they are gaining new knowledge and begin to see things differently, it is powerful. I have always believed that one person can make a difference. So, when even one person shifts their attitude or approach, it is exciting. You know that change will continue to grow from there.
What challenges have you faced working in this field?
I have faced a lot of challenges in this field. First, change isn’t always easy, and many people don’t feel comfortable doing things in a new way. Others don’t immediately see the value of education or person-centered care. There are also still quite a few outdated beliefs and stereotypes about dementia that impact how staff engage with people living with dementia. On top of that, staff shortages make it even harder to focus on person-centered dementia care. That said, we know there is still important work to be done to help people truly see the value of person-centered dementia care and commit to it every day.
What is something you’ve worked on that you’re most proud of?
I’m most proud of NCCDP’s Montessori program, which I originally developed during COVID. It takes dementia care to another level. I often call it person-centered care on steroids because it combines person-centered care principles with Montessori concepts in a practical way. It turns everyday moments into spontaneous opportunities for engagement and helps people living with dementia stay involved, feel useful, and feel capable. It also reinforces that dementia care is everyone’s responsibility, from leadership to environmental services and food service staff.
If you could relive one moment from your time working in this field, what would it be?
I had a simple moment with a woman living with moderate dementia over something as small as a bad haircut. It doesn’t sound like much, but it completely changed how I connect with people living with dementia who are non-verbal.
When I entered my memory care community, I noticed a resident looking intently at my bad haircut. I touched my head and asked her if she thought I had a bad haircut, and she immediately shook her head “yes.” I told her my husband thought it looked good, and she shook her head even more emphatically “no.” I joked that he’d be in the “doghouse” either way, whether he told the truth or not. She burst out laughing.
For the next couple of days, we repeated that same exchange over and over. At one point, she even used her fingers like scissors to show me I needed another haircut. When I finally came back with a better one and asked what she thought, she smiled, gave me a kiss on the cheek. I knew she approved.
She never spoke a word during our many interactions, but we built a real connection. We shared laughter, understanding, and a genuine relationship. That moment stayed with me and continues to shape how I see and approach my work every day.
What do you want your legacy to be?
I want to be remembered as someone who made a difference and helped improve the lives of older adults and people living with dementia.
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