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Championing PACE: Comprehensive Care for the Elderly with Donna Wilhelm

In this episode, Erin reconnects with Donna Wilhelm, Vice President for Advocacy and Government Relations for Trinity Health Continuing Care, to discuss the impactful PACE (Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) program. Donna shares insights about her career shift into senior living services, her role in the PACE initiative, and the comprehensive support it offers for seniors and their caregivers, from medical care to everyday necessities like air conditioners and laundry. The conversation also covers the political challenges PACE faces, including the necessity to advocate for federal and state support to ensure its sustainability and expansion. Both Erin and Donna emphasize the critical need for programs like PACE to become mandatory, amid the growing demand for senior care solutions.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:38 Donna Wilhelm's Role and Background
01:55 Overview of the PACE Program
02:28 Eligibility and Services of PACE
03:18 Financial Aspects and Risk Management
05:17 Real-Life Examples and Impact
06:46 Interdisciplinary Team and Care Approach
08:22 Expansion and Advocacy for PACE
15:53 Caregiver Support and Holistic Care
18:52 Dementia Care in PACE
20:37 Managing Expenses and Medicare Coverage
21:34 Political Implications and Advocacy
23:23 Medicaid Funding Challenges
25:27 Potential Cuts and Their Impact
27:22 The Importance of PACE
35:16 Scalability and Future of PACE
36:59 Conclusion and Call to Action

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Leadership Test: Are you Bill Clinton or David Letterman?

When crisis hits your senior living community, there are two ways leaders show up:

Deny, deflect, and damage trust (Bill Clinton strategy)
Own it, address it, and build stronger relationships (David Letterman strategy)

The truth?
You can't lead through crisis by pretending it’s not happening.
You can only lead through it with influence, authenticity, and proactive communication.

In this week's episode of Aspire for More with Erin, I sit down with PR crisis expert Jeff Bell to break down:
▪️ Why crisis communication isn’t about perfection—it’s about ownership.
▪️ The 3 biggest mistakes leaders make in times of crisis.
▪️ How to lead through vulnerability, not around it.

If you're a senior living leader, you can't afford to miss this conversation.

Your reputation is built in the hard moments.
Your influence is measured when things go wrong—not when everything’s going right.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
00:51 Jeff Bell's Professional Journey
01:31 Think Tank and Parenting Insights
02:37 Crisis Management: Clinton vs. Letterman
03:38 Lessons from Clinton and Letterman Scandals
06:22 Crisis Management in Senior Living
08:27 The Importance of Transparency and Honesty
12:56 Handling Online Reviews and Personal Accountability
15:03 Emotional Intelligence in Leadership
19:38 Media Training and Public Relations
23:02 Humility and Power in Crisis Management
25:05 Understanding True Humility
26:05 The Short-Lived Pain of Truth
27:25 The Consequences of Hiding
29:41 Handling Criticism and Crisis
30:26 The Importance of Crisis Planning
37:16 Transparency Over Perfection
40:16 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

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Join my email list where I will lift you up, and send tactile advice weekly to support you to grow your experience in your senior living career.