Ryan Muzzey has been serving older adults living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia for more than 15 years, and as a Certified Dementia Practitioner® (CDP) since 2019, he has solid credentials to back up his experience.

According to Muzzey, “Over the course of my career, I have worked in three different communities and a dementia-specific adult day center. My resume includes a list of training programs and certifications in dementia and life enrichment—in both management and non-management roles. The common denominator is a desire to help advance culture change in long-term care.”

That desire for change is essentially driven by a motivation to make residents feel loved and understood. “I want each resident to develop a feeling of purpose and belonging. Working with older adults has never been just a job to me, but a calling in my life,” says Muzzey. “I believe God has blessed me with talents and abilities to serve this population with excellence and dignity. I consider it an immense honor and privilege.”

When asked about his goal for teammates at Clarendale of St. Peters, Muzzey didn’t hesitate to offer a common goal. “I’ve noticed that my colleagues also experience the same calling—and are truly serving with loving hearts and understanding minds.”

With extensive experience in life enrichment, it’s not surprising that Muzzey would highlight some of his favorite events as accomplishments. “I knew many of our residents had a passion for art, so we hosted an art showcase featuring their pieces in different mediums and different styles (abstract, up-cycled, geometric, realism and multimedia). The showcase was so popular we were given the opportunity to display the work at a cultural arts center. The public was invited and each artist was able to sit by their work and answer viewers’ questions.”

Muzzey understands the importance of music as well. “When the COVID-19 pandemic prevented us from bringing musicians into the community, I organized an outdoor concert for several senior living communities in the area. We hosted a parking lot concert for residents and team members free of charge. I was one of the performers—both humbled and honored to play for an amazing group of people who were living and working almost in total isolation!”

For more information about what Muzzey is doing to enrich the lives of memory care residents of Clarendale of St. Peters, families may contact him anytime at the community.