Paula Harder is the Vice President of Resident Programs & Memory Care for Commonwealth Senior Living. Originally from Minnesota, Paula began working with older adults at the age of sixteen as a certified nursing assistant. This early engagement with older adults created a passion and a career spanning 40 years as an Activity Director, consultant, author, speaker, and trainer. She has worked for Area Agency on Aging as the Dementia Project Coordinator and was a contracted speaker for the Alzheimer’s Association providing dementia education to residential care providers. Paula has a master’s degree in Gerontology with certifications as an Activity Consultant, Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer with the National Certification Council for Dementia Practitioners and certified facilitator trainer for Second Wind Dreams to deliver the Virtual Dementia Tour sensitivity experience, as well as a certified dementia communication specialist. Paula is passionate about improving the lives and care of older adults, and those experiencing memory loss, through the education and development of those who provide them with love, care, and services.