Charles Butler & Team

CHARLES BUTLER

Thursday November 14th
Community Approach to Dementia Crisis

Attendees will learn about the importance of recognizing key players in their communities and the need to work outside “silos” to improve crisis care. We will give examples from our new uniform countywide process for dementia crisis including an overall paradigm shift. We will discuss how the community came together to work on this new paradigm including discipline specific training and changes to the dispatch system.

Chuck is currently the Assistant Fire Chief for the City of Sheboygan Fire Department and also serves as the EMS Service Director and Emergency Manager for the City of Sheboygan. Chuck has been in the Fire and EMS field for over 30 years and has worked in both the private and public sector. He has an Associate’s Degree in public service administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in integrative leadership with an emphasis in emergency management. He is also a Certified Emergency Manager. Chuck joined the Dementia Crisis Care Task Force in early 2018 to assist in bringing together many of the key players involved in dementia crisis responses in Sheboygan. He has a special interest in seeking workable solutions to complex community problems through collaboration and multidisciplinary approaches. Chuck also serves as the Executive Committee Chair for the Southeast Wisconsin Healthcare Emergency Readiness Coalition (SEW HERC) and as a board member on the State of Wisconsin HERC Advisory Group. As a leader in this area, Chuck works to create stronger relationships between healthcare response partners and seeks to develop and sustain more effective and efficient crisis responses in Wisconsin.

DANIEL ALTHAUS

Daniel is the Executive Director of Orange Cross Ambulance, Inc. (OCA), a private nonprofit EMS agency serving Sheboygan County. Daniel has gained extensive experience in the field working as an EMT, Critical Care Paramedic, Field Educator, and Training Officer with volunteer and paid fire-based EMS, hospital emergency departments, and private for-profit as well as nonprofit agencies. As Executive Director, today, Daniel joined the Dementia Crisis Care Task Force in 2018 to assist in the development and unification of response guidelines for dementia crisis patients encountered by EMS. Daniel has a Bachelor of Arts in History with an emphasis on Middle-Eastern affairs from UW-Milwaukee, is a graduate of the SafeTech EMS Leadership Academy, and completed his EMT-B, FF1/FF2, HAZMAT Ops, NREMT-P, his Critical Care Endorsement, and T.E.M.S. certifications through the Wisconsin Technical College System. Outside of his time in EMS, Daniel blends his many years of experience working in graphic arts and marketing with real-world management practice as a business development educator for Delta/November Management Consulting.

MARY PITSCH

Mary is the owner of Embrace Care Management and Managed Home Care which provides professional care management and caregiving services. As a Certified Care Manager, she acts as a client advocate, completes client assessments and recommendations, oversees all agency operations, and conducts employee training and orientation. Mary’s passion for working with seniors has spanned over 23 years as a Social Worker in nursing homes, assisted living and in-home care. Mary has been an Adjunct Professor at UW-Milwaukee in their Master of Social Work Program. She is also the Founder and President of a newly formed nonprofit, Hands of Time, Inc. whose mission is granting wishes to seniors and those who care for them. Mary started the dementia crisis initiative by bringing together other professionals with similar passion and “can do” attitudes. Mary has her Bachelor of Arts, in Psychology and Sociology from St. Norbert College and a Master of Social Work from UW-Milwaukee.

MICHELLE LeMAHIEU

Michelle received a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Calvin College in 1996. She recently became a Certified Dementia Practitioner. Michelle has served as a social worker for Pine Haven Christian Communities since April of 2012. Her passion and emphasis have been on caring for persons with Dementia. Her job responsibilities include meeting with potential residents and families; coordinating admissions; providing dementia education and support to both families and staff members, as well as members of the community; administering the Virtual Dementia Tour; hosting a family caregiver support group; and participating in ongoing care planning for residents. Michelle has been part of the Dementia Care Network, DCN Education & Support Committee, and the Alzheimer’s Walk Committee. Michelle was also a part of a grass roots community initiative in Sheboygan County in 2015 when volunteers from several area churches created the IFIT program which offers a time of worship for children with special needs. She continues to assist with planning and participates in monthly gatherings. Michelle joined the Dementia Crisis Care Task Force in December of 2017. She brings the perspective of facilities that strive to meet the needs of persons with dementia, particularly when there are accompanying challenging behaviors.