275: Advancing Care For People With Dementia With Rachel Wiley, MS, OTR/L, CDP
Release Date: 07/21/2025
I Love Neuro
Neuro rehab / neuro wellness… if you’re listening to this podcast chances are anything you’re doing is skilled! On today’s show you’re going to be inspired by Chris McElderry, PT, DPT, NCS as he shares his journey with host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS. Chris went into PT with a sports focus but quickly realized neuro was where it’s at. After completing his neuro residency and working full time in outpatient he was compelled to expand. He wanted to provide inspiration and ideas to other clinicians on social media and also grow his own wellness side gig. Chris, also known as...
info_outlineI Love Neuro
Wonder if your documentation is up to snuff to pass an audit? Tune into this episode where hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS interviewed Phyllis Goldstein, a speech-language pathologist with extensive experience in Medicare audits and appeals! She shares her journey from clinical work to becoming an expert in navigating the complex world of therapy documentation and reimbursement. Phyllis emphasizes the critical importance of detailed, skilled documentation using precise language that explains exactly what makes their intervention unique and necessary. The...
info_outlineI Love Neuro
Have you ever been curious how a naturopath approaches medicine for a person with Parkinson’s? Turns out it’s super comprehensive. Spoiler alert - we couldn’t cover it all, but what you’ll learn from Dr. Tanya Denne, ND will blow your mind! Hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS learn about Dr. Denne’s journey into naturopathic medicine and her groundbreaking research on Mucuna pruriens, a botanical treatment for Parkinson's disease. Driven by a personal connection to neurological conditions through her grandmother's Alzheimer's, Dr. Denne discovered...
info_outlineI Love Neuro
Ever dream of having a lively clinic space where all of your neuro dreams come true? In this episode Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS and Emily Duval Ledger, NeuroBiz coach dive deep into the challenging journey of finding and establishing a brick-and-mortar space for a neurological therapy and fitness business. They share candid insights about their personal experiences, emphasizing that the process is far more complex than traditional real estate hunting. The conversation highlights the importance of starting small by renting space from others, which allows entrepreneurs to test their business...
info_outlineI Love Neuro
If you’re anything like us you always want to do everything possible to help your neuro patients recover and improve as much as possible. On today’s show host Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS interviews Rose Tilton, OTR/L, OTD about an intervention that she took straight from the research to the clinic: spinal cord stimulation with transcutaneous stimulation. After learning about its applicability in the literature Rose was eager to use it with her patients but hit some road blocks. Finally she was in touch with the authors of a study who helped her and her colleagues become trained in using...
info_outlineI Love Neuro
In this episode of the I Love Neuro podcast, hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS sat down with Rachel Wiley, MS, OTR/L, CDP, an innovative occupational therapist who is transforming dementia care through her Dementia Collaborative. With over a decade of experience, Rachel has dedicated her career to supporting individuals living with dementia, their families, and healthcare professionals. Rachel's journey began with a personal connection - her practice, originally named Day by Day Home Therapy, was inspired by her grandmother and aunts who lived with dementia....
info_outlineI Love Neuro
We know our listeners are lifelong learners and there are different ways to gain clinical excellence. On today’s show Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS talked to 4 occupational therapists who’ve completed an OT fellowship. Briana Elson, MS, OTR/L, BCPR, CBIS, Lindsey Talcott, MOT, OTR/L, Gianna Neutts, MS, OTR/L, and Jocelynn Aguilar, MSOT, OTR/L are here to discuss their experience and provide insights about OT fellowships and specifically the one they completed. OT fellowships are intensive one-year programs that offer more than just additional training; they provide a comprehensive approach...
info_outlineI Love Neuro
Wait, you mean you have to charge for your amazing services?! How scary!! The pricing conversation is a BIG one! If you’ve ever felt scared to ask for a dollar amount, to raise your prices or even did what most clinicians do and undercharged, this episode is for you! Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS, Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS, and Emily Duval Ledger, CPT dive deep into setting and raising prices for professional services. The key takeaway is clear: healthcare professionals often dramatically undervalue their expertise. Many therapists and wellness professionals struggle with pricing,...
info_outlineI Love Neuro
Have you ever put weights on a walker? We’re guessing you have! Likely ankle weights…Did you find those ankle weights slide around and didn’t stay where you wanted? Well there is an actual product designed by a PT/OT duo that makes weighting ANY assistive device easier and more precise. Physical therapist Nicole Fellows, MS, PT, DPT and occupational therapist Sarah Ali, MS, OTR/L, CSRS, AIB-VRT/CON share their story of developing FALI Rehab, a company that offers adjustable weighted attachments that can be easily added to walkers, canes, and other assistive devices. Sarah and Nicole...
info_outlineI Love Neuro
Dr. Katie Wadland, PT, DPT, GCS's entrepreneurial journey is a testament to adaptability and patient-centered care. What began as a pandemic-era pivot while homeschooling her children transformed into Healthy Aging Physical Therapy, a robust 20-person mobile practice specializing in geriatric and neurological rehabilitation. Her practice emerged from a critical healthcare need, offering innovative at-home therapy services that prioritize patient accessibility. Unlike traditional clinical models, Wadland created a flexible business approach that allows therapists to manage their own schedules...
info_outlineIn this episode of the I Love Neuro podcast, hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS sat down with Rachel Wiley, MS, OTR/L, CDP, an innovative occupational therapist who is transforming dementia care through her Dementia Collaborative. With over a decade of experience, Rachel has dedicated her career to supporting individuals living with dementia, their families, and healthcare professionals.
Rachel's journey began with a personal connection - her practice, originally named Day by Day Home Therapy, was inspired by her grandmother and aunts who lived with dementia. Recognizing the isolation in dementia care, she created the Dementia Collaborative, a membership-based community that brings together occupational therapists, physical therapists, and other healthcare professionals to share knowledge and support.
After transitioning from direct clinical care to a consulting model, Rachel now focuses on family coaching, innovative research and education for healthcare professionals. She uses evidence-based approaches like the the Skills2Care framework, CARE checklist and framework, and the Green Activity Program study. The CARE checklist and framework is a tool she helped co-create that uses non-verbal cues to assess consent, protecting residents' dignity and right to human connection. She has a ton of resources for you to check out!
Skills2care framework - training for OTs
www.daybydaydementiaconsulting.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-wiley-ms-otrl-cdp-80521079/