This month, we continue our discussion with administrator Andrew McKillop, who maintains that the most valuable asset the facility has is its employees.

This month we continue our discussion with Jill Allin, director of sales and marketing for Village Shalom in Overland Park, KS. Its nursing home component has won several awards for promoting culture change and providing resident-centered care.

One of the primary concepts behind the Promoting Excellent Alternatives in Kansas (PEAK) award is promoting culture change in nursing homes.

Palm Garden in Ocala, FL, is a 180-bed skilled "living" facility where residents are known as "community members," and the focus is on wellness, not illness.

In the six months since Brinton Manor of Glen Mills, PA, teamed up with Kiwanis International, the nation's first SNF-based Aktion Club has already proven a huge success.

A 2007 study in the journal Neuroepidemiology estimates that 3.8 million people in the United States have dementia. The progressive decline in cognitive and physical abilities among this population makes it increasingly difficult for both family members and nursing home caregivers to engage with them.

It's been a year since the inception of "Leading by Example," and looking back, we are amazed at the innovative practices taking place in nursing homes across the United States.

As a general dentist, Kristin Outlan routinely saw dementia patients bussed in to her office from nursing homes and left for hours at a time.

No matter one's age, oral health is extremely important. Problems that start in the mouth can negatively affect other conditions and hamper overall wellness. And in an elderly population, often there are already many major health issues to contend with.