Colleen Leighty
Colleen Leighty (she/her) is a Senior Living Advisor with Oasis Senior Advisors, bringing more than a decade of experience in healthcare administration, team leadership, and senior living operations. Throughout her career, Colleen has focused on organizational efficiency, regulatory compliance, and compassionate leadership in highly sensitive care environments, earning a reputation for integrity, trust, and results-driven management.
Prior to joining Oasis Senior Advisors, Colleen served for nearly a decade as Executive Director of The Charleston Senior Community, where she oversaw staffing, quality assurance, compliance audits, and interdepartmental coordination. Her background spans human resources, payroll, vendor relations, and patient care administration, providing her with a comprehensive operational perspective and a deep understanding of the challenges families and care teams face within senior living communities.
In her current role, Colleen supports families across Charles, St. Mary’s, Calvert, and Southern Prince George’s counties, guiding them through the often overwhelming process of finding the right care solution for their loved ones. She offers a personalized, no-cost service that prioritizes privacy, advocacy, and education—curating best-fit community options, attending tours, and assisting with admissions when desired. Based in Waldorf, Colleen is also an active community leader as President of Zonta International’s Charles County Club and a proud alumna of College of Southern Maryland, where she studied business administration.
• Certified Dementia Practitioner
• Certified Trainer (National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners)
• Certified Medication Technician
• Certified Dementia Support Group Facilitator
• Certified Yoga Teacher
• Certified Alzheimers Disease & Dementia Care Trainer
• College of Southern Maryland- Associate's
• Zonta Club of Charles County
• National Society of Leadership and Success
What do you attribute your success to?
I would definitely say the big influences for me were my parents. They were both very hardworking individuals, and they very much taught me to have a strong work ethic and be able to take care of myself. That's always been in the back of my mind with everything that I do. Overall, I would say just a genuine desire to make a difference drives me. And not giving up just because something gets difficult - you know, find a way through. Those things have really shaped my success.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
There are really two things that come to mind. Number one, know your worth. It's important to have confidence in yourself and know what you have to offer, and don't sell yourself short on that. The other thing that I always keep stuck in my brain is to always be fair, consistent, and transparent in what you're doing. These principles have guided me throughout my career.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say don't give up. Trust your instincts, always learn from your experiences. Especially in this field, there's not a one size fits all for anything. So we have to be flexible, you have to be open-minded, and just be compassionate in everything you do. These qualities will serve you well as you navigate this industry.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is that many families lack education about dementia until they are forced to respond in crisis. At the same time, this creates a powerful opportunity to expand education and support for caregivers, care partners, and staff so care can be more informed, proactive, and compassionate.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say authenticity is huge for me. I'm a firm believer that everybody should be themselves and not try to pivot based off audience or what you think you should be - just be yourself. Humility is important too, staying grounded. Integrity - always act ethically and be honest, that's a huge one. And compassion is a huge thing, especially in my industry. We have to treat people with respect and dignity and recognize that they're in a difficult part in their life, and we're here to help. But also, just in general, that applies to everyday life. One thing that my mother and father always drilled into my head as a kid was to treat people the way you want to be treated, and that's something that I always keep in mind to this day.