Melissa Colby

I think my connection to senior living really stems from my grandparents. For me, that relationship shaped everything. I know a lot of people in my generation don't always have the patience, or they don't always see older generations as such an important part of our story. It can sometimes feel like, 'What do they really know?' But I've always felt the opposite - I hang on their every word, because we are who we are because of the road they paved for us. That perspective has given me a deep respect for the aging process and a genuine appreciation for the lives and experiences of the people I serve. It's not just about care - it's about connection, understanding, and honoring their journey. On top of that, I'm naturally a people person. I thrive on building personal connections, and I tend to do that quickly and authentically. I think that ability, combined with my personal connection to my grandparents, has really been a key part of my success in senior living.

I think my advice would be to always be uniquely you. There will always be people that are going to be the naysayers or not believe in your vision, but always trust your heart and what you feel, and you'll never go wrong.

One of the biggest challenges I face right now - especially in my work in memory care - is changing the way people perceive it. What I've learned over the past year and a half in a specialty memory care setting is that many people put memory care on the same level as hospice care. And while hospice is an incredible service and such a gift when it's needed, it's often viewed as a last resort. Unfortunately, memory care gets lumped into that same mindset. What I try to help people understand is that if you or your loved one has a memory-limiting diagnosis, like Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease with cognitive decline, memory care shouldn't be the last option - it should be one of the first things you explore. For me, the biggest challenge is really around education. It's helping families understand that there's so much value in being proactive. When you move into memory care earlier, you're not giving something up - you're actually gaining support, structure, and quality of life. You can potentially slow progression, reduce stress, and allow both the individual and their family to adjust in a much healthier, more supported way. A lot of times, by the time families start considering memory care, they're already in crisis mode. And that's when decisions feel rushed, emotional, and overwhelming. So a big part of my role is helping people see that it's never too early to start planning, to start having conversations, and to look at memory care as a resource for living well - not just a response to decline. Of course, there's also the financial component, which can be a barrier, but at the core of it, my focus is really on shifting that mindset. Helping people understand that memory care is not an end - it's actually a way to better support the journey.

Trust and communication in both my work and personal life. I don't really believe you can ever over-communicate - I tend to be the person who would rather say something twice than risk it not being said at all. Another guiding principle for me comes from Silverado's culture: 'love is greater than fear.' That idea has really stayed with me. It's shaped not only how I show up in my work over the past year and a half, but also how I try to show up in my personal life. For me, it's about leading with compassion, choosing openness over assumption, and making sure people feel seen and supported. I try to carry that into everything - from professional relationships to my family life and even my 'broke besties' at home.