Lauren Weissberg, Director of Nursing at Emerest Health, has been named to the Memory Care Innovation Awards Class of 2026 by Home Health Care News.
The Memory Care Innovation Awards program is designed to recognize passionate and innovative industry members who are shaping the future of cognitive care across behavioral health, home health and home care, hospice and palliative care, senior housing and senior living, and skilled nursing. To become a Memory Care Innovation Award winner, an individual must be nominated by their peers. The candidate should be a high-performing employee who knows how to put vision into action, serving as an advocate for those living with memory-related disorders and the committed professionals who ensure their well-being.
Weissberg sat down with Home Health Care News to share her journey caring for patients and residents with cognitive care needs, her thoughts on the future of cognitive care in senior housing & senior living, and much more. To learn more about the Memory Care Innovation Awards and view this year’s winners, visit https://innovation.memorycarebusiness.com/.
HHCN: How long have you been working in the home health & home care industry, and what has your career journey looked like?
Weissberg: I’m a board-certified Nurse Practitioner with over 10 years of experience in urgent care, outpatient medicine, and home-based care. For the past six years, I’ve been part of the leadership team at Emerest, where I’ve worked closely with our team to build programs and processes that help reduce hospitalizations, support people in their day-to-day lives, and keep them safely at home whenever possible.
I’ve always enjoyed caring for older adults, and over the years I found myself especially drawn to memory care. It’s a field that challenges you clinically, but it also reminds you how important patience, empathy, and human connection are. Being able to support both patients and their families through such a difficult journey is what makes the work so meaningful to me.
HHCN: What inspired you to focus on caring for individuals living with memory-related conditions?
Weissberg: My passion for memory care is both professional and personal. In my early 20s, my grandmother was diagnosed with dementia and lived with me as her condition progressed over four years. Serving as her primary caregiver gave me firsthand insight into the emotional, physical, and practical challenges that families experience when caring for a loved one with cognitive decline. That experience profoundly shaped my perspective as a clinician and inspired my commitment to helping individuals with memory-related conditions maintain dignity, independence, and quality of life for as long as possible.
HHCN: If you could describe the current state of memory care in home health & home care in one word, what would it be and why?
Weissberg: Evolving.
Memory care has advanced significantly in recent years, with greater recognition of the importance of early detection, caregiver support, interdisciplinary collaboration, and evidence-based interventions. Programs, like the CMS GUIDE Model, are helping move the industry toward a more coordinated and proactive approach, but there is still tremendous opportunity to continue improving access, education, and support for families navigating dementia care.
HHCN: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your career caring for individuals with cognitive needs?
Weissberg: The most important lesson I have learned is that successful memory care is never just about treating the patient. It is about supporting the entire care ecosystem.
Family caregivers often carry an enormous burden, and when we provide them with education, resources, and guidance, we improve outcomes for everyone involved. Compassionate caregiver support is just as important as clinical intervention when it comes to patients with cognitive decline.
HHCN: What is one change you would most like to see across the memory care landscape in home health & home care today?
Weissberg: I’d like to see broader access to dementia-specific care programs that bring together medical care, caregiver education, behavioral health support, and community resources.
Too often, families are left trying to navigate a complicated and fragmented system on their own. A more coordinated approach can help people stay safely at home longer, reduce unnecessary hospital visits, and ease some of the burden on caregivers.
At Emerest Mind and Memory, we’ve built our program with those challenges in mind, and we’ve seen firsthand how meaningful that kind of support can be for both clients and their families.
HHCN: Looking ahead five years, what do you think will have the greatest impact on your ability to deliver innovative, high-quality cognitive care?
Weissberg: The greatest impact will come from combining earlier identification of cognitive changes with data-driven, coordinated care models. Advances in technology, analytics, and dementia-specific care programs will allow clinicians to intervene sooner, personalize care plans more effectively, and provide greater support to caregivers. These innovations have the potential to significantly improve both quality of life and clinical outcomes.
HHCN: If you could give yourself advice on your first day serving the cognitive care needs of your home health & home care patients, what would it be and why?
Weissberg: I would tell myself to spend as much time listening as possible. Every person’s experience with cognitive decline is different, and every family has its own story.
Clinical expertise is important, but understanding someone’s background, daily routines, support system, and what matters most to them is what really helps you provide meaningful care. The more we listen — to our patients, their caregivers, and the teams supporting them, the better care we can deliver.
HHCN: In your view, what qualities define a Memory Care Innovation Award winner?
Weissberg: A Memory Care Innovation Award winner combines clinical excellence with genuine compassion and a commitment to continuous improvement. They should challenge traditional approaches, embrace evidence-based practices, advocate for patients and caregivers, and find creative ways to improve quality of life for those living with cognitive impairment. Most importantly, they should recognize that innovation is not just about new technology or programs, it is about creating meaningful, lasting impact for the individuals and families we serve.