A Life with Validation: Professional Practice, Personal Calling – Heather Easterling, CVT, CTRS, CLYT – Senior Director of Resident Engagement for Sunrise Senior Living
Validation has never been just a method or a certification for me—it has been a way of seeing, listening, and being with others. Long before I could articulate it, I was drawn to the emotional truth behind behavior, to the stories carried in the body and spirit, especially among older adults living with dementia. Over time, Validation became both my professional compass and my personal anchor as I navigated my own caregiving journey.
My formal education in Validation began in 2013 at Sunrise Senior Living, in partnership with the Validation Training Institute. What started as professional curiosity quickly became a calling. I progressed intentionally through the levels of training, deepening my understanding of the philosophy, techniques, and heart behind the work. In 2019, I became a Certified Validation Teacher—a milestone that represented not just coursework completed, but years of practice, reflection, and relationship-building.
Throughout this journey, I was profoundly shaped by my mentors. Rita Altman and Sandy Strathmeyer guided me with wisdom, patience, and deep respect for the people at the center of this work. And, of course, none of this exists without honoring Naomi Feil, who founded Validation and offered the world a humane, compassionate approach to dementia care rooted in dignity, empathy, and emotional truth. Her legacy lives on in every validating moment, every softened interaction, and every caregiver who chooses connection over correction.
As a Certified Validation Teacher and Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, my professional life has focused on helping people living with cognitive change feel heard, safe, purposeful, and loved. At Sunrise Senior Living, I have had the privilege of training and certifying team members across communities, equipping them with Level 1 Validation Worker knowledge and skills. Watching caregivers grow in confidence—learning to respond to emotion rather than behavior—has been one of the most meaningful aspects of my work. Validation does not just transform residents; it transforms caregivers.
What resonates most with me about Validation is its radical respect for emotional truth. Dementia may alter memory, language, or logic, but it does not erase feelings, identity, or the need to be understood. Validation gives us permission to stop correcting and start connecting. It invites curiosity instead of control. In my work, I have seen how a single validating response can reduce distress, ease agitation, and restore a sense of personhood in moments when it matters most.
I have intentionally integrated Validation into creative engagement models across assisted living, memory care, and independent living. Whether through intellectual wellness initiatives, creative expression, mindful walking challenges, laughter yoga, music, reminiscence, or sensory-based programming, Validation serves as the foundation. Programs are not just activities—they are invitations into meaning and connection. When we validate where someone is emotionally, creativity naturally follows. Art becomes language when words are hard to find. Music becomes memory when time feels fragmented. Laughter becomes regulation, even when cognition falters.
One of the most profound professional experiences of my career occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, when I taught a Validation caregiver course during a time of unprecedented isolation and uncertainty. Caregivers—both professional and family—were exhausted, grieving, and searching for ways to stay connected. Teaching Validation in that moment felt essential. It offered caregivers language for what they were feeling and tools for remaining emotionally present when routines, touch, and normalcy had been disrupted.
Beyond the communities I serve, I am deeply committed to sharing Validation through professional organizations, conference presentations, podcasts, and social media. I believe Validation should not be a best-kept secret in dementia care. It belongs in the hands of families, caregivers, volunteers, engagement professionals, nurses, leaders, and anyone who loves someone living with dementia.
Conferences and professional forums have allowed me to advocate for non-pharmacological approaches that honor the whole person. I often speak about Validation not as an added skill, but as a core competency—one that reduces burnout, strengthens relationships, and elevates quality of life for both caregivers and those they support. When teams feel confident responding to emotions instead of behaviors, care becomes more humane and sustainable.
Podcasts and social media have become powerful tools in this mission. In short, accessible conversations and posts, I share real moments—successes, missteps, learnings, and reflections—from both my professional practice and personal life. These platforms allow me to normalize the challenges of dementia care while also highlighting the beauty that still exists within it. Validation translates well in these spaces because it is fundamentally human.
My relationship with Validation deepened profoundly when I became a caregiver to my father. Suddenly, Validation was no longer something I taught—it was something I lived. Caring for a parent while witnessing cognitive change is humbling, heartbreaking, and grounding all at once. It strips away theory and leaves only what truly works.
As a daughter, I have grieved small losses and shifting roles, often unexpectedly. Validation gave me a framework not only to support my father, but to care for myself. It reminded me that emotions do not need to be fixed to be honored, and that slowing down is not failure—it is love.
Living both roles—professional and caregiver—has shaped my voice in this field. I speak from evidence and experience, from training rooms and living rooms alike. I understand both the system-level challenges of senior care and the intimate emotional weight carried by families. Validation sits at the intersection of these worlds, offering a shared language that unites us.
Today, my work continues to focus on advancing creative, person-centered engagement for older adults living with dementia. I remain committed to mentoring others, building partnerships, and using every platform available—whether a conference stage, a podcast microphone, or a social media post—to share the message that emotional connection is not optional in dementia care; it is essential.
Validation has taught me that presence is powerful, that listening is an act of love, and that dignity does not fade with memory. It has shaped how I lead, how I teach, how I care, and how I show up as a daughter. This is not just the work I do—it is the life I live.