In this episode of Our Purpose – The LTC Podcast, Hosts James Dieter and Kip Kruger are joined by Gary Blake, CEO of Creative Solutions in Healthcare, for a candid conversation on what it takes to lead in long-term care with conviction, clarity, and accountability.

Gary explains why great leaders “run to the fire,” how he builds culture across 186+ facilities, and why he believes excellence isn’t complicated: clean buildings, great food, strong clinical systems, and leaders who show up—on every shift.

We also unpack what’s coming next: the “silver tsunami” in Texas, advocacy and coalition strategy in Austin, reimbursement realities, and how Creative Solutions is using AI and innovation to streamline departments, improve performance, and elevate resident care.

This episode is packed with practical leadership takeaways for administrators, DONs, executives, and anyone building the future of LTC.

Manual workflows in long-term care are a dinosaur—and Kelly Roberts, Senior VP at CoreCare, explains why AI is the tool that can finally unburden teams without replacing the human side of care. Kelly shares her 30-year LTC journey, breaks down what MDS is and why it matters, and paints a picture of an “MDS assistant” powered by responsible AI: faster chart review, better accuracy, real-time insight, and more time for staff education and resident-centered care. We also unpack PDPM complexity, documentation integrity, and why facilities that aren’t adopting AI will fall behind.

Pain management isn’t just about comfort — it’s about outcomes.

In this episode of Our Purpose Podcast, we’re joined by Daniel Hatmaker, NP, a pain management specialist working directly inside skilled nursing and long-term care facilities. Daniel explains how properly addressing pain impacts rehab participation, wound care tolerance, sleep quality, mental health, staffing workflows, and hospital readmissions.

We explore the realities of managing pain in SNFs, including the risks of under-treatment, the fear of overprescribing, and why pain control is often the missing link in successful therapy and recovery. Daniel also shares practical insights on communication with nursing teams, continuum of care from hospital to SNF, and how facilities can responsibly implement pain management services.

This episode is especially valuable for LTC administrators, DONs, clinicians, and operators focused on improving quality of care and resident outcomes.

Welcome to Our Purpose – The LTC Podcast, where we bring forward the stories, challenges, breakthroughs, and heart behind long-term care.

In this episode, we sit down with Matt Linker, President & CEO of SonderBloom, to uncover the deeply personal story that led to the creation of a rapidly growing company redefining housekeeping and dining services in long-term care settings.

Matt opens up about:
💔 A traumatic accident involving his daughter
💔 The unexpected loss of his best friend
➡ And how those moments reshaped his purpose

Out of that journey came SonderBloom, built on a belief that:

“Everyone you encounter is living a life as complex as your own.”

Inside this episode:
🔹 How SonderBloom built a purpose-first culture
🔹 What facilities REALLY need to support frontline workers
🔹 Why investing in staff creates better patient outcomes
🔹 How flexible food programs and tailored services improve census
🔹 Leadership lessons from someone who started at $9/hr

Whether you’re in healthcare leadership, operations, dining services, or simply exploring how purpose drives people—this one will move you.

👉 Subscribe for more real conversations around LTC innovation, leadership, culture, and purpose.

On this episode of Our Purpose – The LTC Podcast, co-hosts Kip Kruger and James Dieter welcome Christian Reinarz, Senior VP of Operations at HMG Healthcare, for an in-depth conversation on leadership, culture, and the future of long-term care.

Christian unpacks what it’s like to take over a facility after a beloved administrator, how that experience reshaped his view of leadership, and why being present, visible, and genuinely engaged with staff and residents changes everything.

Together, they explore:

• Moving from burnout to purpose as a leader in LTC
• The unseen sacrifices long-term care staff made during COVID
• How media and regulation shape public perception of skilled nursing
• The role of programs like HMG U Academy and HMG Cares Foundation in developing and supporting staff
• Why organizations must rethink hiring, training, and promoting leaders—beyond just technical skills
• The power of social media and storytelling to attract talent and change the narrative around nursing homes

This episode is a must-listen for administrators, DONs, regional leaders, and anyone passionate about skilled nursing, long-term care, and building better workplaces for the people who care for our most vulnerable.

In this episode of Our Purpose – The LTC Podcast, host Kip Kruger, along with co-host and Principal Health Systems CEO James Dieter, sits down with Garrett King, owner and CEO of Valor Hospice, to explore what it truly means to help people die with dignity.

Garrett shares his journey from growing up in a hospice family, to working in large corporate hospice systems, to launching a family-owned hospice built around compassion, flexibility, and values-driven leadership. He explains why Valor staffs for need instead of rigid matrices, how they equip families for the dying process, and why he sees hospice as a calling—not just a business.

In this episode, we cover:

• What hospice really is (and isn’t)
• “Quality of life” when a prognosis is six months or less
• The art of death and dying and preparing families for the transition
• Cultural differences in how families show up at the end of life
• How Valor builds a team that aligns with its mission and values
• The emotional weight and purpose of hospice work
• The impact of Medicaid delays and reimbursement challenges on family-owned hospices
• Entrepreneurship, resilience, and building an “all-star team” in healthcare

If you’re in long-term care, hospice, nursing home administration, or supporting a loved one through end-of-life, this conversation offers both practical insight and deep encouragement.

In this episode of Our Purpose – The LTC Podcast, hosts Kip Kruger, James Dieter, and Chris Light sit down with administrator Eric Wood to uncover what it really takes to lead in long-term care.

From small-town roots to building five-star facilities, Eric shares his journey of caring for his own community, navigating turnover, and finding purpose in a role that demands both heart and resilience. You’ll hear powerful insights on leadership, empowering staff, and why hiring the right people changes everything.

Whether you’re an administrator, caregiver, or industry partner, this conversation highlights the challenges, blessings, and lessons that come with building trust, growing leaders, and making long-term care better for patients and staff alike.

DON of the Year Kierstan Diefenderfer shares the playbook behind a CNA-first culture: training pipelines with local schools, de-escalation that prevents crises, daily systems that keep providers in sync, and aging-in-place strategies that reduce avoidable hospitalizations. We dig into morale builders (yes—dance parties), “fair and firm” leadership, and the faith that fuels resilience in long-term care.

Takeaways

• Build a talent pipeline and smarter scheduling with high-school CNAs
• Soft skills = hard results: de-escalation, empathy, and a “this is their home” mindset
• Morning meeting structure that catches small changes before big events
• Practical aging-in-place tactics to lower RTAs
• Lead by example: “If we see it, we fix it.”

Guest: Kierstan Diefenderfer (Medina Valley)

Hosts: Kip Krueger with CEO James Dieter & COO Chris Light

Recorded at THCA’s 75th Anniversary