Jennifer Riggs, Director of Dementia Services
Dementia Family Support
.
Jen leads Dementia Family Support (DFS) with a rich blend of professional experience,
advanced dementia-specific training, and deeply personal insight. As Director of Dementia
Services, she brings a unique combination of compassion, expertise, and advocacy to every
family, professional, and community she supports.
As a mother of two grown daughters, Jen treasures her family time—yet she also recognizes that
her heart and calling are firmly rooted in supporting individuals affected by dementia. Whether
she is facilitating support groups, educating community members, empowering professionals, or
offering hands-on coaching, Jen is committed to creating a more understanding, dementia-
competent world.
Jen began her career in senior living as a concierge in an assisted living community. Through
dedication and a deep love for older adults, she earned her license as a Certified Assisted Living
Administrator in New Jersey and advanced into multiple roles—from Move-In Coordinator to
Executive Director. During her years in assisted living, Jen received dementia training within the
community and supported many residents living with dementia. These early experiences ignited
her curiosity and passion for deeper, more specialized dementia understanding.
Seeking to expand her knowledge, Jen earned her first formal credential and became a Certified
Dementia Practitioner (CDP). Around the same time, she also became a Support Group
Facilitator with the Alzheimer’s Association, helping families navigate both the emotional and
practical challenges of caregiving. While searching for high-quality materials to support her
groups, Jen discovered Teepa Snow and began informally incorporating Positive Approach to
Care (PAC) concepts into her groups—long before she pursued formal PAC certifications.
Jen’s formal PAC journey began during her time with Rothkoff Law Group, where she served as
the New Jersey Outreach Coordinator. Working closely with families, care partners, and long-
term care professionals highlighted how critical skilled dementia education was. This inspired
her to pursue formal PAC training, seeking advanced tools and practical techniques grounded in
brain change and relationship-centered care.
She has since completed extensive Positive Approach to Care (PAC) training, including:
• Certified PAC Trainer
• PAC Certified Consultant
• PAC Certified Coach
• Advanced PAC Consultant Certification (recently completed)
Through PAC, Jen strengthened her expertise in brain change, sensory processing,
communication strategies, care-partner dynamics, and hands-on interaction techniques such as
the Positive Physical Approach (PPA) and Hand-under-Hand (HuH). These evidence-based
practices filled the gaps between general dementia knowledge and real-world techniques that
create safer, more compassionate interactions.Beyond PAC, Jen continues to enhance her professional training and has completed additional
specialized programs, including:
• Alzheimer’s Essentials Training (completed)
• Mariposa Dementia Training (in progress)
• Courses with Reveal Aging, focusing on leadership, dementia program development,
and advanced care strategies
While Jen values each certification, her greatest teacher was her father, Richard, who lived with
both vascular and Alzheimer’s dementia. Supporting him through his journey taught her the
emotional truths of dementia—the grief, the love, the fear, the humor, and the incredibly human
moments that shape this disease. His passing in January 2024 remains one of her greatest
heartbreaks and her strongest source of inspiration. His memory guides her mission every single
day. (Jen shares more about their journey in her personal video story.)
Today, Jen proudly serves as the Director of Dementia Services for Dementia Family Support
(DFS) and works closely with Visiting Angels of Cape May and Cumberland County, providing
comprehensive dementia education, assessments, coaching, and care-partner guidance. In
addition, Jen serves as an Independent Contractor and Dementia Consultant for Rothkoff Law
Group, supporting their clients and families with advanced dementia education and guidance
throughout the care-planning process.
Her goal remains simple yet powerful:
To create a world that truly understands, embraces, and respects individuals living with
dementia—and to support the care partners who love them.
In her free time, Jen enjoys playing games, traveling, and spending meaningful time with her
family, friends, and pets. She loves to laugh, find joy in the small moments, and make at least
one person smile every single day.
