In a world where we now so often feel overwhelmed by bad news, we focus on the good in life, even during tough times.
Let Me Introduce…
When you meet Debbie Unruh, the first thing you notice is her calm, grounded presence — the kind that instantly puts people at ease. With a long career shaped by compassion, curiosity, and a deep belief in the power of community, she brings vision to the Executive Director role at the Estes Dementia Day Center. As she joins the Estes Park community, she is committed to creating a place where our guests feel known, families feel supported, and volunteers feel inspired.
A couple of weeks ago, Debbie and I met for lunch at the Notchtop Café, where I put her through a fierce interrogation for this newspaper. (Not really.) Over a delicious lunch, she told me, in her own words, that she hopes the center will be “a place where people walk in and immediately feel a sense of belonging.” I learned more about her journey, her leadership style, and the hopes she carries into this new chapter of her life.
Debbie brings 30 years of nonprofit leadership to EDDC. As the founding Executive Director of a Pasadena residential program, she made a notable impact on that community. She is a visionary and hopes to make a similar impact here. Her personal experience with her mother’s dementia sparked her dedication to supporting the whole family. With expertise in program development, fundraising, and community mobilization, Debora is well-equipped to lead EDDC and launch its new program in Estes Park. Debbie is from a family of “Starters.” Her parents taught her to “dig into what needs to be done, and if you don’t know how to do something, find someone who does.” In other words, as a starter, you see a need, fill that need, and make a difference.
The values she holds dear are compassion, integrity, authenticity, and love of community. She respects where people are in their journey and enjoys hearing their stories and filling in the gaps. In person, I watched her greet a woman seeking a place where her husband could feel welcome and comfortable. It was important to this woman that he receive the respect he deserved for who he still is. This woman needed to know she was making the right decision and that she could leave him with us at EDDC, where he would be part of a community whose values were compassion, joy, dignity, and safety. Debbie gave her the confidence in EDDC to give us a try and fill out an application.
Debbie’s personal leadership hero is Brené Brown, whose leadership style emphasizes vulnerability, authenticity, transparency, and lifelong learning. Brené Brown learned early on that you lead by serving, and that every encounter and person is a new story and a new opportunity to serve. This approach requires being fully present and, at times, holding space for the other person when they are uncertain or afraid. There is no cookie-cutter way to be a good leader – you have to be open to new ideas and develop strong listening skills to truly hear and pay attention to what your team members bring to the table. I think what Debbie is saying may be close to my own personal mantra: show up, pay attention, do your best, let go.
When asked what dignity means to her in dementia care, Debbie said, “respect for the whole person and where they are now. Seeing the person, not just the disease. Every person has a new story, and every family is unique.” She explained how she would do that, beginning with getting to know the families, their histories, their stories, and their interests. She believes our center will fill a vital need in our community, that she will gain people’s trust as they recognize that Debbie has their best interests at heart, and that Estes Dementia Day Center will be a welcoming and safe place for all who enter our doors. And fun! Debbie mentioned that our guests will have fun here. There’ll be music and singing, activities and games. In the first 6-12 months, she recommends being extremely organized, maintaining a schedule of activities, engaging with community volunteers and activities, and then loosening up a bit. The you can look at what has worked and what didn’t. Maybe throw out chair yoga, but keep watercolor painting.
Debbie’s vision reminds us that care is not a service but a shared commitment — one that grows stronger when a community comes together. She also believes dementia care is a community responsibility, not a private burden. As the Estes Dementia Day Center enters its next chapter, her leadership brings both steadiness and imagination — a blend of practical experience and heartfelt commitment that feels right for this moment in our community’s story. She often speaks about dignity, connection, and the small daily rituals that make life meaningful, and it’s clear she intends to build a program where those values guide every decision.
In the months ahead, she looks forward to meeting families, listening deeply, and working side by side with volunteers and staff to strengthen the Center’s role as a place of belonging. Her vision is simple yet powerful: a space where every guest is seen, every caregiver feels supported, and every day offers moments of joy. Please join our Board of Directors in welcoming her as the leader of the Estes Dementia Day Center, opening soon. We’re so glad she’s with us.
And lest I forget, Debbie is now busy interviewing applicants for the Program Manager/Volunteer Coordinator role. If you are interested in applying, please send your resume to maryruthdancer@gmail.com quickly, as we will be closing the interview process soon. That will complete our staff building for the first few months as we open to the community. At some point, those two positions will likely become separate roles. We are also setting up the volunteer program, and you are welcome to let us know which area or job you would like to apply for. For all staff and volunteer positions, we will require references and conduct background checks. We will also need board members to carry us forward in our new iteration. If you are interested in joining our (really fun) board of directors (we have cookies), please email me at maryruthdancer@gmail.com. I would love to welcome you to our new organization!
Peace.
