The SPICE of Life

With more than 16 years of experience in the assisted living field, Eric Collett is the Principal and CEO of A Mind for All Seasons. He founded the company with a clear mission: to transform how people understand and connect with individuals living with dementia, especially those affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Through The Enhance Protocol, Eric and his team equip assisted living providers to go beyond simply managing decline—helping them become proactive treatment centers that improve resident health and lead community-wide prevention efforts.

As a nationally recognized speaker, Eric delivers compelling presentations on dementia, behavior management, and brain science. He is also a trusted consultant, educator, and brain health advocate who works with diverse audiences to close gaps in understanding and provide practical strategies for enhancing cognitive well-being.

Rethinking the Move to Memory Care

Making the decision to move a loved one into a memory care or senior living community is never easy. Families often carry feelings of guilt or sadness, thinking of it as something they are doing to their loved one instead of doing for them. But dementia care expert Eric Collett encourages us to look at this transition differently. When we shift the mindset, it can truly change everything.

The SPICE Framework for Families

To guide families through this process, Eric uses something he calls the SPICE framework. SPICE is a reminder that we all have spiritual, physical, intellectual, cultural or social, and emotional needs. By pausing to ask, “How is my loved one doing in each of these areas? What could be improved?” families can begin to see more clearly whether home is still the best place—or whether a community setting might actually offer more opportunities for their loved one to thrive.

Why Acting Early Matters

Often, families wait until a crisis forces them to act. A sudden fall, a hospitalization, or a rapid decline leaves them scrambling to make a decision. But Eric stresses that waiting until a crisis rarely leads to the best outcome. Making the decision earlier gives families the gift of time and choice, allowing the move to be made with strength and dignity rather than stress and urgency.

Shifting from Guilt to Gift

The most important shift, Eric reminds us, is realizing that moving a loved one isn’t about taking something away—it’s about giving something back. By choosing a setting where spiritual, physical, intellectual, social, and emotional needs are met, families give their loved one the best possible chance to live with dignity, purpose, and joy.

As Eric so beautifully puts it, “We don’t do this to them. We do this for them.”

For more information on senior care and thoughtful resources for families, visit NHCcare.com