Robert Mayer, PhD

February 2016 Pioneer Award recipient

Rob Mayer always believed in the importance of breaking traditional models and inspiring new thinking to benefit all. He understood that the design and construction of residential communities have a significant impact on the culture that develops in them. He championed the removal of barriers to enable the creation of  person-centered environments in which both elders and caregivers can express choice and practice self-determination in meaningful ways at every level of daily life.

Dr. Mayer’s understanding and support for the well-being of elders living in shared residential care communities was a key contributing factor in the decision to separate residential care settings from acute care and outpatient facilities in the 2014 edition of the Guidelines. He was a visionary whose passion for respecting the personhood of every individual infused his work and his contributions to the Guidelines.