Old Lyme — Purple Flag Excellence in Dementia Care™ has accredited its second community in Maryland – Deer’s Head Hospital Center, a LifeSpan Network community. This accreditation marks Purple Flag’s continued expansion and underscores the strength of its growing partnerships.
As a long-term care provider, Deer’s Head will fly Purple Flag’s Memory Care flag recognizing the fact that it has a dedicated memory care unit. Purple Flag also offers three additional accreditations to recognize excellence in Assisted Living, Home Care and Hospice Care. An official flag-raising event is planned for Tuesday, May 12 during National Skilled Nursing Care Week.
“Deer’s Head has long been recognized for quality care and innovation grounded in strong family values,” said Christopher Carter, Founder & CEO of Purple Flag Excellence in Dementia Care and President of the Connecticut Assisted Living Association. “With the support of LifeSpan Network, their leadership in achieving this milestone at Deer’s Head Hospital sets the pace for Maryland communities to take actionable steps toward better dementia care.”
Purple Flag’s already existing partnership with LifeSpan Network, Maryland’s leading senior living association, played a key role in the introduction to Deer’s Head and supporting the hospital center through the accreditation process. Their collaboration highlights a shared commitment to advancing quality care for individuals living with dementia and sets the stage for continued growth with additional Maryland communities already in discussion.
For more than 75 years, Deer’s Head Hospital Center has been a thriving, person-centered healthcare organization, providing individualized care for the community through a multidisciplinary team approach. Deer’s Head’s vision is to be a collaborative, healing environment where everyone is treated with respect and value.
“This recognition is an honor for the entire team at Deer’s Head Hospital Center,” said Dr. Mary Beth Waide, CEO of Deer’s Head. “It is earned every day through the team’s commitment to excellence in the care of our residents living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. We’ll fly this flag proudly.
To earn this accreditation, Deer’s Head Hospital demonstrated an alignment with the 10 Best Practice Program Standards outlined by Purple Flag, specifically designed for caring for individuals with dementia. Purple Flag identified these policies and procedures as integral to making a meaningful difference in dementia care. Many residents in a traditional assisted living environment may experience varying degrees of memory loss, so providers must be equipped to support these residents.
Dementia diagnoses continue to climb. As of 2025, more than seven (7) million Americans age 65+ are living with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, a number expected to rise sharply in the coming decades. For families navigating care decisions, accreditation has become a vital touchstone, offering reassurance that a provider has been rigorously evaluated, adheres to proven best practices and is equipped to deliver safe, compassionate and consistent support.
ABOUT PURPLE FLAG EXCELLENCE IN DEMENTIA CARE™
Purple Flag Excellence in Dementia Care™ is an accreditation program developed to recognize excellence and drive continuous improvement in the quality of services provided by those who care for individuals living with Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias. Purple Flag for Dementia Care™ originated through a collaboration between the Institute for Senior Living Education (ISLE) and the Connecticut Assisted Living Association (CALA). Upon approval, providers receive the distinctive purple flag as a symbol that communicates their commitment to leadership in the field of memory care.
To learn more about Purple Flag and for media inquiries, please contact Christopher Carter at cpcarter@ctassistedliving.com.
ABOUT LIFESPAN NETWORK
Lifespan Network is a senior care provider association in the Mid-Atlantic, representing more than 500 senior care providers in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Members include not-for-profit and for-profit organizations providing care and services to seniors across the continuum of care, including independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, continuing care retirement, subsidized senior housing, community-based and hospital-based programs.
ABOUT DEER’S HEAD HOSPITAL CENTER
Deer’s Head Hospital Center is a long-term care provider with a dedicated memory care unit that provides outcome-oriented, comprehensive management of complex medical conditions. It provides provide in the specialty hospital, inpatient and outpatient dialysis, and skilled/long-term-care. Our quality driven and committed staff is dedicated to meeting the needs of the community and producing desired outcomes for all our patients.
