Loy Campbell 
MS, OTR/L

With over 10 years of experience in healthcare, Loy brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding to every consultation and program. She began her career as a Life Enrichment Manager at an assisted living community in Palo Alto, California. Working directly with the residents of the dementia care neighborhood confirmed her career intentions and in 2014 she completed a Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from San Jose State University. 

 

Loy’s passion for providing guidance to individuals and families facing healthcare challenges began in childhood. The daughter of a nurse practitioner, Loy watched her mother skillfully manage her grandparents’ care as they progressed through physical and cognitive health changes, and eventually enrollment in hospice services at home.

 

Loy’s interest in brain change was sparked the day she and her dog, Cubby, went to visit her 91-year-old grandmother. Her grandmother had been recently diagnosed with a brain tumor, which was causing a sharp decline in cognition. She sat at the kitchen table playing a card game of bridge that only her mind could see. She looked down at the dog and asked, “Cubby, what do you bid?”

 

Even as a teenager, Loy intuitively knew to join her grandmother’s reality. She responded, “I don’t think Cubby is playing this hand, Grandma.”

 

In 2014, Loy returned to her home state of Virginia to finish clinical rotations. She then moved to the triangle area of North Carolina and worked in multiple occupational therapy roles to expand her knowledge and skill in geriatrics.  

 

Through three years in home health and hospice services, Loy provided in-home occupational therapy services to patients with long-term, progressive, and terminal illnesses. In the agency’s Dementia Support Services consultation program, Loy guided community members supporting loved ones at every stage, from before diagnosis to end-of-life care. 

 

Since 2015 at Duke Regional Hospital, Loy provides occupational therapy services in both acute care and in-patient rehabilitation settings. The most rewarding aspect of her hospital role is guiding patients and families as they navigate their health changes. She offers a knowledgeable and empathetic lens through which to view multiple health options based on their priorities and values.

 

Loy has traveled the United States delivering workshops for professionals and family caregivers since 2015. Presentations are tailored to match the needs of the audience, from short, intimate sessions to multi-day courses. Some of the audiences Loy has had the honor of working with include family caregivers, faith organizations, law enforcement officers, dietitians and nutritionists, assisted living staff and family members, in-home personal care workers, and acute care hospital staff. When in-person presentations are not feasible or desired, Loy facilitates an engaging curriculum of online presentations and discussions.

 

Loy’s passion is to help people living with dementia and other chronic diseases navigate a difficult and often confusing landscape of choices. She assists these individuals and their support systems in maintaining strong connections through consultations and educational offerings. She believes that people living with chronic disease can and should enjoy the best quality of life possible.