When circumstances that we aren't familiar with happen to us, we can feel vulnerable. I have always felt it is an honor when someone trusts you enough to allow you to come alongside them during such periods of life. If you are reading this, you or your loved one might be facing unfamiliar challenges right now. As you read my introduction, it is my heartfelt and sincere desire that I am able to provide you with an understanding of who I am; as well as what my experiences in the field of senior support have entailed. I have always had the deepest love and respect for our older adult population. I revere and cherish this generation. It appears I have been gifted with the ability to empathize and intuitively anticipate the needs of others. I was born a caregiver, and I am a woman of integrity.

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I began my professional career in the field of senior services in 2002, when I became the Meals on Wheels Coordinator for the city of Simi Valley, California. My office was in the Simi Valley Senior Center, where I cherished the daily interactions with our guests. I loved serving our homebound seniors who received our home-delivered meals. I adored the amazing group of volunteer drivers who made the daily visits to these homebound seniors. I left California in 2004 when I moved to Arizona, where I assisted as a co-owner in the start-up of a successful non-medical caregiving agency.

 

In 2006 I continued my education and became a Certified Senior Advisor. I am still a member in good standing of this outstanding organization and renew my certification yearly.

 

Also in 2006, I co-founded the Sizzling Senior Breakfast get-together as a way to build friendships, strengthen community, and let people know where resources are in the unincorporated community of San Tan Valley, AZ. I am happy to say our breakfast gatherings were going strong until April of 2020 when we temporarily stopped our monthly meetings due to Covid-19. However, we have staying connected via group email updates, personal emails, and phone calls.

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In 2007 I co-founded the San Tan Valley Triad. This is a partnership between the Pinal County Sheriff's Department, Pinal County Attorney, and community members such as myself. The purpose of the Triad is to prevent homebound senior citizens from becoming victimized. We provide home alone pendants, telephone reassurance calls, emergency medical cards, and small home repairs. We are hopeful to be able to resume our quarterly meetings when restrictions related to Covid-19 relax. We have seen a large increase in seniors requesting services. 

 

As I continue my volunteer efforts, in 2016 I became a Military / Veteran Resource Navigator. More recently I have been welcomed as a member of the Faith and Health Care Ministries.

 

In 2008  I became a Case Manager for Pinal County Long Term Care. In compliance with Federal, State, and County requirements, we provided in-home services such as housekeeping, personal care, and home-delivered meals for senior citizens. Our services were to assist older adults so they could remain safely and comfortably at home. As time went on, many of our clients became recipients of Arizona Long Term Care. From the end of 2017 through the middle of 2018, I was a Case Manager for the Pinal Gila Council for Senior Citizens providing the same type of services. I am proud to currently be a contract employee with this local Area Agency on Aging.

 

In December 2009 I became the Resident Liaison at Fellowship Square at Brown and Center in Mesa for Christian Care Management. I was a go-to person for problem-solving and loved every minute. The issues I dealt with were highly varied. Some issues were extremely simple, such as kindly mediating riffs between residents. Some issues were quite complex, such as diplomatically dealing with out-of-state and/or difficult POAs who were in denial that their loved one was struggling with dementia and in need of help. I gained a tremendous amount of experience in dealing with a multitude of issues and scenarios. I thrived on the challenge of finding successful resolutions. 

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In 2018 I completed the training offered through the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners and received my certification. In 2020 I renewed my certification for another 2 years. 

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I am grateful for the diverse experiences I've had in the field of older adult care. It has equipped me with tremendous experience, knowledge, and insight into how to creatively problem-solve and best provide personalized assistance. One of my strengths is being able to provide accurate and unbiased assessments. In this field, there are countless opportunities for continuing education, and I strive to attend as many as possible to stay abreast of the most current information. It is also a requirement to retain my CSA and CDP certifications. I appreciate having an outstanding network of other professionals to consult with if the need is warranted. I would be honored to further discuss my experience and knowledge. Please feel free to contact me at any time. 

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