The Experts Behind Your Care Journey

Elaine is a Sales & Marketing professional with 10+ years experience in the Senior Living industry. Prior to moving into a senior living role, she built a successful real estate sales team and managed offices. Her team focused on senior adults moving into a continuing care retirement community and handled all details of the transaction including both in person and online estate sales, family relationships, POA responsibilities and decisions, and funding retirement living.

Doug Wintemute is a freelance writer and marketer with nearly a decade of experience specializing in higher education, healthcare, and professional development. For the past two years, he has focused on researching and writing about fraud prevention, creating resources to help seniors protect themselves from identity theft and online scams.

Doug holds a master's degree in English from York University, and his work has been featured on NurseJournal, Psychology.org, ZDNET, Aura.com, and IdentityGuard.com.

Mela Furgerson is an Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of health care experience. As an Occupational Therapist, she has specialized in the geriatric population in various practice settings including SNF, ALF, ILF, Home Health and Adult Day Care. Mela is knowledgeable in state and federal practice guidelines and Medicare/Medicaid service delivery.

As a subject matter expert, Cathy Braxton understands the intricacies of dementia care,
communication and caregiving. With 27 years of experience in the field, working a range of
positions from Activity Professional, Service Coordinator, Memory Care Director, keynote
speaker, presenter and educator, published author as well as the creator of improv4caregivers
in which improv rules are used to guide meaningful connections, Cathy is an asset to any
organization.

Alissa Sauer is an experienced content writer and digital marketing specialist dedicated to supporting seniors and their families through thoughtful, informative content. With over a decade of experience focused on senior living and caregiving, Alissa creates resources that provide valuable guidance to families making important care decisions. Her work encompasses developing SEO-optimized websites, blogs, and social media content that fosters connection, supports quality of life, and emphasizes the dignity and well-being of older adults.

Alissa collaborates with senior living communities to manage social media and online reputation, carefully crafting messages that resonate with families and create a sense of trust. Her expertise in brand and social audits allows her to identify opportunities to enhance the caregiving experience, ensuring every message aligns with the unique values of senior living. With a B.S. in Advertising from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Alissa is committed to using her skills to encourage older adults and offer peace of mind to their loved ones through purpose-driven content.

John Farrell is the Director of Financial Planning, Analysis, and Treasury for Caring. He received an undergraduate degree in Finance and a Masters degree in Economics. He has 14 years of experience working in investing, banking, publishing, healthcare, and corporate finance. John is known for his strategic financial leadership and his ability to drive sustainable growth through data-driven decision-making. For more on John's background and experience, you can view his LinkedIn page.

Molli (Grossman) Rothseid, PhD, MSW, is an accomplished gerontologist and social worker. She has enriched the academic community with several peer-reviewed papers and shared her insights on caregiving, aging, and dementia through various blog posts. With hands-on experience supporting family caregivers and individuals with memory impairments, she now applies her expertise as a psychotherapist, specializing in aging and chronic illness.

Christopher Norman is a Board-Certified Geriatric Nurse Practitioner and Advanced Practice Holistic Nurse. Christopher holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the State University of New York at Geneseo, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Dominican College of Blauvelt, a Master’s of Science in Nursing degree with a Global Health Concentration from Yale University, and a Post-Master’s Certificate in Gerontology from New York University; he is currently considering doctoral programs.

Since graduating from Geneseo in 2004, Christopher has spent his Nursing career working almost exclusively with older people: first as a Nurse’s Aide (Mental Health Worker) on a geriatric unit in an inpatient psychiatric hospital, then as a Registered Nurse on a medical-surgical floor specialized for the elderly, and finally as a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner across all levels of care – home, continuum of care residences, assisted living facilities, inpatient hospitals, and skilled nursing homes. Christopher currently works as a GNP with a managed long-term care program in Central New York.

Mandi Chambless graduated with her Doctorate of Audiology in 2006 from the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. She saw patients in both private practice and Ear, Nose and Throat clinics, offering hearing aid evaluations and balance assessments before spending ten years of her professional career working as a trainer for one of the top five hearing aid manufacturers on the market. During her time in manufacturing, she provided clinical support for hearing healthcare professionals and assisted in training providers on hearing aid technology and standards of care. Mandi developed and implemented the Remote Support Audiology program, the first of its kind, offering remote support to hearing healthcare providers and their patients. For the past two years, Mandi has worked as a Clinical Specialist for a cochlear implant manufacturer, providing clinical support and acting as a business partner to clinics in the Austin and San Antonio, Texas areas.

Dr. Reisman is a licensed Audiologist and Hearing Aid Dispenser in New York State. She holds certification by the American Speech and Hearing Association and is a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology. Dr. Reisman currently heads the Audiology department for Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC, and is a professor at the CUNY Graduate Center and Touro College. She has been recognized as the first audiologist to successfully fit the new Maxum Middle Ear Implant in the tri-state area and the first in the country to successfully fit a Cochlear Bone Anchored Hearing Aid device with the magnetic attract implant system. Her experience in the evaluation and rehabilitation of hearing and balance disorders is wide-ranged. Dr. Reisman’s research and methods in the assessment and treatment of hearing disorders in some of the most challenging cases have been awarded and recognized within the field of Audiology.

Rachel is a skilled finance manager with a Master of Accounting and a Bachelor of Arts in English. With 10 years of experience in finance, she specializes in business, finance, law, real estate, and marketing. Rachel has worked in personal financial planning, wealth management, and tax accounting, serving senior clients, and has spent nine years in corporate financial planning and analysis. Currently, she manages finances for a Fortune 500 company in New York City.

Nicholas is the Clinical Nurse Manager for the Center of Advanced Liver Disease at University Hospital in Newark, NJ. Nicholas specializes in transformational leadership and quality patient care with more than twelve years of experience in various specialties including adult critical care, cardiac disease, geriatrics and liver transplant. Nicholas began his career in acute care medical-surgical intensive care nursing and has since transitioned into outpatient ambulatory services where he focuses on improving patient care and staff development.

Gene Altaffer has a Masters in Gerontology from the University of Southern California and has worked in many avenues along the continuum of long-term care, assisting thousands of clients and their families since 1995. He also sold long-term care insurance from numerous carriers while also assisting families with retirement planning. Gene helps seniors navigate their Medicare plans, ensuring they understand their benefits and options.

Meet Kim, an expert in sales, estate sales, and antiques. As the former owner of a successful estate sale company, Kim worked diligently to ensure that the belongings of loved ones were honored and the home respected. With an exceptional eye for detail and a deep understanding of client needs, Kim is the go-to professional for families looking to navigate the complexities of estate sales. Trustworthy, knowledgeable, and compassionate, Kim is dedicated to providing guidance on selecting the right estate sale company and educating clients how to prepare.

David is the founder of Stearns Retirement Group. He specializes on the particular needs of retirees and those approaching retirement for over 20 years. David’s approach to freedom and stability in retirement are both refreshing and realistic. He understands the anxieties that many are facing when they consider preserving and distributing their retirement funds.

Heather Suri is a Registered Nurse with 20 years of experience primarily in geriatrics and hospice. She holds a Bachelors in Nursing from Western Governors University and is certified as a Care Manager through NACCM. She is a member of the Aging Life Care Association at the Advanced Professional level.

In addition to practicing as a Geriatric Care Manager, Heather is the Director of Nursing for Griswold Home Care NoVA West.  Heather volunteers her time in the community through a program she developed called The Caregiver Resource Hour, as well as for Girl Scouts of America.

Dr. Brindusa Vanta is a health care professional, researcher, and an experienced medical writer (2000+ articles published online and several medical ebooks). She received her MD degree from “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine, Romania, and her HD diploma from OCHM – Toronto, Canada.

Dr. Viorica Stavarache is a highly skilled physician specializing in elderly care, with expertise in Family, Emergency, and Internal Medicine. She holds a medical degree from Romania and has completed her Family Medicine Residency, followed by a Fellowship in Emergency Medicine. With international experience, including Canada, she continuously enhances her skills to meet professional standards. Dr. Stavarache actively contributes to Gerontology articles and engages in senior care audits.

Kristi Bickmann, a licensed Long-Term Care Specialist, represents top-rated "Traditional" & "Hybrid" LTC companies. Serving associations such as the American Nurses Association, she's a licensed insurance agent in 27 states. Specializing in insurance products for seniors, Kristi helps hundreds of families every year protect assets, retirement, and loved ones. She understands aging concerns firsthand, having assisted her own parents. Kristi ensures accuracy on topics about senior long-term care and its consequences.

Carina has over a decade of experience as a lawyer and legal advisor. She has assisted clients with family and elder law matters, including estate planning, wills, medical care planning and division of retirement assets in divorce. Her expertise extends to litigation, nursing home abuse and Medicare laws. Carina holds a law degree from the University of Colorado and has completed additional courses in estate planning, family and healthcare law.

Frank has the second longest tenure with the Stearns Retirement Group. As a fiduciary and investment advisor representative he plays an important role when it comes to preserving the longevity of your dollars. He is a certified Medicare and Social Security specialist as well as a financial advisor. There is a great amount of confusion over Social Security and healthcare in retirement, but they play a critical role in retirement planning. That’s why Frank has dedicated himself to understanding the “rights of passage” that every retiree experiences.

Dr. Diana Rangaves, Google Scholar, a distinguished board-certified pharmacist, brings extensive expertise in senior care, mental health, and finance. With a doctorate from the University of California and over 30 years of healthcare experience, she combines her academic prowess as a professor, teaching critical thinking, ethics, pharmacology, addiction, behavior patterns, pharmacy, and nursing. Dr. Rangaves is dedicated to improving the well-being of seniors through her profound knowledge and compassionate approach to health care.

Deidre has worked in the healthcare field for over 35 years and specializes in Geriatrics. Deidre is a nurse who holds a certification from the National Academy of Certified Care Managers and is a Certified Dementia Practitioner. She has worked across all healthcare settings, with a concentration on the community and helping older and disabled adults age in place. She has worked on NIH grant-funded program evaluation projects and considers herself a life-long learner. Deidre is a valued team member at The Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging in Hartford, CT.

Marc Levesque is a Resource Coordinator who provides in-home assessments, connections to services and assists with long-range planning. Marc is committed to helping seniors and their families throughout the aging process. Marc is a team member at Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging and a trusted resource for families, many of whom he has worked with for nearly a decade.

Amy Boyington is a freelance writer and editor with over a decade of experience crafting content for family, health, higher education, and personal finance publications. She also specializes in ghostwriting digital content such as blogs, white papers, and informational guides to help brands build authority and connect with their audiences. Her work has appeared in online publications such as Credible, Forbes Advisor, and Online MBA. 

Amy holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Phoenix. Her strong background in research and writing allows her to deliver accurate, informative, and reader-friendly pieces.

Ashley Parks is a creative storyteller, writer, and editor with expertise in credit, banking, and consumer financial literacy. With over five years of professional experience, Ashley is passionate about helping people make the most informed decisions and providing guidance that is concise and accessible for all. She is a graduate of Texas Christian University, where she earned a B.A. in Theatre and Writing.

Beyond her workload, you can often find Ashley wordsmithing original poetry or ideating the latest stage play, reading in every form (audio, kindle, and physical books—often all at once), watching YouTube videos and keeping up with her tiny poodle.

Mikeie Reiland is a writer from Nashville. He has published magazine journalism in the Oxford American, Bitter Southerner, Gravy, and SB Nation, among other outlets. He has also ghostwritten biographies for chefs, CEOs, and former NFL players. He's passionate about using storytelling to explain the world to wide audiences. 

Mikeie has a master's degree in narrative nonfiction from the University of Georgia and a bachelor's degree in French and Francophone Studies from Davidson College. When not writing, he enjoys playing and coaching Ultimate Frisbee.

Missy Nolan is passionate about helping others improve their physical and mental health. Before focusing on her writing career, Missy worked as a chiropractic assistant and dementia caretaker. She has 15 years of experience writing articles about health, wellness, and nutrition. As a medical editor and fact-checker, Missy also enjoys reviewing wellness-related articles for accuracy.

Lauren Ferguson has over five years of experience as a freelance writer, specializing in senior care topics such as assisted living and memory care. She holds a degree in Liberal Studies and English from the University of Illinois Springfield. Having navigated the process of placing her mother in a long-term care community, Lauren offers a unique insider's perspective to families facing similar situations.

Sheeka Sanahori is a freelance travel journalist and video producer. She’s the founder of Inherited Travel, a newsletter for travelers who want to make more socially conscious choices.

Pilar Martland double-majored as an undergraduate at UC Davis and earned bachelor’s degrees in English and science. Following graduation, she spent two years as an AmeriCorps member working in the public school systems of California and Washington. She then completed a master's degree in education and became the author of multiple children's books.  

Pilar has spent the past several years focusing on raising her family while continuing to pursue work on a freelance basis as a writer, editor, researcher, and fact-checker. She strives to make a positive difference by spreading awareness and empowering others through research-backed, educational, and informative content.

Matt Whittle is a freelance writer and editor who has worked with higher education, health, and lifestyle content for eight years. His work has been featured in Forbes, Sleep.org, and Psychology.org. Matt has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Penn State University.

Matt brings experience taking complicated topics and simplifying them for readers of all ages. With Caring, he hopes to assist seniors in navigating the systems in place to receive the care they need and deserve. Matt is also a freelance composer — you may have heard his work in global online ad campaigns for various products.

Stacey Ostrowski is a freelance writer with over 10 years of experience. She graduated cum laude from the University of South Carolina and also holds a certificate in health coaching from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. As a professional writer with a love of research and helping others, Stacey has covered topics in the health and wellness industry, the local food movement and the travel industry, among others. When not writing, she can be found reading whatever book caught her eye at the library, finding reasons to bake a cake and cheering for her South Carolina Gamecocks.

Mary Van Keuren is a multi-channel freelance writer with 30 years of experience in communications. Her areas of expertise include health and elder care, higher education, agriculture and gardening, and insurance. Mary has bachelor's and master’s degrees from Nazareth College in Rochester, NY. She brings extensive experience as a caregiver to her work with Caring.com, after serving for seven years as the primary caregiver for her mother, Terry. 

Beth Mowbray is a freelance writer with a passion for entertainment and pop culture, especially books. She is also a clinical social worker with extensive experience working with children and families. Beth's other great loves include her son and husband, live music, that first sip of morning coffee, and a bottle of wine shared among friends.

Dom DiFurio is a staff writer at Stacker covering money, the economy, business trends, real estate, and more.

He previously wrote for The Dallas Morning News and his work has been published in The Washington Post, USA Today, and ESPN Magazine as well as local and regional newsrooms across the country. He has been recognized by the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing, the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors, and Columbia University.

Tiffany Amber Stockton, an award-winning author and speaker, excels in crafting narratives on senior healthcare, with an expertise in memory care after helping her grandfather live with dementia. With twenty-six published books to her credit, she uniquely blends literary prowess with a compassionate understanding of the challenges faced by older adults. Follow her on LinkedIn for updates on her distinguished writing career in the realm of professional copywriting and copyediting.

Laure seamlessly blends a healthcare background, with a focus on senior living and heart health, with her passion for writing. Beginning as a nurse’s aide, she transitioned into crafting compelling written content after college. With experience in bedside caregiving and a dedication to patient well-being, especially in memory care, Laure bridges the worlds of healthcare and storytelling, offering valuable insights and compassionate perspectives to readers.

With over a decade of dedicated experience, Andrea Miller boasts an extensive background in healthcare writing and editing. Her expertise spans various facets of the healthcare industry, with a particular focus on nursing, senior care, Alzheimer’s disease, and public health. Andrea has also contributed her editorial talents to reputable publishers in the Philadelphia region, complementing her extensive freelance work.

Lauren Thomas is a seasoned writer that specializes in long-term care, with a special focus on dementia-related topics. She holds a degree in counseling and uses her knowledge and experience to create insightful content that gives seniors and families the information they need to make important care decisions.

Lauren is an experienced copywriter with a passion for crafting impactful narratives in the senior care industry. Her work covers essential topics such as assisted living and dementia care, providing valuable insights to readers. Collaborating with leading senior care provider websites such as Caring.com, PayingforSeniorCare.com, and AssistedLiving.org has deepened her appreciation for senior living and elder healthcare. Lauren’s goal is to empower seniors and their families with the knowledge needed for informed long-term care decisions.

Lisa A. Koosis is an experienced copywriter, who has ghostwritten extensively for clients in the senior living and memory care arena. In recent years, she’s penned countless articles on topics ranging from Medicare to creativity for older adults. Lisa is also a traditionally published novelist and a prize-winning short story writer. She holds a degree in writing and literature from Long Island University.

In the past year, Theresa has authored nearly one hundred pieces of content on senior living and healthcare, with a particular emphasis on memory care. She is dedicated to rigorous research, consistently sourcing authoritative material to bolster the credibility of her work. Her prolific writing career includes 29 children’s and teen books, 7 romance novels, and numerous short stories.

Karina is a seasoned content writer with a robust foundation in English and Political Science. With extensive experience in senior living projects, she specializes in assisted living and memory care topics. Her well-researched articles aim to empower older adults throughout the United States by providing informative and supportive resources.

Jackie Smart is an author and freelance content writer. For the past five years, she has written on numerous subjects, especially senior living, drawing on her own experiences of researching assisted living for an elderly relative. Jackie has since written extensively on the subject, focusing on how older adults can find help accessing services and the resources and programs in place to help them finance their long-term care.

Leigh Morgan has more than 15 years of experience writing about senior care. She’s the author of “Financial Safety for Seniors: 77 Tips for Preventing Elder Financial Abuse” and has written hundreds of articles about Medicare, Medicaid, assisted living communities, nursing homes and memory care. Morgan developed an interest in senior care while recruiting home health nurses, certified nursing assistants and patient care technicians for a large health care system.

Jennifer Gorman is a freelance healthcare and finance writer with a special focus on issues relevant to America’s seniors. She’s spent the past 5 years researching and writing about senior living options, from home care and adult day care to assisted living and nursing homes. Her financial writing often focuses on Medicare, Medicaid, and long-term care insurance, and how to use these options to pay for senior care.

Ashlee Shefer is a freelance copywriter, content writer, and digital marketer who specializes in senior care, mental health, health care, and other wellness-related topics. She has one year of experience writing both short- and long-form content related to senior resources, assisted living, nursing homes, and home care, including blog posts, research-based articles, resource guides, product reviews, facility blurbs, finances, and care costs.

Sarah has produced thousands of articles in diverse niches over her decade-long career as a full-time freelance writer. This includes substantial content in the fields of senior care and health care. She has experience writing about wide-ranging topics, such as types of care, care costs, funding options, state Medicaid programs and senior resources.