Chris did her undergraduate and graduate work at Cal State Hayward (now East Bay). She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology and Physical Education in 1987 and her Master’s in Public Administration with an emphasis in Health Care Administration in 1997. She has been licensed as a Physical Therapist Assistant since 1990 and is also a California Commissioned Notary Public since 2002.

Her clinical physical therapy experience has been in a in a variety of settings including outpatient, acute care, skilled nursing, and rehab centers. Locally she worked at Manor Care Nursing and Rehabilitation in Walnut Creek as well as two Nursing Homes in Antioch. Her initial desire to be involved in sports medicine quickly became a career of caring for and serving seniors.

Nancy Hickman graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Social Work and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Ohio State University. She spent her early years as a Social Worker in Ohio involved in human service program development.

Nancy has served as a hospital Social Worker in many places since 1977, helping patients, many of them elders, with aftercare plans, grief counseling and referrals to community-based services. Nancy also was a member of a multi-disciplinary Geriatric Diagnostic Team at Medical University of South Carolina where she is most proud of her work with early Heart Transplant patients.

Eileen received her BA in 1995 from John F. Kennedy University with an emphasis in psychology. She has 29 years of experience serving the geriatric population. She has been involved in healthcare and related fields all of her professional life. Eileen has been with Eldercare Services since 1993 and became a certified Geriatric Care Manager in 1997.

As one of our resident specialists in Alzheimer’s and dementia care issues, she provides extensive community education including instruction for the American Society on Aging. She also facilitates many support groups for the Alzheimer’s Association, Eldercare Services and many other organizations.

Nancy has an undergraduate degree in psychological social welfare from UC Berkeley and a Master’s degree in social work from San Diego State. She has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 1984.

With more than 35 years of experience in geriatrics, Nancy has directed geriatric services for Jewish & Family Services of the East Bay, Satellite Senior Housing, and the Masonic Home for Adults. Nancy has supervised clinical staff and coordinated trainings with Psychiatrists and Clinical Specialists. Nancy became a Care Manager at Eldercare Services in 2000. She became a Care Manager Supervisor in 2001 and Care Manager Certified in 2003. Nancy has facilitated many Alzheimer’s support groups for Eldercare Services as well as serving on several Bio-Ethics and Aging Groups in Southern Alameda County

Rhonda has an Associates Degree in Nursing and has been a Registered Nurse for over 40 years and has had almost every opportunity one could have within the profession with the exception of surgery. She has a wealth of experience and has worked in the following capacities: Staff Developer and Infection Control Nurse, as a Director of Nursing at the Skilled level and more has developed and taught a pre-certification program for Certified Nursing Assistant’s (CNA’s) and Home Health Aides (HHA’s).

Juli received her Master’s of Social Work in 1976 and began her career working with adolescents. She became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Arkansas in 1982. Subsequently she did clinical work with children of all ages and their families in an outpatient treatment center.

Juli moved to the Bay Area in 1988 to pursue further studies in psychology. In 1989 she began working with seniors in a geriatric psychiatric day treatment program where she remained for eleven years. While at this program she simultaneously opened a private psychotherapy practice after receiving her California LCSW in 1991. There her focus was working with young adults.

John has an MA in gerontology from San Francisco State University and has worked as a geriatric care manager in the Bay Area since 2007. Through his work, John helps older adults and their families, including many clients with multiple medical conditions and cognitive impairments, achieve maximum independence and quality of life. He joined Eldercare Services as a Professional Geriatric Care Manager and became Care Manager Certified in 2010. He has been a member of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (NAPGCM) since 2007.

Prior to joining Eldercare Services, John worked at the Curry Senior Center in downtown San Francisco. He has also done research work for Civic Ventures and the American Society on Aging.

Sylvia received her Master’s of Social Work from UC Berkeley with a focus on Gerontology. Her undergraduate studies centered on Human Development and Sociology. She has spent several years with Hospice of the East Bay. Her background includes experience as the Director of Social Services of an independent living facility HUD subsidiary for seniors and disabled adults.

For 13 years, she taught in an environment that involved extensive work with children and their families. She participated in the development and execution of the Senior Fraud Fighters Forum. Sylvia has been an Eldercare Professional Geriatric Care Manager since 2003. She became a Care Manager Certified in 2006.

Anne obtained her B.A. degree from the University of California, Berkeley, her M.A. from San Francisco State University and Ph.D. in Health Service Administration from Columbia Pacific University. She is a State Licensed Marriage, Family and Child Therapist and holds a certificate in Neuropsychological Assessment from U.C. Berkeley. She became Care Manager Certified in 2003.

With over 30 years of experience serving the senior community, she has been interviewed in several media outlets including CNN, ABC, NPR, Oakland Tribune, and San Francisco Chronicle.

Mary received her Bachelor of Arts from Marquette University in 1964 and began her career in Care Management as a Social Worker in New York City. She worked with a variety of age groups out of college and even enjoyed time as a job placement counselor at Saint Mary’s College. She began actively working with seniors in 1997 when she came to Eldercare Services. She became Care Manager certified in 1998

Mary is one of our specialists in Alzheimer’s and dementia care issues. She has facilitated workshops and support groups at Eldercare Services and in the community and has a passion to support families through these groups and classes on dementia and related behaviors.

Her hobbies include tennis, bridge and gardening. She is a proud mother and grandmother.

Jean holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Masters in Public Administration in Health Services from the University of San Francisco. Prior to her work with seniors, she held a variety of positions in business and finance related industries.

Jean began working with seniors in 1990 and in her background has worked for Sutter VNA & Hospice where she recruited, trained and supervised 90 volunteers to serve hospice patients in their homes and assisted living facilities, focusing on end of life care. Jean’s innovative training program for volunteers has become a model often requested and replicated in other settings. Additionally, she has managed non-clinical programs for seniors in her work at Curry Senior Center. At Jewish Family and Children’s Services, she built and expanded a daily money management program for seniors, including oversight of clients who were conserved by the probate court.

Vivian has a Bachelor’s of Nursing degree from Rutgers University and became a Registered Nurse in 1979. She then earned her Licensed Clinical Social Work degree from UCLA. Vivian spearheaded the Senior Outreach and Consultation Services for the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health in 1989.

Through her work, she has helped to empower countless families and individuals to deal with a myriad of mental health issues including depression and dementia. As a licensed psychotherapist, Vivian offers our families counseling as well as Care Management services and consultation.

Vivian became an Eldercare Services Care Manager in 2008 and Care Manager Certified in 2009.

Dawn White received her Master’s Degree in Public Health, Health Policy and Administration, from U.C. Berkeley in 1987. She has worked in health care for more than 20 years, in home health and hospital-based programs, at the UCLA Medical Center, Summit Medical Center, and the American Red Cross. Dawn has been serving the geriatric population for more than 10 years.

Dawn joined Eldercare Services as a Professional Geriatric Care Manager in 2006. She became a Certified Care Manager in 2008. Her specialty as a Care Manager draws from her extensive experience in hospitals and ancillary health care settings, which allows her to efficiently navigate the health care system and obtain prompt access to medical resources on behalf of her clients. As an elder care advocate, Dawn works with medical providers and family members to meet client needs and enhance their quality of life.

Dawn’s creative interests include dance and music.

Diane graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Miami. She also received her Psychiatric Technician license from Napa College.

Diane boasts more than 30 years of psychiatric and social work experience including 10 years as a Social Casework Specialist II at Contra Costa County’s Adult Protective Services. She has served the senior community for 22 years. Her extensive background with crisis intervention, problem solving, counseling, assessments and emergency response make her ideal as a Professional Geriatric Care Manager On-Call. Diane joined Eldercare Services as a Professional Geriatric Care Manager On-Call in 2009.

Elizabeth received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Western Michigan University in 2006 and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from The Michigan School of Professional Psychology in 2009.

Elizabeth joined the Eldercare Services team in 2011. Her professional experience with the geriatric population began in 2005 and includes roles in social services within skilled nursing facilities in Michigan and California as well as implementing behavior analysis in an adult day center.

In her spare time Elizabeth enjoys running and hiking with her yellow Labrador, Henry.

Susan Haikalis has spent over 45 years in health care settings, primarily hospitals and outpatient/Home Health, including mental health and developmental disabilities. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a Masters in Social Work from New York University. As a health care administrator she has developed linkages to community organizations such as the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Visiting Nurses/Hospice, Regional Centers for the Developmentally Disabled, etc.

Linda graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Oregon and received her Master’s degree from St. Mary’s College. She is a State Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

Linda’s experience includes more than a decade as a Social Casework Specialist at Contra Costa County’s Adult Protective Services. Linda joined Eldercare Services as a Professional Geriatric Care Manager On-Call in 2009.

Nancy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Mills College and received her Master’s degree in Gerontology from Holy Names University.

Nancy’s experience includes more than thirty years working with seniors and their families. Earlier in her career, while her children were very young, she was a preschool teacher in order to have them close to her. Overall her work includes over two decades as a Case Manager for the Contra Costa County Aging and Adult Services, Office on Aging and with Adult Protective Services.

Cecilia graduated from the University of San Francisco with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing in 1988. While enjoying her career as a nurse at UCSF, Cecilia also served as an administrator demonstrating strengths in staff development as a mentor and role model. She encouraged critical thinking, effective communication and continuing education, even developing new staff classes and training CNA’s for patient care.

Cecilia joined Eldercare Services as an Inservice Educator in 2011. As the Inservice Educator, she is responsible for the orientation and on-going trainings of all caregivers at Eldercare Services. She has served the senior population for over 10 years.