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. She had the good fortune of having strong relationships with her grandparents, which fueled her desire to do the work that she now does so passionately. Her hands-on therapy training evolved and grew into an aspiration to make a difference in Administration and Assisted Living Operations, a challenging and rewarding profession in a constantly changing environment.

Chris came to Eldercare Services in 2006 and became Care Manager Certified in 2009. She was promoted to Director of Client Services in late 2012. She has a strong background in assisting clients and families with Alzheimer’s disease and the dementias as well as other aspects of aging challenges. Active in many industry networking groups, she has been an active member of the Event Committee of the Senior Health and Resource Exchange (SHARE) networking group since 2008.

Chris enjoys playing recreational softball, photography, needlepoint and keeping up with her Yellow Lab, Tucker. She is an avid fan of her son’s travel baseball team and of the Oakland A’s.

Vince graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from California State University, Chico. He earned a Master’s degree in counseling leadership from St. Mary’s College of California, a second Master’s degree in clinical psychology from the Wright Institute of Berkeley, CA, and finally a doctorate in clinical psychology from the Wright Institute. Vince is a licensed, clinical psychologist.

Vince did his postdoctoral internship at the Boyer House Foundation in San Rafael, a psychotherapeutic living facility. He stayed on as a clinician, became a supervisor, team leader, and eventually a director. He specialized in clinically complex cases, incorporating wrap around services for clients who were unable to live independently.

More recently, Vince has served as an independently contracted concierge style care manager, specializing in geriatrics, dementia, and mental health. Vince has also worked as an on-call psychologist for a local hospital emergency room.

Vince is native to the Walnut Creek area where he lives with his wife and two young children. He is a former Peace Corps volunteer, currently enjoys spending time with his kids, traveling, home improvement projects, cars, and a healthy lifestyle.

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.

Nancy has been with Eldercare Services since 1995, serving as Director of Client Services until June of 2011 when she “downsized” to Manager of Client Relations to grandparent a precious granddaughter. She has been Care Manager Certified since 2003.

In her spare time, Nancy enjoys reading, singing, dancing, drawing, spending time with her family and chasing her grandbaby.

Vickie graduated from University of California at San Francisco with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. She became a Registered Nurse in 1965. For 35 years she has served the geriatric population in Home Health and Assisted Living settings. She held Patient Care Coordinator and Director of Clinical Services positions at local Hospices. Her extensive nursing experience makes her particularly incisive in client assessments, advocacy, medical settings and proactive health recommendations.

Vickie joined Eldercare Services in 2005. She became Care Manager Certified in 2007.

When Vickie isn’t at Eldercare Services or with a client, she is volunteering her time by singing with her “old time folk with a little bit of country” band “Around the Bend” in senior community settings.

Nancy has an undergraduate degree in psychology and 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 and has additional certification from National Association of Social Workers – CSW-G (Clinical Social Worker with specialty in Gerontology).

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. She has also served as a field supervisor for Graduate students (MSW) at UC Berkeley.

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, worked on development of multi-disciplinary team for elder abuse prevention in Alameda County and served on community boards representing frail elders and services aimed at keeping people in their homes.

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). Working with seniors and in nursing has been a passion since High School. She takes pride in the fact her teaching has exposed her to students as young as 18 all the way to 70 who have gained from her training and are now successful CNA’s.

Rhonda originally came to Eldercare Services in 2003, and has now returned in 2012. She has been Certified as a Care Manager and adheres to the guiding principles in all her work.

Rhonda has a variety of hobbies and interests. She enjoys skiing, knitting, travel, cooking, reading, gardening (boasting a big veggie garden). She loves art and in her free time is a regular Docent at the Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek.

A Registered Nurse for 45 years, Katherine brings 21 years of mental health, wellness, and Long Term Care experience in California to Eldercare Services, along with certification as a legal nurse consultant. She has served as Director of Nursing in skilled care, worked with the homeless population diagnosed with major mental illness, managed a private practice in mind, body, spirit healing, and conducted wellness workshops. Her favorites among these are The Healing Power of Poetry, Communicating with Compassion, Moving from Stillness, The Gift of Pain, and Focusing (levels one and two).

She received her Master’s in Clinical Psychology from J. F. Kennedy University in 1997 with a specialization in Expressive Art Therapy. She earned certifications in many mind-body-spirit modalities including hypnosis, Focusing, Rubenfeld Synergy Method ®, massage, and Reiki.

In her personal time, Katherine enjoys nature walks, kayaking, music, expressive arts, exploring advances in neuroscience, consciousness and spirituality, as well as family gatherings and play time with her grandchildren.

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. In 2001 Juli began working at Eldercare Services as a Care Manager and has continued in her private practice as well.

Julie’s hobbies include working for causes she feels passionate about, such as, health care that is accessible to all. She loves working out at the Y, hiking and walking, and dancing. Milestones about which she feels pride include starting ballet in her own later years and teaching children to read and learn the basics of good dental hygiene as a 2nd grade teacher in rural Georgia!

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. Earlier in his career, John worked as a journalist for the Associated Press and Business Week magazine. He has an MA in journalism from Northwestern University and a BA in history from UC Berkeley.

When not at work, John enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing tennis, hiking, cooking and drawing.

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. Other activities include authoring chapters in Handbook of Geriatric Care Management, “Geriatric Care Managers Working with Families”, and Care Managers Working with the Aging Family, “Working with Couples”, edited by Cathy Cress.

As a member of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers (NAPGCM) since 1985, Anne has served on the national and regional executive boards of and has earned the distinction of Fellow. She is a recipient of the Rose Kleiner Award for Outstanding Achievement in Geriatric Care Management and the B.J. Curry Spitler Community Service Award.

Anne is a well-known speaker and active member our speaker bureau and has presented on many subjects dealing with aging, family challenges and quality of life for elders. She joined Eldercare Services as a Professional Geriatric Care Manager in 2009.

Her hobbies include quilting, gardening, and traveling.

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.

She is an active member of our speaker bureau leading talks on an array of aging topics including dementia and end of life issues. Jean joined Eldercare Services as a Professional Geriatric Care Manager in 2008 and became Care Manager Certified in 2009.

Jean’s hobbies include all kinds of outdoor pursuits: swimming, biking, hiking, and gardening and she is an avid reader – participating in two book clubs. She also enjoys music and has recently taken up guitar.

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.Elizabeth’s clinical experience also includes providing individual psychotherapy, testing, and assessment within a community medical center. Her clinical interests include cognitive disorders, behavioral medicine, and neuropsychology.

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

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.

In her personal time, Diane volunteers with animal rescue organizations (including socializing cats & rabbits) and enjoys travel, food – exotic and not so exotic, as well as movies and books.

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.

While working in the Contra Costa County’s Office on Aging’s Senior Information & Referral (I&R), she was the editor of the county’s award winning Senior I&R newsletter which was distributed to county residents. At the same time, she was the Senior I&R social worker who was assigned the most complex calls received from the office. For the past ten years of her career she was a Social Caseworker assigned to the Linkages Case Management Program and to Adult Protective Services.

After retiring, she wanted to remain connected to working with elders and joined Eldercare Services as a Professional Geriatric Care Manager On-Call in 2010. Nancy enjoys traveling with her husband of 41 years, movies, live theater, and lectures. Her cat is her live-in therapist.

Joe graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, PA and received his Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from John F. Kennedy University in Pleasant Hill, CA.

Joe’s experience includes 11 years as a Social Case Work Specialist for Contra Costa County’s Aging and Adult Services assigned to the Multipurpose Senior Service Program, In Home Support Services, and to Adult Protective Services. His background includes counseling, crisis intervention, assessments, emergency response and problem solving.

During his free time he enjoys movies, travel, knitting, video games, and working out at the gym.