GOLDEN POND ELDER CARE STRATEGIES - Key Persons
Connie is a Qualified Mental Health Professional and Certified Dementia Practitioner. She brings over 25 years of specialized crisis intervention, educational counseling, advocacy, safety planning, group facilitation, recreational activities, and community collaboration. She began her advocacy work on a crisis hotline and worked many years in shelters for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Connie was also an activity therapist in inpatient behavioral health. Ultimately she found her purpose working with seniors in the geriatric unit in the hospital.
Connie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Michigan. She was born in Detroit and moved to Winchester in 2001 after marriage. Her interests include yoga, mindfulness meditation, travel and studying the Italian language.
While growing up, Connie's grandmother lived with her family. They were close and Connie enjoyed the times when her grandmother came to Virginia and stayed for weeks at a time. It was an honor to care for her grandmother when she battled breast cancer and during her final years. She brings this loving care to all her clients and believes it is a privilege whenever anyone lets you into their lives.
Throughout her career she has been part of multi-disciplinary teams working to help others live their best lives. Connie has a strengths-based approach. She is passionate about motivating and supporting others to live fulfilling lives.
Julie has more than 30 years of nursing experience, focused in intensive care, cardiac care and hospice. As a care manager, Julie loves empowering her clients to maintain their independence with personalized support. She is an advocate for those who remain in their homes, helping them stay healthy and happy, aging in place as long as possible. Her forte though is supporting clients and their families through the transitions: moving clients from one level of care to another, supporting clients through serious medical diagnoses, and having the hard conversations. She collaborates with a broad base of professionals and services for the well-being of her clients.
Julie obtained a bachelors in Nursing from Southern Oregon University. Spanning her career she has worked in California, Utah, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Virginia, as her husband proceeded in his military career. She has been active member and leader in her community and in her church.
Julie home schooled her four children in Winchester, VA who are pursuing their interests around the world and have in followed in her steps of service. She has one granddaughter whom she enjoys watching grow up.
Job Titles:
- Certified Nurse Case Manager
Julie Widman is a certified Nurse Case Manager with 30 years' experience working in the hospital setting. Through her experience she brings a strong knowledge of care coordination in the complex medical arena. Julie has spent years building relationships throughout the community to ensure high quality care for her patients upon return to the community. As a care manager, Julie is a strong advocate for seniors, educating and assisting clients and families navigate through the increasingly complex health care system.
Julie brings both professional and personal experience to her profession. She uses her knowledge to advocate for the best outcomes for her clients.
Julie received her Nursing degree from Marymount University in Arlington. While working at George Washington University Hospital, she received her BA in Human Services where she gained interest in the need for education and advocacy within the community.
Lisa, a Life Support Concierge, provides various services to Golden Pond clients to allow them to thrive at home. Shopping trips, errands, organizing and preserving memories and collections in electronic form, downsizing, honey do lists, and streamlining work space are all aspects of her client support activities.
Lisa was born and raised in Loudoun County, Virginia and lives in Middleburg, VA. She has two adult children and a grandson.
She studied Psychology and Early Elementary Education at Mary Washington College. In addition to working with Golden Pond she is a behavioral assistant in a self-contained autism program in the Loudoun County Public School System. She has been a business owner and is an active member of her church and her community. Her experience includes teaching, banking, relocation, and concierge services.
Mary Kay Crain is a geriatric nurse care manager with more than 20 years of broad-based experience, including working in hospitals, family practice offices, and insurance companies. Her specialties include adult patient care, case management for the Medicare/Medicaid population, and patient education. She also has extensive experience caring for her parents, which has given her additional insight into patients' and families' needs.
Mary Kay received her bachelor's in nursing from the University of Virginia. She also received her Faith Community Nurse certification from Shenandoah University and is a certified dementia practitioner.
Through her professional and personal experiences, Mary Kay has developed a love of working with the older adult population. As a geriatric care manager, she strives to advocate for her clients and their loved ones, offer health education, help coordinate care, and provide resources to ensure a safe living environment while promoting independence as long as possible. She believes support from others, a positive attitude, and a sense of humor are important to all of us, regardless of our age.
Megan Descutner is a certified care manager whose 40 year career has spanned rehabilitation, home health, long term care, mental health, and community and government relations. She has a master's degree in nursing and has worked with individuals and families from birth through end of life.
Megan was a member of the Loudoun County Commission on Aging and is a member of The Aging Life Care Association, formally The National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers. She is actively involved in community education to improve care for vulnerable, disabled, and elderly individuals providing knowledge and tools to make a difference.
Patti is a care manager with over 20 years of experience in different social work settings, including hospitals, schools, and senior living communities. Much of her professional experience has involved supporting adults with mental health challenges to live as independently as possible. She enjoys building relationships, finding long-term solutions and collaborating with clients to help them live their best life.
Patti learned some valuable lessons while managing the healthcare of her out-of-state parents. She navigated their healthcare team, home health care, hospice care, insurance claims, VA benefits and kept her large family on the same page. She is a fierce advocate.
Patti earned her Master's in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University.
While working in the Activities Department of a senior living community she came to realize that seniors were her kind of people. Care management for seniors is a perfect blend of her talents and expertise.
Sara Watson brings more than 25 years of nursing experience to her role as a geriatric care manager. Her nursing career has included geriatric nursing in the hospital, home healthcare settings and nursing homes. Her experience also includes case management in the insurance side of the healthcare process, working as a health insurance underwriting assessor and insurance claim case manager. With an elderly parent, Sara has also personally navigated the long-term care issues many aging seniors face including challenges such as long distance relocation and facility to facility transfers.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Western Carolina University, carrying on a tradition of nursing which now includes three generations, beginning with her late mother and now carried on by Sara's daughter, a recent graduate of the School of Nursing at Liberty University now serving as a nurse at a hospital in Lynchburg.
Sara has a heart for the senior community and strives to anticipate and meet the needs of her clients. She enjoys her role as an advocate for her clients as well as assisting their families in navigating the often bewildering world of healthcare providers, facilities, and insurers that mediate the care provided to our elderly loved ones in this new age of healthcare in America.
Sue Clewis is a care manager who received her bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation with a minor in Gerontology from Mars Hill University in 1990. An activities therapist, Sue was a member of the large Recreation Therapy Department and interdisciplinary team at The Veterans Administration Medical Center in Danville, Illinois.
When she and her husband returned home to Virginia they established an Assisted Living Group Home in Lovettsville which they operated until they had children. She is an active member of the community. Her volunteer work includes participating on the Inova Loudoun Hospital Ladies Board and managing their traditional Annual Rummage Sale which funds some of Inova's community-focused initiatives.
Since 1990 Sue has been providing direct and indirect high quality care to home-bound elderly. As a part of the Golden Pond Team, Sue provides insightful and solution-oriented care management providing continuity of health care and enhancing quality of life for aging adults living at home and in senior living communities throughout Northern VA.
Tammee has more than 25 years of nursing experience in clinical settings with additional experience in home health nursing, insurance case management and travel assignments providing COVID testing and vaccines throughout the country. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology and graduated from a nursing program in Southern California which is her native state. Her broad scope of experience is beneficial in bringing together the resources necessary to age in place. With a knowledge of insurance coverage, expertise in senior healthcare challenges and experience in explaining diagnoses and treatment plans to aging adults, she is an excellent advocate. She loves working with aging adults and enjoys creating a plan for each client that meet their particular needs.
Tammee is married with three adult children and a has an "office" cat and dog that try to join her phone calls. She enjoys Pilates classes, exploring the Virginia countryside, and travel.
Teresa Dunbar is a certified care manager and gerontologist, with over 20 years experience working with older adults. Prior to joining the team at Golden Pond, Teresa provided care management services, provided consulting services to churches, managed social service departments in rehabilitation and nursing centers, and provided social services in adult day care.
Her care management experience includes working for care management and home health agencies. In addition to professionally assisting older adults and their loved ones with health care decisions and planning, Teresa has first-hand knowledge and understanding of the challenges of aging with her own parents.
Teresa obtained her undergraduate degree in psychology from the University of Richmond and her master's degree in gerontology from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has a passion for advocating for older adults and ensuring they receive the services they need to foster maximum independence and safety, and enjoys addressing the unique circumstances of each client and providing the guidance needed.