2019 Avenidas Care Forum

Speakers

Ellen Brown, MD

Dr. Ellen Brown is a pioneer in developing the role of the hospice physician in the Bay Area and has provided care in the home to thousands of hospice patients in her 20 years at Pathways Hospice. She has trained countless Stanford Palliative Medicine and Geriatrics fellows.

Rita Ghatak, PhD

Dr. Rita Ghatak was the CEO of Rose Kleiner’s eldercare company Older Adults Care management, after her research at Stanford. As the founder of the aging program at Stanford, and Aging 101, she focuses on caregiver research, education and care transitions.

Paula Wolfson, LCSW

Paula Wolfson, LCSW, is the Manager of Avenidas Care Partners and the Coordinator for The Care Forum. Paula facilitates multiple caregiver support groups, conducts elder care consults in the office and clients’ homes, and is active on the Palo Alto Age Friendly Committee.

Kristina Lugo, LCSW

Kristina Lugo joined Avenidas as the Rose Kleiner Center Program Director in March 2018. Bringing over 15 years of healthcare leadership, Kristina has a passion for improving the lives of seniors and dependent adults living at home, leading interdisciplinary teams to success, and developing systems that lead to improving participant outcomes. Kristina received her Masters in Social Work in 2002 and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in 2011.

Minda Cutcher

Minda Cutcher is a professional daily money manager and the founder of Love and Order, her private consulting firm. She provides personal financial and bookkeeping services to individuals and helps elders and their families budget for costs of professional caregiving resources and future transitions to higher levels of care and or assisted living facility placement. She helps clients determine if frail parents will outlive their financial resources and thus pro-actively plan.

Small Group Facilitators

Linda Nastari, LCSW

Linda Nastari, LCSW is a private practice therapist and elder care consultant providing services to help clients navigate the aging process. She has worked for over 30 years in the South Bay area and has presented at local conferences on Caregiving, Dementia and Its Impact on the Family.

Susan Lam, RN

Susan joined the Avenidas Rose Kleiner Center in July 2018 as the Clinical Outreach Specialist. As a Registered Nurse, Susan has worked for over 30 years in health care in cardiac rehabilitation, cardiovascular ICU, and home health. Susan enjoys connecting with the community while providing information and education about the many benefits of participating in Adult Day Health Programs like the Avenidas Rose Kleiner Center.

Sue Alvey

Sue Alvey, LPCC, is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with over 30 years of experience  in guiding older adults and their family caregivers in navigating transition of aging. Facilitating family caregiver support groups for over 20 years has refined her sensitivity to the needs and experiences of those caring for loved ones. Sue’s private practice offers consultation and psychotherapy to family care partners and older adults in the context of a safe and compassionate therapeutic relationship.