EC ABC Team

Management Team

Steve Joyce: CEO and Co-founder of EldercareABC.com

[Alberta, Canada]

Steve’s last ‘real job’ was as the Brand Manager for one of the largest privately owned pharmaceutical companies  in the UK. There Steve managed the branding and promotional campaigns for analgesics and antihypertensive products. His tenure was accompanied by a 368% growth in his product portfolio. Stephen was responsible for the creation and execution of market research, product launch, direct-mail, and consumer awareness studies.

In 2007 he authored ‘Teaching an Anthill to Fetch: Developing Collaborative Intelligence @ Work’.  It became an instant best seller on Amazon and has been translated into German (Wiley Business Books) and Korean, with five other languages pending.

In the 90’s Stephen and Sandra moved back home to Ireland specifically to help care for his parents and unwittingly began a 10 year care experience. It was that experience that inspired them to found EldercareABC.com.

With his extensive knowledge of collaborative processes and a deep knowledge of complex project management, Stephen has assembled a team of specialists to serve those involved in the care of an aging parent. Creating a place where caregivers can be heard and contribute to their own emotional and psychological well-being and that of their fellow community members.

Sandra Joyce: Project Coordinator and Co-founder of EldercareABC.com

[Alberta, Canada]

Sandra’s background is in financial control and business administration. She has worked with companies in a managerial capacity for over 20 years. In 2001 she co-founded ZenergyPD Inc., a training and professional development consultancy.

In 2006 Sandra established Mighty Small Books (MSB) as the publishing arm of Zenergy PD Inc.  Through MSB she coordinated the launch of ‘Teaching an Anthill to Fetch’, managing the marketing and foreign rights sales. Presently she is financial controller and managing partner with ZenergyPD Inc.

With a business background, Sandra brings to EldercareABC her personal experience of raising a family while providing end of life care for her mother.  She remains actively involved volunteering at hospice in Calgary.

Dr. Bernard Starr: Director of Content Development

[New York, New York, USA]

Dr. Bernard Starr is a psychologist, writer, media host/producer, and college professor who specializes in adult development, aging, and spiritual psychology. He is also founder, author and editor of a number of publications and books on psychology, and aging. As professor of developmental and educational psychology at the City University of New York he directed a Graduate Program in Gerontology. Later he headed a gerontology training program at Marymount Manhattan College in NYC.

As consulting editor for the Springer Publishing Company for over two decades  Dr. Starr  was founder and managing editor of  “The Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics” and series editor of “”Adulthood and Aging” and “Lifestyles and Issues in Aging.”

For seven years he was writer, producer and host of an award winning radio commentary, “The Longevity Report” on WEVD Radio in NYC that was a two time nominee for the Alfred I. duPont Award in broadcast journalism.  His numerous commentary and op-ed articles on aging for the Scripps Howard News Service and Journal Press Syndicate have appeared in newspapers throughout the United States. He currently produces and hosts TV documentaries on aging for Active Aging Television Productions.

Mary Nix: Blog Administrator

[Ohio, United States]

Mary became a part of the sandwich generation when helping her parents and handicapped sister began to require more of her time.  After unsuccessfully finding a duplex that would keep them all close, but independent, they removed the roof from her parents home and built a second floor duplex onto their present home.    This arrangement has worked well for over ten years and has enabled her parents to remain independent, but still have help when it is necessary.

Over the years, Mary has become a passionate advocate for senior citizens and handicapped individuals, learning to become a partner with many others for their continued care.

Mary was a home educating parent from 1990 to 2007 and developed many of her activist skills while volunteering to monitor legislation, co-coordinating a statewide organization and running monthly meetings to help others to understand the process.

From May 2003 to May 2008, she was a feature writer, multi-blogger and online general manager for the International and Award winning Home Education Magazine.  In 2003 Mary and her husband David created North Coast Web and Design, a web and design and hosting company that has grown from just a few sites to over two-dozen websites today.

Mary brings her strong advocacy skills and passion for helping others to this stage of her life-helping to care for her parents and aging handicapped sister.   She writes about the challenges and joys they face together.

Writers

Janice Wallace: Blogger

Janice Wallace, The Eldercare Coach, is the owner and founder of Caring for Caregivers.

She draws on her 14 plus years of experience caring for her own aging parents and her training as a life coach to help families navigate the spiritual, emotional and practical challenges of caregiving.

Her experience caring for her mother, taught her that the children of aging parents need support in three critical areas:

• Targeted information on services to help their parent.
• Practical tips for balancing caregiving with their career and home life.
• Emotional support for the powerful feelings generated by their caregiving role.

Janice helps her clients assess the needs of their family member and create and follow a plan to provide the best care possible. Her clients successfully tackle issues such as caregiver stress and improving family cooperation. She encourages her clients to apply the business acumen they have developed in their careers and volunteer work to support their parents.

Janice’s career has always been people focused.  After graduating from UCLA, she began her corporate career in insurance management. For eighteen years at a major accounting firm she led teams of all sizes, working nationally and internationally to support and educate employees on technology issues.  She founded Caring for Caregivers in 2004.

Janice is a speaker and workshop leader on eldercare issues.  She publishes a monthly newsletter for caregivers “Caring for Aging Parents” and is the author of ebooks, “Caregiver Success Strategies” and “Eldercare 101″. She is also a certified Grief£Recovery^® Specialist helping individuals recover from significant loss experiences.

Janice can be reached via her websites www.caringforcaregivers.com, www.understanding-dementia.com and www.grief-to-healing.com.

Mary Jane Stern:Blogger

Mary Jane became involved with Medicare as a result of her husband’s disability during 2003. With so many different options within the Medicare system she spent the time to thoroughly research and establish what the best options were for her husband’s medical needs. She enjoys educating people on the different plans Medicare offers, and how to keep out of the “do nut hole” on the Medicare Part D Prescription Plan.

Mary Jane owns a Virtual Assistant practice http://mjstern-va.com and works out of her home in Florida as a Certified Internet Marketing Virtual Assistant and Certified SEO Specialist.

Mary Jane has worked in the administrative field for 20+ years. She was a co-owner of a contract manufacturing company and supported upper level management in Information Technology, Finance and Administration, Legal Counsel, Risk Management and Customer Service for various industries that include, private wealth management, manufacturing and commercial real estate.

Mary Jane hopes by offering her knowledge about Medicare for http://EldercareABCblog.com will help those already enrolled or becoming eligible for the Medicare Program to make sound, cost-effective decisions for their medical needs.

Mary Beth Sammons: Blogger

Mary Beth Sammons is an award-winning journalist and author who writes about the ups and downs of handling life, parenting, and reinventing your life with grace and gusto in Family Circle, the Chicago Tribune’s lifestyle section, and on various online health and wellness websites, including www.CarePages.com; MyCareCommynity.org, American Airlines Website for female travelers, (MyCareCommynity.org, and BettyConfidential.com. Mary Beth has written seven books in the women’s self-help and health and wellness fields, including We Carry Each Other: Getting Through Life’s Toughest Times; My Family: Collected Memories; and Gifts with Heart. Her newest book, Second Acts That Change Lives: Making a Difference in the World, will be published in spring 2009. She has received several industry awards, including first place from United Press International for best spot news coverage, a PR Silver Anvil Award, and an undergraduate scholarship from the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. When she’s not hanging out in intensive care units with her parents, Mary Beth competes in triathlons and knits, reads, and gardens with passion. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her children. To contact Mary Beth, e-mail her at marybethsammons@aol.com.

Christy Cuellar-Wentz: Blogger

Christy Cuellar-Wentz is a counselor, coach and writer who is passionate about empowering people’s lives through online collaboration. Although she is best known as the “Mommy Muse” through her work as co-founder of Mommy-Muse.com, Christy became intimately familiar with the joys and challenges of eldercare while simultaneously caring for her grandfather, who suffered from dementia, and homeschooling her 5 year old and toddler.

Her journey into eldercare began at the tender age of twelve, when she attended a profound lecture on death and dying with Elizabeth Kubler-Ross. This inspired Christy’s lifelong respect for the end of life process, as well as for the friendship and wisdom that the elderly can bring into our lives. She earned a Master of Arts in Applied Behavioral Science from Bastyr University in 1995, and has sought out companionship with the elderly in her travels around the country. From becoming an honorary junior member of the Wise Outrageous Women, to working as a Hospice Counselor, to brightening senior care homes through belly dancing, Christy seeks to enhance the daily lives of the elderly and their caregivers.

She is honored to be part of the EldercareABC team. As someone who has been there and knows how to help, she is dedicated to providing you with essential resources and encouragement to empower your life.

Joy Loverde: Blogger

Joy Loverde, a consultant in the mature market/active adult industry shares her expertise with family members and professionals who want to successfully plan and manage eldercare issues.

Her best selling book, “The Complete Eldercare Planner: Where to Start, Questions to Ask, How to Find Help,” (updated and revised, Random House, 2009) reflects the depth of her understanding and compassion for the needs of older Americans. “The book is the best we saw…” says the American Medical Association.

As a media spokesperson, Joy’s appearances include the Today show, CBS Early Show, ABC NewsNow, Fox News, National Public Radio, and others. During her career, Joy has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, LA Times, Kiplinger’s Retirement Report, and HR Magazine. USA TODAY ran a four-part series on Joy’s eldercare programs.

Joy is a seasoned keynote speaker for a variety of audiences including National Institutes of Health, Xerox Women’s International Conference, American Compensation Association, Catholic Charities, Employee Assistance Professionals Association, and numerous senior housing communities.

Joy is the director of Silvercare Productions, established in 1989, and serves as a mature-market consultant to human resource professionals, caregiver organizations, corporations, attorneys, financial planners, clergy, retirement-housing directors, and other members of the fast-growing eldercare industry. Joy lives in Chicago. Visit her website at Elderindustry.com

Special Advisors

Dr. Marcella Bakur Weiner Ph.D. – Author of four books on the topic of aging, Marcella has had a long and distinguished career. Weiner has both a Master’s and doctoral thesis’s published on the topic of ‘aging’. A clinical psychologist with a thriving practice in New York, Dr. Weiner frequently presents to the American Psychologists Association (APA). Her  recent book ‘Aging Parents, Aging Children’ achieved best seller status shortly after publication.

Dr. Al Siebert Ph.D. – is Director of The Resiliency Center. He is an ex-paratrooper with a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Michigan. He is a recognized internationally for his expertise in the area of ‘resilience’. His book Survivor Personality has been translated into many languages. He has been interviewed on National Public Radio, the NBC Today Show, Discovery Channel and OPRAH. Dr Siebert brings a wealth of knowledge on what it takes to survive parenting a parent. He has also taught management psychology at Portland State University for over thirty years. His most recent book ‘The Resiliency Advantage’ won the title of ‘Best Self-Help Book’ in the 2006 Independent Publishers awards.