Meet Our Experts

Alzheimer’s & Dementia
	Matt Kudish,  Alzheimer's & Dementia Expert Matt Kudish, LMSW, is Vice President, Director of Education, Outreach and Caregiver Services at the Alzheimer’s Association, New York City Chapter. In this role, Matt oversees the Chapter’s 24-hour Helpline and Care Consultation programs, as well as comprehensive education and training initiatives throughout the five boroughs. He is active with both the New York City Elder Abuse Network (NYCEAN) and the New York City Elder Abuse Center.

	Carole Larkin,  Alzheimer's & Dementia Expert Carole Larkin MA, CMC, CAEd, QDCS, EICS is a geriatric care manager who specializes in helping families with Alzheimer’s and related dementias issues. She also trains caregivers in home care companies, assisted livings, memory care communities, and nursing homes in dementia specific techniques for best care of dementia sufferers. Her company, ThirdAge Services LLC, is located in Dallas, TX.

Brain Health
	Dr. Paul Nussbaum,  Brain Health Expert Dr. Nussbaum earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Arizona and completed his internship and post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He has provided care to older adults for over 25 years and specializes in normal aging, Alzheimer’s disease, and related disorders. His brain health lifestyle ® has been published in consumer friendly texts, presented to diverse audiences across the nation, and is frequently cited in the media.

Cancer
	Linda Burhans,  Cancer Caregiving Expert Caregiver Advocate, Linda Burhans is the author of Good Night and God Bless, that talks about the emotional, rewarding and frustrating journey of her mother, during the final 18 months of her life. Good Night and God Bless offers inspirational messages of unconditional love, loss, joy, sorrow and humor for those caring for aging parents. Linda is sought after for speaking engagements and workshops for family caregivers, senior home health care and assisted living facilities.

Care Providers
	Edward Leigh,  Patient Communications Expert Edward Leigh, MA, focuses on helping patients and healthcare professionals effectively communicate with each other. Excellent communication skills dramatically enhance patient satisfaction and safety. He presents high-energy and informative programs for hospitals, healthcare associations, medical practices, government organizations and universities. He is also an in-demand consultant and coach. He has a master’s degree in health education.

Caregiving
	Craig Jennings,  Caregiving Expert Craig Jennings, Founder of Caring for the Caregiver that creates support groups in collaboration with community organizations. The organization organizes Caregiver Fairs and Caring and Healing circles that allows local caregivers to meet and discuss their experiences.

	Margery Pabst,  Caregiving Expert Margery Pabst has over 30 years experience as a national speaker, facilitator, and is the co-author of four books focused on human potential and personal resilience. She is the co-author of "Enrich Your Caregiving Journey", winner of the 2010 "Caregiver Friendly Award" and the host of eCareDiary's "Caregiver and Physician Conversations" which airs the last Tuesday of each month at 2PM EDT. Margery Pabst is a thought leader for both family and professional caregivers and speaks at national con

	Kim Linder,  Senior Living Expert Kim Linder is a certified senior advisor and Founder of Senior Holistic Living, a resource center for elders. She is also the host of “The Caregiver Hour”, a radio show on Clear Channel 1250AM WHNZ providing support and information. She has been a professional caregiver for the past 10 years and has worked as a Marketing Director and Executive Director of Assisted Living Facilities in Florida, where she developed monthly educational and wellness programs.

Dental
	Joshua Davidson,  Senior Dental Care Expert Joshua Davidson is a 2011 graduate of the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health. He simultaneously received his Masters Degree in Public Health. He currently works at the Neillsville Dental Center in Neillsville, Wisconsin while focusing on the issues of geriatric dental care.

Depression
	Dr. Patrick Arbore,  Elder Abuse & Depression Expert Dr. Patrick Arbore is the Founder and Director of the Center for Elderly Suicide Prevention and Grief Related Services (CESP), a program offered by the Institute on Aging in San Francisco. Dr. Arbore conducts workshops and lectures locally and nationally on aging-related subjects. He is the author of numerous articles and book chapters on suicide prevention, bereavement, suffering, etc., including a chapter he co-authored in the book, “When Professionals Weep".

Elder Abuse
	Mary Twomey,  Elder Abuse Expert Mary Twomey, MSW is the Co-director of the Center of Excellence on Elder Abuse and Neglect at the University of California, Irvine. Previously, she was director of the San Francisco Consortium for Elder Abuse Prevention, a program of the Institute on Aging. She spent eleven years with the national office of AARP where she coordinated the National Guardianship Monitoring Program. Mary has her MSW with a concentration in gerontology and mental health from Catholic University in Washington D.C.

Elder Driving
	Beth Tracton-Bishop,  Older Driver Expert Beth Tracton-Bishop, PhD is a gerontologist with The Hartford Advance 50 Team and an expert on aging, housing, and driver safety. She is also the blogger for the For A Lifetime blog, an award winning, lively discussion about what we can all do - at any age - to stay safe on the road and at home. Visit her blog at Visit her blog at: www.thehartford.com/lifetimeblog.

End of Life
	Ellen Coughlin,  End-of-Life Expert Ellen P. Coughlin, RN, MPA, MA, CHPN, has been the Vice President of Patient and Family Services for Barnabas Health Hospice and Palliative Care Center, a Barnabas Health facility located in northern New Jersey, since 1997. Currently serving as a Board Member for the New Jersey Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NJHPCO), Ellen is also a member of the NJHPCO’s Pediatric End-of-Life Care Committee/Quality Partner Committee.

	Viki Kind,  End-of-Life Expert Viki Kind is a clinical bioethicist, professional speaker, and hospice volunteer. Her book, The Caregiver’s Path to Compassionate Decision Making: Making Choices For Those Who Can't,” guides families and professionals through the difficult process of advocating for those who can no longer speak for themselves. Viki provides bioethics consultation and support for many hospitals in the Los Angeles area. Patients, families and professionals rely on Viki’s practical approach to dealing with chal

Fall Prevention
	Dr. Rein Tideiksaar,  Fall Prevention Expert Rein Tideiksaar Ph.D., PA-C is the founder and president of FallPrevent, LLC, a consulting company that provides educational, legal and marketing services related to fall prevention in the elderly. Dr Tideiksaar is a gerontologist and a geriatric physician's assistant. He has been active in the area of fall prevention for over 30 years, and has designed numerous educational and clinical fall prevention programs.

Health & Fitness
	Jae Gruenke,  Senior Health & Fitness Expert Jae Gruenke is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner and ACE-Certified Personal Trainer. She founded Intelligent Exercise in 1998 to offer fitness and movement education to people who need to move more and move better. Her clients have ranged in age from 8 to 96 with goals including managing chronic illness, reducing pain, improving balance and mobility, and healthy aging.

HIV & AIDS
	Hilary Meyer,  Expert Hilary Meyer is the Director of the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging, the country's only resource center focused on improving the quality of services and supports offered to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender older adults nationwide. Meyer provides leadership for the Center and the activities of its staff, advisory council and national partner organizations, guides content development and tools, and diseeminates best practice publications.

Home Remodeling
	Mike Dodd,  Home Remodeling Expert Mike Dodd is the founder and President of Lifewise Renovations, that combines home remodeling project management with the expertise of health care professionals, to make it possible live safely and comfortably at home regardless of age or physical ability. As a member of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Mike holds the Certified Aging In Place Specialist (CAPS) designation.

Legal
	Jeffrey Asher,  Elder Law Expert Jeffrey Asher is a Partner at Eaton & Van Winkle LLP. Mr. Asher concentrates primarily in the areas of Estate Planning, Elder Law and Medicaid Planning, Asset Protection, Estates and Trusts Administration, and Special Needs Planning. Using various techniques, Mr. Asher gives his clients the peace of mind knowing that their estate plans will protect their loved ones and secure their wealth for the next generation.

	Wendie Howland,  Life Care Planning Expert She is owner and principal of Howland Health Consulting, offering life care planning, case management, and legal nurse consulting services nationwide, primarily for persons with catastrophic or chronic injury or illness. She has a master's degree in nursing and holds national certifications in rehabilitation nursing, case management, and life care planning.

Long Term Care
	Susan Fleischer,  Geriatric Care Management Expert Susan Fleischer, LCSW, MSSW, ACSW, CMC, CSW-G, CSWM, CMFSW is an Executive Director at SeniorBridge, a health company that provides care management, hourly and live-in home care, private duty nursing and in-facility aides coast to coast. She is also the president of the National Association of Geriatric Care Managers. SeniorBridge is CHAP accredited which certifies the company meets the highest quality standards in healthcare. To contact SeniorBridge for a free consultation, call 1-866-506-1212

Medicare
	John Mills,  Healthcare Reform Expert John Mills, the Founder of eCareDiary.com, has over 20 years of experience in the health care field focused on health care policy. His previous work experience includes being a key team member of MyHealthBank, a start-up company specializing in health care software and technology and working as chief health policy aide to Congressman Eliot Engel of New York. He was a member of President Clinton’s Task Force on Health Care Reform.

Medications
	Dr. William Simonson,  Senior Medications Experts Dr. William Simonson (also known as “Dr. Si”) is an independent consultant pharmacist with 30+ years experience in senior medication issues. He is board-certified in geriatric pharmacy, is a Senior Research Professor (Pharmacy Practice) at Oregon State University and maintains an active long-term care pharmacy practice.

Respite Care
	Jill Kagan,  Respite Care Expert Jill Kagan, MPH, is the Director of the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center and Chair of its policy division, the National Respite Coalition. ARCH has been a leader in the areas of respite research and evaluation, training, advocacy, and consumer issues for more than twenty years.