Deana Barone

Senior Care Consultant, CarePatrol of Greater Cincinnati SW Ohio

Deana Barone is a certified rehabilitation counselor, case manager and dementia practitioner whose role with CarePatrol consists of educating, consulting and advocating for seniors looking into safer living options. She provides the necessary educational and emotional support allowing seniors to make informed decisions about their future care needs while maximizing their independence. She has over 25 years of case management experience working with individuals with various mental and physical illnesses and disabilities. Prior to coming to CarePatrol she was the Director of Case Management at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital, coordinating services and providing adjustment counseling for discharging patients and their families. She recently certified as an Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Trainer and a First Responder Dementia Trainer. Her goal is to reach as many people as possible, providing them with the resources and tools to understand and effectively engage with those diagnosed with these disorders. Deana received her Master of Rehabilitation Counseling degree from Wright State University and continues to be active there as an adjunct professor. She believes that trust, rapport, and integrity, peppered with a little “you aren’t alone / we got this” attitude is needed to be the best advocate for her clients.

Shannon Braun

Director Center for Memory Support & Inclusion, Episcopal Retirement

Shannon Braun, LISW-S is the Director of the Center for Memory Support and Inclusion with Episcopal Retirement Services. She provides education, support, and social engagement to individuals and families facing dementia, in addition to promoting dementia inclusivity to businesses and organizations in the Cincinnati area. She has over ten years of experience in aging and dementia care in a variety of settings, including hospice, long term care, and in the community. Shannon has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Saint Louis University and a Master of Social Work from University of Cincinnati with a concentration in Health Care and Gerontology. She is a Licensed Independent Social Worker with Supervision Designation in the state of Ohio.

Kristin Cooley

Clinical Social Worker, NeuroPsych Center of Greater Cincinnati

Kristin Cooley is a clinical social worker who offers a hybrid of counseling, care planning and psycho-educational services for the NeuroPsych Center of Greater Cincinnati. She has more than 10 years of experience working with individuals with chronic and/or terminal illnesses (along with their care partners) in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Her professional journey includes 6+ years at the Alzheimer’s Association, where her eyes were really opened to the uniquely difficult challenges a dementia diagnosis can bring to an individual and their loved ones. Kristin’s areas of specialty include but are not limited to: caregivers and/or older adults (specifically impacted by Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia) as well as grief work  loss of independence, lifestyle & role transitions, isolation, anticipatory loss, and loss to death). Kristin obtained her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Indiana University and her Master of Social Work from University of Illinois. Clients and community partners can expect Kristin to be friendly and engaging, striving to create a strong therapeutic bond in trust.

Maria Deneau

Director of Admissions & Marketing

Born and raised on the west side of Cincinnati! I didn’t stay there, however- I have lived in Miami/ Ft. Lauderdale, Dallas TX, Ft. Hood, TX, Minneapolis, MN, Southwest Michigan and now am back in Cincy. My Mom suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and I got involved with The Alzheimer’s Association as a public policy advocate in 3 districts between MI and OH, serving as ambassador in Michigan. My curiosity and passion for the toll that dementia takes on the patient and their family (including my own) steered me into long-term care, home health and hospice and now I have landed at The Alois Alzheimer Center as Director of Admissions & Marketing. I am also involved in The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement, a non-profit started by Maria Shriver and contribute curated articles on occasion, and also serve as one of her ambassadors. I have a 20 year old son who gives me panic attacks every time he puts his skis on and I love to watch him pursue his dreams in Michigan and out west. I am an avid fan geek of all things “great white shark”, and go cage diving every year at Guadalupe Island which is 260 miles off the coast of Baja, Mexico to experience these creatures in their natural habitat. I now live with my partner and boyfriend Al in Eden Park and love to hike!

Tony Fenno

Owner, Right at Home of Greater Cincinnati & NKY

Dawn Freudenerg

Director of Planning, Innovation & Quality, Hamilton Co DDS

I have had many roles at HCDDS starting as an SSA/Case Manager, several supervisory roles in SSA, Training, and Provider Quality/Compliance, and my current role where I oversee agency strategic planning, family and advocacy work, community relations, and provider support. I have been deeply  engaged in cross system work with aging and DD services over the past five years in particular. Among other outcomes, we created a “Future is Now” series where aging caregivers of a loved one with DD capture their hopes for the future in a “Letter of Intent”. Collaboration with our aging partners has been invaluable and I look forward to continuing.

Christian Gausvik, MD

Physician, The Christ Hospital, President, Giving Voice Foundation

Dr. Christian Gausvik, MD is a local Cincinnati Family Medicine physician and completed his medical school training at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and residency at The Christ Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program before continuing on to complete an additional Geriatric Fellowship at The Christ Hospital as well. Throughout medical school and residency Dr. Gausvik has published research on older adults, social isolation and health outcomes, interdisciplinary medical care teams and improved communication. He has volunteered with the Alzheimer’s Association for over a decade, participated in global health trips to South America and received local and state awards for his leadership and advocacy activities. Locally, Christian and his husband Cody started the Giving Voice Foundation as an organization to house the two fundraisers they launched years earlier: Mimosas for Memories and Brews for Brains. GVF now provides programming in an effort to support older adults in Cincinnati and their caregivers through the journey of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Dr. Gausvik is a Cincinnati 40 under 40 winner and local LGBTQ+ Healthcare Advocate. 

Michael Gelfgot

COO, Activate Brain & Body

Michael Gelfgot’s drive to be a different kind of a health club started 20 years ago. Between Gelfgot and his partners, they operated 23 health clubs as part of a well-known fitness franchise in the United States. Along with his teams accomplishments in 2008 Club Operators of the Year, 2013 Success Story of the Year, 2013, 2016, & 2018 Personal Trainer of the Year, 2015 Community Outreach Award of the Year, Michael Gelfgot was the very first Personal Trainer of the Year back in 2012. Now Mike and his partners are opening first of its kind, Activate Brain & Body. Activate Brain & Body is a cutting-edge brain & fitness think-tank growing into a chain of brain health studios. Combining brain training and physical training, Activate Brain & Body is looking to re-engineer fitness as upstream preventative healthcare. Gelfgot is currently a COO, has 20 + years of experience in the health and fitness business, and holds 10 + nationally accredited certifications.

Anna Goubeaux

Caregiver Support Team Lead, Council on Aging

Anna Goubeaux is the current Caregiver Support Nurse at COA. In this position she works directly with the unpaid Caregivers that manage their loved one’s care needs. Together, they work to improve the lives of the Caregiver and the care recipient by offering support, resources, information and programs that assist to keep someone in their home. Anna has worked in our community for over 25 years and is very familiar with our local and national resources for Caregivers.

Karly Hasselfeld-Camerer

Angie Homoelle

Caregiver Assistance Network Coordinator, Catholic Charities SW OH

Since 2016, I’ve worked at Catholic Charities as the coordinator of the Caregiver Assistance Network. Prior to that I volunteered for CAN, Pro Seniors and various Adult Day centers, visiting older adults, advocating on their behalf, or supporting caregivers in support groups. Over the years I also worked in home health for agencies and as private duty for people with disabilities and older adults. My educational background and very first job was in biomedical engineering, so it took a little while for me to figure out my calling, but I am blessed to have found it working with caregivers and older adults. I live on the west side of Cincinnati with my husband and two teenagers. We also have a college student and a post-graduate student trying to figure out their place. My passion is creating a supportive space for caregivers to share their stories and in doing so, help them find peace and hope during times that are often difficult and overwhelming, as they realize they are not alone.

Joshua Kruer

Senior Enrichment Director, Skool Aid

Hi there, I am a community organizer and educator with years of experience teaching students K-8, teens and seniors. I am passionate about interpreting complex ideas for a variety of audiences in programs and events. For the past 8 years I have been working for Skool Aid offering a kids enrichment program I have developed around music where the kiddos learn to play a wide array of instruments, form their own bands each week and eventually record their own songs as mementos to share with family. Recently, I have been offering programs for seniors in assisted living and memory care facilities, inspired by sharing time with my grandma Helen and Great Aunt Helen <3

Angela Onyekanne

Doctor of Physical Therapy, Owner Serniority Wellness & Consulting LLC

Krista Powers

Life Coach, Potere

A person of passion, presence, wonder, and awe – is a Social Worker by trade, with additional certifications in the Grief Recovery Method and Life Coaching. Krista’s career has offered opportunities in care companionship, mission integration in long term care communities, fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Association. She has been honored to speak at conferences and is also invested in community engagement. Through these experiences, Krista has developed as a professional who honors the human aspects of every situation. She has honed an ability to quickly assess each situation, connect and dive into an individual’s vulnerable and difficult moments, identify growth opportunities for individuals and businesses, and has routinely found herself positioned in organizational change management roles as well as informal coaching. Krista has been a primary caregiver for a partner as well as an integral part of care teams for many aging individuals. She has experienced being consumed and lost while caregiving and has learned how to grow in a way that has rekindled her mind, heart, and spirit. Krista is energized to align her gifts and passion to empower individuals, specifically caregivers, to ensure they are not lost in the process of important and transformational moments of life.

Kate Race

Regional Director, Assisting Homes Home Care

Kentucky born and bred with 20 years’ experience in care for seniors and their families. My grandfathers are my inspiration – when I was 17, I moved in with one of my grandfathers to be his caregiver while also supporting my family in managing care for my other grandfather with dementia. I currently work as the Regional Director with Assisting Hands Home Care. This job affords me the opportunity to help seniors in a variety of home settings. Dementia care and education are my personal passion. I ran memory care unit at a local assisted living for nearly 13 years and I got so much joy out of part of my career. I love working with caregivers and family members to help facilitate the best possible care plans. I happily volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association and work collectively in my current role to help provide dementia education and support to the professional community . My mornings begin with a Crossfit workout and they end with my husband and two boys.

Olivia Smith

Partner Attorney, CMRS

My name is Olivia. I am a private practicing attorney focusing on elder law, estate planning and estate administration. I deal with issues of aging from a legal perspective. I am the president of Cincinnati Senior Connection, general day-to-day work.

Breanna Williams

Programs Manager, Meals on Wheels Southwest Ohio & Northern Kentucky

I often think of my career beginning at age seven when I would go with my mother to her workplace, a nursing home, to pick up her paycheck. She explained that the residents loved being visited by us because we reminded them of family. It was only until later in life I realized how important my short visits were. After graduating, I began my career at our local Area Agency on Aging, empowering older adults with much needed resources. Other professional experience includes the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension and Health Education Specialist at the Northern Kentucky Health Department. These roles included grants management, coalition building, and advocacy related to
policy, systems, and environmental change. During the pandemic, as many of us have, I faced many personal challenges. During this time, I changed paths that led me to 55 North, a nonprofit senior service agency where I served as Program Director. My primary role was connecting older adults with programs that enabled them to be a part of their community. A recent merger with Meals on Wheels led me to where I am now. Here, my role builds on my previous experience, focusing on innovations around nutrition and digital connection.

Brooke Williams

Owner (MSW, LSW), Elite Living Personal Care Homes

My parents had me at a very young age. I spent a lot of time with my grandparents and great aunts and developed a very special bond with each of them. My first experience with dementia was with my great aunt and caring for her beginning during my childhood. I remember being scared when a neighbor called and said she was walking down the street with no pants on!! I can chuckle about it now but my time with her, and all my elderly relatives was my driving force to focus my MSW on health and gerontology and spend the last 20+ years working with this population. I definitely know that this is what I have been called to do. I have worked in the hospital, nursing home and longest part of my career in home health. I loved seeing patients in their home where they
were most comfortable.

My business partner and I talked for years about bringing the west coast idea of personal care homes to Cincinnati. When we finally decided to move forward and found our first home, we closed on it the day after the governor shut the state down! It was a long road but now that we are up and running, I try and make each resident’s day the best that I possibly can. I may not be able to add quantity to their life, but I try to add the best quality possible!

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