4th Annual Caregiver's Symposium 2024:

Brenna M. Galvin is a co-managing shareholder at Maser, Amundson & Boggio, P.A. As an elder law attorney she supports seniors, individuals with disabilities, and their families as they navigate care needs and how to finance them. Drawing inspiration from personal experiences, Brenna understands that planning extends beyond the bounds of a law office and requires clients to have critical conversations about both their life and end-of-life wishes. By building trust she is able to advocate for her clients. In order to provide a truly holistic approach to planning Brenna became an end-of-life doula in 2019 . She is also the co-founder of Inspired Departures. Their mission is to inspire individuals to have open conversations about death and dying and take action to create a meaningful end of life plan. By approaching death differently, we begin to live life more fully.

Brenna is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Political Science, and William Mitchell College of Law for her Juris Doctor. When Brenna is not working, you can find her tending to her backyard chicken flock and her dog, reading furiously, exploring the North Shore, rowing on the Mississippi River, roaming farmers markets and art museums, and attending concerts and plays throughout the Cities.

Michelle is the Executive Director of Thrive at Home with Whitney Center. A social worker also licensed as a nursing home administrator, Michelle’s compassionate care and advocacy now benefits Thrive at Home members. She has demonstrated her heart and abilities managing long-term care quality improvement and patient safety projects for the federal government, serving as client and family services director for the Alzheimer’s Association, and serving on the board of the Avila Institute of Gerontology in New York. She is also a Fellow of the LeadingAge Connecticut Leadership Academy.

Pamela D Wilson, MS, BS/BA, CSA, NCG has worked in the field of caregiving, aging, and health since 1999. She supports caregivers and their families through education and support programs about care management, planning and related topics. As Director of Marketing for NinePatch, Inc. she advances discussions about the connection between health, behavioral, mental, and social needs.

Nichole coordinates support groups, recommends community resources, manages caregiver round tables to share information and experiences for fellow caregivers. As a family member caregiver herself, she coordinates the efforts of her family members as they care for her mother, who has COPD.

She has also served as the Program Administrator for The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health, which is devoted to education, policy analysis, technical assistance, and advocacy in support of long-term, systemic improvements in comprehensive health care and insurance coverage for adolescents. Prior to that, Nichole serves as the Senior Program Associate for The Arc of the United States, which promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Nichole has presented webinars on topics such as Tools for Family Caregivers, Finding Time to Take Care of Yourself While Caring for a Child with Significant Health Needs, and Navigating Complicated Emotions as a Caregiver.

Nicole is the Director of Population Health & Integrated Care Management for Care Partners of Connecticut (Point32Health), and the President of The American Case Management Association Connecticut Chapter. As Senior Director of the Care Continuum Integration for Hartford HealthCare, Nicole led the development, delivery and optimization of ambulatory Care Management services while also leveraging technology to support integration across all care continuum access points; acted as a critical member of the HHC's Care Management Cabinet, partnering with the Vice President of Care Management in development of strategic direction for enterprise wide care coordination.

Melissa has been a Resource Coordinator with The Hartford Health Care Center for Healthy Aging for the past 2.5 years. She assists clients with navigating the sometimes daunting resources that are available both in the healthcare arena as well as the community. This includes educating clients on health care options, community and state programs. Melissa is a certified CHOICES counselor, so she is able to assist clients with unbiased information about making informed choices related to choosing a Medicare/Medicare Advantage plan that best meets their needs. She has also earned her certification as a Certified Dementia Practitioner. Prior to her role with The Center for Healthy Aging, Melissa was an Assistant Director of Social Work for Athena Healthcare Systems for more than 22 years . She received her Bachelor's degree in Social Work from Southern Connecticut State University. She has a passion for helping empower people by learning what resources can improve their safety and quality of life.

Founder of Top College Consultants®, Dr. Endlich helps guide families worldwide through the college application process. He serves on the Learning Differences/Neurodiversity and Diversity/Equity/Inclusion Committees of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). In 2020, IECA honored Dr. Endlich’s contributions with the “Making A Difference” Award for contributions such as a database of neurodiversity-friendly colleges. In 2021, Exceptional Needs Today Magazine honored Dr. Endlich as a Top Contributor for his article, “7 Things Students With Disabilities Should Do When Starting College.” A writer and keynote speaker, he has been interviewed by Forbes, Money Magazine, College Confidential and U.S. News and World Report. He helped found the Neurodiverse Couples Institute for the Asperger/Autism Network and co-wrote a book on autistic adults. He co-manages a 7,000-member Facebook group, Parents of College Bound Students with Learning Disabilities, ADHD and ASD.

Dr. Endlich is also a licensed psychologist, professional writer and former college instructor. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in English from UC Berkeley, where he was awarded a Regents Scholarship (highest honor) as well as the President’s Undergraduate Fellowship for original research. He went on to earn graduate degrees in psychology from NYU and BU, and a certificate in independent educational consulting from UC Irvine. Dr. Endlich has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in psychology at Tufts University, Suffolk University, Boston College and UMass Boston.

Angel C. Duncan has an extensive background in marriage and family therapy, art therapy and Alzheimer’s disease clinical research. Her doctorate education is in Gerontology. She is the Education and Clinical Trials Manager at Life Molecular Imaging, US Medical Affairs.

Angel served as the Research Associate and Director of Education at the Neuropsychiatric Research Center of Southwest Florida where she was involved in Alzheimer’s and psychiatric disorders research for seven years. Prior to that, she was the Programs Director/Supervisor for the Alzheimer’s Association in Northern California and concurrently served as a clinician at the University of CA-San Francisco. She co-developed and currently co-facilitates Arts in Mind, a virtual art museum and art therapy program for persons living with early onset and early stage dementia at the Yale University Art Gallery. Angel resides on the Board of Directors for the Cognitive Dynamics Foundation and holds council on the Medical Advisory Board for Lorenzo’s House, a national non-profit serving families living with Young On-set Alzheimer’s disease. She was a contributing blogger for The Huffington Post and Linkedin in dementia, health and wellbeing topics in life development. She is a recognized speaker and consultant, working with leading organizations in brain health initiatives across the globe. Angel is a widely published author, some of her contributions include: The Journal of Neurology and Neurological Disorders, The Handbook of Geriatric Neurology, Practical Neurology, Art Therapy and Healthcare, The International Journal of Lifelong Learning in Art Education among others.

Dr. Lauren Tucker is an associate professor in the special education department at Southern Connecticut State University. She has a dual certification in special and regular education with expertise in assistive technology, universal design for learning, online learning, and technology implementation. She conducts assistive technology evaluations, consultations, and trainings around the state of Connecticut. Dr. Tucker passionately promotes universal design for learning to enhance learning and accessibility for all individuals. Her research focuses on universal design, assistive/instructional technology, implementing communication and visual supports in community experiences, specifically the theater.

Mairead Painter is a dedicated advocate and leader in the field of long-term care, currently serving as the Connecticut State Long Term Care Ombudsman. In addition to her role as Ombudsman, Mairead holds key positions, including Co-Chair of the Coalition for Elder Justice in Connecticut, Co-Chair of the Connecticut Medicaid Long Term Services & Supports Rebalancing Initiatives Steering Committee, and 1st Vice President of the National Association of State Ombudsman.

A proud alumna of the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, CT, Mairead's journey in the realm of social work and advocacy has been both diverse and impactful. Before assuming her current role, she brought her expertise to various positions, including Social Worker in long-term care facilities, Child Protective Service Social Worker, Regional Ombudsman, and Program Manager within the Community Options, Strategic Planning Unit.

As the State Ombudsman, Mairead passionately champions the rights, quality of life, and person-centered care for residents in skilled long-term care nursing facilities, residential care homes, and assisted living/managed residential communities. Her responsibilities extend to overseeing the Program's advocacy initiatives, where she identifies critical issues and works towards developing policies, regulations, and legislation aimed at enhancing the quality of life for those receiving long-term services and support.

Ms. Painter is deeply committed to the principles of person-centered care and informed choice throughout the continuum of care. Actively engaged in stakeholder workgroups, legislative task forces/committees, and the National Association of State Ombudsman (NASOP), she brings her extensive background and experience to bear on shaping Connecticut's long-term care landscape.

In her unwavering dedication to improving the lives of individuals in long-term care, Mairead Painter is a steadfast advocate, shaping policies and driving positive change across the state.

Born in Glasgow Scotland graduated Fife College of nursing before immigrating to the USA. Currently employed with Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging, as a Dementia Specialist. She has a career spanning three decades and brings a wealth of experiences in Assisted Living, Memory Care, and education. She has special interest in studying the relationships of people living with dementia exploring interactions and perceptions of family, caregivers, community and society in general. Angela focuses on partnerships and collaboration within wider social systems which allow her to offer supportive and educational resources. She aims to provide education and resources on the effects of social exclusion, the relevance of participation and diversity, encourages relationship-centered experiences. Her areas of interest include working with families and newly diagnosed individuals, the effects of social exclusion, the relevance of engagement and diversity of people with dementia, including public education activities to change attitudes and behaviors, and thus reduce stigma in community. I seek to share my knowledge and engage others to do likewise.

Attorney Steven L. Rubin has earned the distinction of Certified Elder Law Attorney from the National Elder Law Foundation. He has been in training for his dream job as an attorney, since he was 5 years old. His trustworthy, shoot-from-the-hip, “pull no punches” approach is appreciated by clients. Most of his passion stems from the fact that Steve knows what it’s like to sit on the other side of the desk.

While Steve was in law school, his mother was diagnosed with ALS and given less than a year to live. He was thrust into a number of roles that his clients often find themselves in — caregiver, advocate, provider, and concerned loved one.

While his mom lost her battle to ALS, Steve vowed never to give up the fight. He finished Widener University School of Law and has dedicated his career to helping his clients deal with tough issues — such as death, incapacity, disability, special needs, social security, asset protection, litigation and taxes – and providing that assistance in the best and least stressful way possible.

Attorney Rubin was born in New Haven and has been a life-long Connecticut resident. He graduated from Cheshire High School and the University of Connecticut (UCONN) with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. While attending the University of Connecticut, Attorney Rubin was a member of the governing counsel for the Housing Board of Directors and the vice president of the Jewish Student Association. He graduated UCONN a member of Phi Alpha Phi — the national political science honor society.

Attorney Rubin then attended Widener University School of Law in Pennsylvania. While attending Widener, he was a member of the Trial Advocacy Honor Society and participated in numerous Moot Court arguments. He was also a founding member of the Animal Rights Legal Society and Treasurer of the Environmental Law and Policy Society, involvements that put into action his values and ideals.

Attorney Rubin has passed the Bar in Connecticut, New York, and Florida. He is a member of organizations that reflect his career directions and active participation: Connecticut Bar Association; the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association; the New York Bar Association; the Florida Bar Association; the Connecticut Bar Association Young Lawyers; the Florida Bar Association Young Lawyers Division; the New York Bar Association Young Lawyers Division; New Haven Bar Association, New Haven Bar Association Young Lawyers; New Haven Bar Association Public Service Committee; the New Haven Bar Association Trusts and Estates Committee; Court Relations Committee; and the American Bar Association. His practice focuses on elder law, estate planning, estate administration and probate, Title XIX (Medicaid) planning and eligibility, Life Care Planning, business continuation, disability and special needs planning, trust planning and administration, and related tax matters.

Attorney Rubin volunteers his free time at the Veterans Legal Clinic, providing free advice to veterans who otherwise could not afford legal representation. When not working, Steven enjoys reading books, watching and attending sporting events, and spending time with his dog and family. He is a fundraiser for the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association, and the American Cancer Society. Attorney Rubin also volunteers his time at soup kitchens and other philanthropic activities.

Lisa Freeman’s interest in the field of patient safety came about by necessity rather than choice as the result of serious medical errors during her husband’s "routine surgery." These errors led to severe spinal cord injury, surgical site infection and brain damage followed by numerous complications and ultimately in 2010, his death at age 56. Lisa is particularly interested in patient education, engagement and empowerment. Lisa is the Executive Director at the Connecticut Center for Patient Safety and a patient advocacy consultant. CTCPS is a nonprofit organization that represents the non-conflicted patient voice protecting patient's rights and working for high quality, safe health care for all. She is also a member of the Planetree Patient and Family Partnership Council, and the Patient and Family Advisory Council of ISQua and ISQua’s Education Advisory Council. In addition, she sits on several other patient and family advisory partnership committees and holds a public seat on the Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Nursing. She is also a member of the US chapter of the World Health Organization’s Patients for Patient Safety.

Kelly Barrett has been a Speech-Language Pathologist for ten years and her experience includes working with children with special needs in schools, private clinics and hospitals. She currently works at the Hospital for Special Care, across the continuum of Autism care. This includes the Autism Inpatient Unit, Partial Hospital Program and Outpatient Therapy. She enjoys working with families to identify a child’s preferred mode of communication and helping to enhance the way they are able to engage with one another. When Kelly is not working, she loves to hike, snowboard, surf and adventure with her husband and their one year old daughter.

Lauren Criniti has been a Speech-Language Pathologist since 2019. Her experience includes working in private clinics, schools, early intervention, and hospitals. She currently works at the Hospital for Special Care in their Autism inpatient and outpatient units and long term acute care pediatric unit. Lauren loves treating and discussing complex communication skills, early play and language as well as pediatric dysphagia. When she is not working, she enjoys traveling with her fiancé, taking photos of her cat, exercising and reading.

Alexandra Nelson joined HFSC in June 2022, after completing her clinical placement there in the summer of 2021. She currently works in the Autism Inpatient Unit, Partial Hospital Program, and Outpatient Autism Center. She also has experience on adult acute rehab units. As a speech-language pathologist, her favorite part of therapy is seeing her clients make progress, and seeing a parent or caregiver's excitement as a result. Her clinical passions include gestalt language processing and play based interventions.

Doctorate from Columbia University School of Social Work 50 years experience in social work and health care, concentrating on issues in aging, rehabilitation, depression, caregiving, Medicare and discharge planning.

Vice President, Community Programs, Agency on Aging, South Central CT 2000 -present

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Academic Appointments

Part-time faculty appointment, Housatonic Community College, 1992-1995

Full-time faculty appointment, Central CT State University 1994-1997

Part-time faculty, Columbia University, Social Work Department, 1995-1997

Part-time faculty appointment, University of New Haven 1997-2019

Faculty appointment, Sacred Heart University, Social Work Program, 1999-2000.

Clinical Appointment, Yale University School of Nursing, 1999-2021

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Employment History

Hospital of St Raphael, 1967 – 1990

Yale New Haven Hospital, Emergency Room, 1977 – 1980

Agency on Aging of South Central CT, 2001 - present

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Author of several articles and book chapters

The Gift of Caregiving, 2013, Amazon.

Selected as one of Twenty Noteworthy Women in CT, 2007 by CT Business Times

Inductee, Phi Alpha, National Social Work Honor Society