Expert Contributors
Creating practical, accessible content that helps seniors and caregivers make the best decisions about senior living is what we strive for at A Place for Mom. Our editorial team partners with a team of experts to ensure families have access to information that’s trustworthy and up to date. These highly-experienced professionals contribute their insights to topics ranging from senior living to health care, elder law, finance, caregiving, and more to ensure A Place for Mom content speaks to the full experience of aging seniors.
Our expert panelists
We’ve partnered with a select group of experts to develop content that speaks to the experiences of seniors and caregivers, and to offer expert advice to support families navigating senior care challenges..
Standouts in their fields, our panelists actively contribute to the broader understanding of senior living topics, both through their own work and their involvement in our content. Educators, researchers, speakers, and authors in their own right, they lend their wealth of experience and hands-on expertise to empower seniors and their families to make the best care decisions.
2024 Expert Panel Members 
Annalisa Hahn joined A Place for Mom in 2021 as a regional manager of customer success. Before that, Annalisa spent 30 years in sales leadership roles at various medical organizations in Southern California, including the American Heart Association and Atria Senior Living.
Short Description Beth Wilkison joined A Place for Mom in 2012 and is now a learning and development manager. With almost 20 years of management experience in senior living and health care, Beth is a past member of LeadingAge Ohio, a nonprofit representing 400 long-term care and housing organizations in Ohio.
Brooke Schmidt is a registered nurse with over a decade of clinical experience specializing in geriatrics and palliative care. She earned her BSN degree from the University of Portland in 2012, and she’s spent most of her career working in home health, community care, palliative care, and complex wound management.
Jeni Wallace joined A Place for Mom in 2015 after working as a sales director in senior living communities. Jeni currently serves as a national account manager, working with national organizations or customers. Her experience spans 16 years of sales and customer success management in senior living.
Kyle Spender has more than 20 years of experience working in senior living communities, plus a decade working in higher education. He joined A Place for Mom in 2022, holds a master’s degree in education, and is passionate about the intersection of education and senior living.
Leslie Fuller, LMSW, CDP, owns the dementia care consulting agency Inspired Senior Care. She worked 12 years in leadership roles in independent living and dementia care and as a divisional dementia care manager. She is an educator for the Alzheimer's Association, is a Positive Approach to Care® Independent Trainer, and lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Paul Flancbaum joined A Place for Mom in 2007 and is company-certified for families searching for all types of senior care, from assisted living to memory and nursing care. Passionate about creating solutions for people in need, Paul stays involved with organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Cancer Society, and more.
Rachel Levy joined A Place for Mom in 2018 after more than 20 years in management roles at senior living communities. Having begun her career as a social worker, Rachel is now a seasoned business strategist and thought leader with expertise in all aspects of senior living across the United States.
Sarah Beattie is a registered nurse with 20 years of heath care experience. Focusing on the care of adults with diabetes, Beattie is a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, and she is certified in plant-based nutrition.
Our content reviewers
We work with senior care specialists, health care professionals, elder law attorneys, gerontologists, and other industry insiders to review our articles for accuracy and include valuable insights from their respective industries. A Place for Mom’s editorial team solicits their feedback based on decades of expertise in reviewing our content, ensuring it aligns with our experts’ professional experience. QA
Amanda Lundberg is a registered nurse with over 10 years of experience in clinical settings. She is an expert in family medicine as well as various specialties. Her holistic approach to health focuses on wellness and preventative care. She now writes content for health and wellness brands under her company name, Locksley Content.
Carrie Kirkpatrick joined A Place for Mom in 2004 as a Senior Living Advisor and is now a health care account executive. For the past 20 years, Carrie has guided and supported families navigating the senior housing and care maze. She has served as a board member of the Alzheimer's Association since 2012.
Dr. Erin Martinez is an associate professor of gerontology and director of the Center on Aging at Kansas State University. Martinez works to promote health and well-being across the lifespan to promote optimal aging and pursues community-based interventions for improving the social determinants of health.
James Schier is a financial advisor focusing largely on helping retirees achieve a sense of financial security. In addition to being a Certified Fund Specialist, James holds his Life Accident and Health Insurance Agent License, as well as FINRA Series 7 and 66 registrations.
Jordan is a Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioner who has spent nine years working with people on their healing journey. Jordan's passion and training has assisted her in working with various populations who have endured stress, pain, and trauma., including caregivers of seniors. Jordan is passionate about connecting with others and helping others to see their worth.
Lauri Grady, founder and president of LBG Care Consulting, has been a registered nurse for more than 30 years. Her experience in various hospital settings includes critical care, transplant, and post-acute surgical care. She has also worked for a national case management company and is a Certified Case Manager and Certified Life Care Planner.
Lucinda Ortigao is president of Cape Investment Consulting Inc. She is a certified financial planner and offers clients more than 25 years of comprehensive banking and wealth management experience, including estate and financial planning. Lucinda was a Senior Vice President, Client Advisor, SunTrust Bank — now Truist Bank — in the Private Wealth Management Division.
Maureen Bradley joined A Place for Mom in 2021 after more than a decade in leadership roles at senior living communities. With over 20 years of experience advising families on all aspects of senior care, Maureen is currently pursuing a doctorate that focuses on advocacy for the geriatric population.
Niki Gewirtz joined A Place for Mom in 2017 as a Senior Living Advisor and has been a senior new hire support specialist since 2021. With more than 20 years of experience in the senior housing industry, Niki has advised families on Alzheimer's care, assisted living, independent living, and skilled nursing.
Short description - Natalie May is a Senior Living Advisor at A Place for Mom, specializing in hospice, assisted living, and dementia care. Natalie has helped over 10,000 families find care since 2017, and she previously served as executive director at Brookdale Senior Living, the nation's largest senior living housing operator.
Saul Chapnick, MSW, has turned around many distressed assisted living facilities in Florida and helped many startup facilities succeed. He developed a reputation by creating a positive work culture for staff and a positive and caring atmosphere for residents by resolving low census and as well as eliminating AHCA violations.
Sarah Mitchell joined APFM in 2004 as a Senior Living Advisor and has been a senior manager of community onboarding since 2019. With over 20 years of experience in senior housing, Sarah has guided families on memory care, assisted living, independent living, skilled nursing, and hospice care.