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Are you thinking about the issue of caregiving – take care of parents, friends or planning for yourself? With the population growing older and living longer many of us are now confronting the reality of being caregivers. Whether planning for your own future, being a member of the sandwich generation (i.e. caring for our children and our parents simultaneously), or being the primary caregiver to a spouse or friend, being a caregiver can be overwhelming, stressful, emotional, and confusing. Some of us are planners and others do better under pressure but in both cases having the right tools can make a world of difference. Come learn about the many options available to older people. We will talk about resources, how to access them, what they cost, and what is covered by insurance. We will also discuss how to know when it’s time to start services, make a move, figure out where you want to live, or transition closer to family. As well, we will address the ways in which our family dynamics play a role in our experience of being a planner or a caregiver.

Karen Wasserman, LICSW
Director, Your Elder Experts

Education: BA, Brandeis University; MSW, Simmons College

Karen Wasserman has worked with older adults and their families for the past 30 years. Her career path has paralleled the path that many older adults take, from the community to the hospital, to rehab and then back into the community with support and services. She has worked at an Area Agency on Aging, as Director of Social Services at a local nursing and rehabilitation center, and at the Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center.

Her expertise and insight into the complicated medical, emotional and logistical concerns around aging, and her steadfast advocacy for her clients is respected throughout the profession. Karen started Your Elder Experts, the Care Management program at JF&CS, in 1999 and has managed its growth into one of the Greater Boston Area’s leading Care Management practices.

She also leads educational programs and information sessions in the community about services for older adults, housing and care management and other related topics. She is a Certified Care Manager (C-ASWCM) and is a member of NASW and both the national and New England chapters of ALCA (Aging Life Care Association).