Our Team

Pauline has dedicated her life to empowering others to live healthy and creative lives to their fullest level possible regardless of age or physical challenge. She has over 10 years of experience working as Life Enrichment Director at a leading Continuing Care Retirement Community and over 20 years providing therapeutic programs for at risk populations, especially low-income seniors, throughout the region.

Pauline is a leader in training medical professionals to transition into the person-centered care model which places the patient’s preferences at the center of all care decisions.  She is an Activity Consultant Certified (ACC), Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer (CADDCT), and a Certified Online Training Professional (COTP).  She is Master Faculty Scholar for George Washington University and Washington DC Area Geriatric Education Center Consortium in Person-Centered Care and Geriatric Medicine and the Humanities.

“I have been blessed in my life to be surrounded by creative, compassionate, and engaged Elders. My great-grandmother welcomed my daughter into this world when I was 29!  Sharing life’s journey with my loved ones taught me to see beyond limitations that physical changes bring; to embrace the person-hood, creative spark, and wisdom that outlasts our physical capabilities; and, to listen beyond words for the truths that connect us all.  It is an honor to bring those lessons to bear every day.”

Erica has always had a love for meeting people and building relationships from a young age. She has had the honor of guiding and helping people through life’s challenges and feels tremendous satisfaction in making a positive difference and impact in someone else’s life. Erica completed her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Old Dominion University located in her hometown and moved to Northern Virginia shortly thereafter.

Erica comes to ElderTree with seven years of experience in the senior living industry including independent living, assisted living, and memory care communities as well as experience in home care. In her time working as Director of Sales, Erica quickly realized that her passion lay in providing older adults and their families with resources that best meet their needs. She found it extremely rewarding to assist older adults and their family members with making informed choices about their living environments, and she always advocated on behalf of the residents in the communities where she served.

Erica decided to enroll in a Master’s of Gerontology program at Virginia Commonwealth University to learn more ways to advocate for the needs of older adults. She is very passionate about delivering person-centered care and is excited to embark on this new journey with ElderTree where she will make a greater impact on the lives of older adults as a Care Manager. She is grateful for the opportunity to serve in an organization whose values and mission to “empower clients to live the best quality of life possible while bringing peace of mind to their families and friends” align with hers.

In her spare time, Erica enjoys spending time with family and close friends, playing all kinds of games, reading, practicing mindfulness, journaling, and staying active by walking, practicing yoga, and roller skating!

I have been told on numerous occasions that I have an old soul. I’ve always connected with elders as friends and love learning from those who are much wiser than me. Growing up I lived close by to my grandparents and spent a lot of time with them. I also grew up visiting my great grandmothers who both lived to be over 100 years old!!

When I pursed my Psychology Degree I gravitated toward coursework focusing on adulthood and later life and took up a Gerontology minor. I started a project where college students would deliver groceries to elders and build a relationship over time. I also took a class about aging alongside elders who were living in an assisted living home – we would read texts together related to aging and would have genuine and open conversations as well as presentations with the elders about what they were experiencing!

Post-graduation, I worked as a Recreational Therapist in Upstate NY for a transitional care facility that housed about 288 seniors. I learned how important it was to provide interdisciplinary services and this is where I began contributing to care planning – I found a deep love for both providing meaning and purpose in the daily lives of those I worked with as well as creating care plans to meet individual goals.

Two years later, my now husband and I moved to Northern Virginia, and I took on a new role as a Director of Activities/Recreation for a CCRC. I oversaw the Recreation/Activities Departments for both a Rehabilitation and Nursing Center as well as an Assisted Living and learned so much in the 4 1/2 years that I worked there.

Two years later, my now husband and I moved to Northern Virginia, and I took on a new role as a Director of Activities/Recreation for a CCRC. I oversaw the Recreation/Activities Departments for both a Rehabilitation and Nursing Center as well as an Assisted Living and learned so much in the 4 1/2 years that I worked there.

When I spoke with Eldertree founder, Kate Caldwell, our visions meshed perfectly and I knew that I wanted to support Eldertree’s mission to promote quality of life and solutions – especially now during COVID-19 and looking into the future of Elder Care!

Caroline is a board-certified Music Therapist. She grew up in Southern New Jersey frequenting the beach and taking part in multiple choirs and music groups. Her passion for music and people prompted her to pursue a degree in Music Therapy from Shenandoah University where she worked with multiple populations in various settings including adults with disabilities, hospice patients, and hospital behavioral health.

For the past several years, Caroline has worked in senior living facilities as a music therapist and engagement director, taking part in a multidisciplinary team of caregivers. Her positions have allowed her to lead a day program for seniors with dementia, cultivate her own music therapy program, and assist in bettering the quality of life for many.

Caroline is thrilled to be part of the ElderTree team and to continue connecting and bettering the lives of seniors in any way possible.

Rachelle holds a Bachelor of Nursing degree and has been active in the nursing profession for over 40 years. The majority of her experience has been taking care of patients in the home health field. She has worked in Washington, DC as well as Northern Virginia and has served a variety of patients but has worked mainly with the elderly. She has taken care of patients in many Assisted Living facilities as well as senior independent living buildings throughout Northern Virginia. Rachelle has a passion for providing quality patient care as well as delivering excellent customer service. The needs of her patients and families have always come first.

Over the past six years, she has led a team of 40 nurses and techs in the Inova Hospitals to arrange skilled home health services for patients discharged from hospital to home. Additionally, the team also ensured that patients had DME (durable medical equipment) needed for safe discharges. “Patients First” was the team motto as we ensured a smooth transition home.

“My passion for caring for the elderly started many years ago when I was a young nurse visiting patients in their homes. Many of the elderly patients we served had no family members and sitting, talking, and listening to patients became a top priority. Some patients were bedbound and had some form of dementia and really cherished having someone come in and spend “extra” time with them and listen to their life stories. I felt that any nurse could visit a patient and take vital signs or do wound care, but listening and talking to patients and having them smile was what was most important. I am honored to be able to assist clients and families navigate through the ever-changing facets of life and help make the process as stress-free and smooth as possible.”

Ashley holds a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master’s degree in human science with a concentration in gerontology. With a certificate in thanatology, she also brings eight years of experience in the long-term care field both in a nursing home setting and with long-term care Medicaid case management. Originally her dream was to be a pediatrician but that changed when her great-grandfather and grandmother got sick and her family used hospice. At this time, her passion changed to helping older adults.

Ashley started her career as a facilitator with the behavioral health population and then transitioned to resource coordinator and program supervisor. In this role, she developed meaningful relationships with clients and their families and assisted them with setting and achieving their goals. Ashley moved to Florida where she work as a Director of Social Services in a nursing home. She assisted residents in short-term rehab and those who were in long-term care due to physical limitations, medical complications, or cognitive decline. She worked hard to support clients that wanted to be back in their communities and helped to educate clients and their families about community resources to help them live where they desired safely. Ashley then transitioned to long-term care Medicaid as a case manager with a caseload of up to 80 clients. Ashley worked with her residents to identify what their goals were and to enhance their quality of life. She advocated on their behalf to ensure that they had community resources and support so that they could live their best quality of life.

“My passion for working with older adults started when I saw how kind and compassionate hospice was when they were working with my great grandparents and how that impacted positively not only on their lives but also on the rest of our family. I always felt a calling to serve vulnerable populations. It was evident to me that the geriatric and behavioral health community tends to get overlooked. My passion continues to grow with each person I am able to serve. I am excited to continue to serve this population as a Senior Care Manager with ElderTree.”

Corie has always had a love for older adults and been drawn to their wisdom, stories, and confidence that comes with life experience. She holds a Master of Science in Gerontology from Virginia Commonwealth University and has used her degree in multiple areas with older adults, but really thrives in the realm of person-centered care and building relationships with clients. She worked as the Director of Client Services for a caregiving agency in Richmond, then moved back to Northern Virginia to pursue a position as a Care Manager. She most recently helped open a memory care community, also in Northern Virginia, and served as the Director of Resident and Family Services and then the Director of Resident Engagement. Corie is passionate about enriching the lives of older adults through experiential learning, intellectual opportunities, recreation, and social engagement. Corie has a knack for bringing harmony and a sense of humor to challenging situations.

Growing up in a small town in Mexico, Maggie and her family were the unofficial caretakers of the seniors who had been left behind by families who moved to the States. Her dad fixed up their homes, her mom (a nursing home CNA for over 20 years) helped with direct care, and Maggie spent countless afternoons delivering meals, keeping seniors company, and taking in all their wonderful stories! Loving and caring for seniors was woven into her character from an early age. Later, Maggie spent years in academia and higher education, studying, and teaching philosophy. Through the Great Books, she pursued the question of “What is a good life?” She realized that for her, the pursuit of a good life involved leaving academia for her first love—seniors. Today, she pursues the same question in a different, more meaningful way. Maggie is passionate about ensuring that seniors can still live a good life full of dignity, meaning, purpose, and joy. She has a special love for people living with dementia and for their families. Maggie has worked as an activity assistant and activity director in senior living. In addition, she has worked as the director of a memory care neighborhood.

Deirdra has her bachelor’s degree in Community and Therapeutic Recreation from UNC-Greensboro and her master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Utica University and brings over seven years of experience in Skilled Nursing/Long Term Care, Assisted Living, Mental Health, and community services. She grew up in Fayetteville, NC but moved to the Northern Virginia area shortly after graduating from college to pursue a career in recreation therapy.

As a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), most of her experience with the senior population has been serving as the Activities Director at skilled nursing facilities. While serving as an Activities Director, Deirdra discovered the importance of activities and engagement to the overall well-being of the residents she served. She observed that they provided meaning and purpose to the seniors’ lives. As her passion grew, she wanted to be able to do more to contribute to the lives of the senior population, which encouraged her to switch gears and take on the position of Memory Care Director at an Assisted Living facility. During her time in this role, her love for the Alzheimer’s and dementia population grew. She focused on developing and implementing enrichment programs specifically geared toward the memory care population.

“From as young as seven, I have always been passionate about the senior population. My grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and lived with us until my mother could no longer care for her. During her time with us, my mother told me stories about how I was the only one to get my grandmother to take her medication, shower, or go to doctors’ appointments. My early experiences with helping care for her helped me to decide that serving this population was my purpose. I am so thrilled to be able to continue serving my purpose as a Senior Care Manager and to be a part of this incredible team here at ElderTree!”

Kate Mahoney has worked with seniors for over 20 years. Having a majority of experience in managing senior living communities, Kate has also worked as an activities professional and a dementia services coordinator. In addition, Kate has also served as trainer for assisted living facilities, providing leadership training and education on aging specific topics.

“My love for working with Seniors began reluctantly when a friend talked me into a summer job during college as a receptionist at a Memory Care community. Within a few short days, I fell in love with my job and the seniors I was serving. Each day, I am challenged yet equally rewarded in the work I do. I can’t imagine a career where I am not assisting seniors and their families.”

Vivian earned her bachelor’s degree from George Mason University in health studies with a concentration on Recreational Therapy in 2016. She started her career as a Recreation Therapist facilitating and supporting individuals with memory impairment in a dementia adult day center. She brings years of experience working with seniors with disabilities in adult day centers, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and a continuing care community.

Most recently Vivian served as the Therapeutic Recreation Supervisor where she was responsible for overseeing and planning the therapeutic programs for assisted living residents and health care residents in a continuing care community. Vivian is passionate about adapting environments to make them more suitable for the residents.

Vivian is enrolled in the LeadingAge Leadership Academy and is set to graduate in 2024. Additionally, she is a certified instructor with the National Certification Council for Activity Professionals (NCCAP). Vivian is passionate about educating others on the importance of therapeutic engagement for seniors living with impairments.

Vivian is serving as a LeadingAge Champion Advocate where she helps advocate for important legislation that will affect the senior living industry.

“I began working with older adults because I love helping people, and I love hearing the amazing stories they have to share,” said Vivian. “My favorite part about my job is that it doesn’t feel like work because I love what I do so much!”

Upon completing my graduate education in Occupational Therapy, I gravitated toward a career in treating adults and seniors in the acute care, assisted living, and home health settings over the last 7 years. While working in these settings, I gained enormous interest in the concept of advocating for older adults to age gracefully and safely.

I completed my Master’s thesis on Falls Prevention and completed my Fall Prevention Specialist certification in March, 2023. I also have an interest in home safety and modifications for safe aging. It was important for me to specialize in this area because implementing fall prevention and home safety measures as well as educating older adults and their families on these topics can prevent many serious health complications that seniors experience as a result of falls and living in an unsafe environment.

When I was pursuing my Occupational Therapy Degree, I was told by faculty that I was the only student in my class who stated that their interest was working with the senior population. Working with older adults gives me a profound sense of fulfillment and joy, and after reading the Elder Tree Mission statement, I knew that I found the place where I belong. I am able to combine my rehabilitation skills and my desire to advocate for the independence of older adults with the goal of encouraging their physical, cognitive, social, and leisure pursuits in my work as an Occupational Therapist and Aging Life Care Manager.

Mindy obtained her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Albizu University and her master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California. She is a Licensed Master Social Worker and a Certified Dementia Practitioner. She began her career in social work serving foster youth and families. She went on to work with the aging and disabled population as a Social Worker in a 194 bed long-term care and skilled nursing facility. She then spent the next 5 years as a Medical Social Worker in the home healthcare setting. She found her passion assisting the geriatric population and has earned the Advanced Social Worker in Gerontology credential and Certified Social Worker in Healthcare certification.

“My childhood and life experiences have made me a fierce advocate for people who are not able to advocate for themselves. I use a holistic approach that considers the many facets of my clients’ lives to help make sustainable changes that protect their dignity and respect. I try to meet every client where they are and have found that almost anything can be accomplished with a little humor, compassion, creativity, and collaboration.”

Jeanne has worked with seniors for over 30 years, in multiple roles and in multiple settings. She has managed senior communities at Independent and Assisted Living levels of care throughout the Washington, DC metro area. While in a social services coordinator role with a nursing home, she was chosen to lead a corporate strike team to assist other communities in VA and Delaware. Jeanne is a past winner of the Monsignor Ralph Kuehner award for service.

“My introduction to serving seniors began when visiting my grandmother at the time that she was a live-in cook at the County Home for the Aged, which was managed by her brother. I guess it was inevitable. Seniors are all distinct individuals, but the one thing that they all share is a lifetime of experiences. While Christa McCaulliffe always said that she “touched the future” through teaching, those of us who work with seniors are able to touch the past every day and learn a great deal in the process.”

Heidi has worked in the field of health care for over 20 years. She holds a Master’s Degree in Music Therapy from Loyola University and is a Certified Dementia Practitioner. She has a background in acute care and rehabilitation. Heidi served as the Program Director for a traumatic Brain Injury/neurological inpatient program.

Heidi also served as the Life Enrichment Director of a local assisted living community in which she executed impactful educational, social, and spiritual programming in the community to meet the diverse needs of the residents. Heidi developed an innovative transitional program using 1:1 support systems to orient new residents to the community. In addition, Heidi brings strong assessment skills and extensive experience working with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Mental Illness.

“As a child, my grandparents and extensive multigenerational family were a big part of inspiring my love for the senior community. Through my personal experience of my grandmother’s dementia diagnosis and navigating her care, I learned the key to successfully navigating dementia is by fully understanding the individuality of the person with dementia and their family. It is one of my great privileges to work with older adults.”

Emily grew up in East Tennessee skiing in the rivers and hiking in the mountains. She spent many of her weekends and summer days shadowing her father, an orthopedic surgeon, in his office, visiting patients post-op, and even in the operating room. It was during these long hours that she grew to love working with vulnerable adults, particularly the older adults that had joint replacements. After completing her MSW with a focus on Older Adults from USC, Emily worked in Continued Care Retirement Communities in a variety of social work roles including discharge planning, Assisted Living Management, and Social Services Management.

Wanting to broaden her knowledge base, she earned her Administrator License and was an Executive Director in Senior Living for several years. In this role, she interacted with a plethora of companies within the senior services sector and acquired a vast amount of knowledge about eldercare resources in Northern Virginia. Emily is excited to join ElderTree and is looking forward to utilizing her knowledge base in eldercare resources to assist older adults with the challenges they face as they navigate the aging process.

I have always known that serving and advocating for older adults was my passion. After over 20 years of experience in the field, I look forward to the positive aging initiatives to come and how we at ElderTree will be leading that change locally. I feel strongly about the integrity and the standards that ElderTree represents in the field of aging. See how we give back to the community.

When I was in elementary school, I would visit my grandmother in a nursing home. I enjoyed our visits and meeting the other residents. When it was time to get my first job in high school, I knew I wanted to work with the elderly, so I found a job as an activity assistant in a nursing home. Working with the residents, I learned first-hand that loneliness, helplessness, and boredom often defined their experience. I was inspired to make a difference in elder care, to help seniors have the best quality of life with the dignity they deserved. To build the expertise I would need, I pursued a Master’s degree in Gerontology and Long-Term Care Administration, and in 2004 I founded ElderTree Care Management Services.

In 2014, I was proud to be recognized as a “Fellow of the Leadership Academy” by the Aging Life Care Association. The fellowship recognizes Aging Life Care Professionals™ who have demonstrated themselves to be advanced practitioners and experts in the field of Aging Life Care.

I am passionate about honoring Elders in our community. In 2018, it was my pleasure to spearhead and organize the first ever “Celebrate Centenarians” luncheon in Northern Virginia. This annual event recognizes area centenarians and offers the community the chance to learn from their collective wisdom.

Adriana was raised by her grandmother, who instilled in her a passion for taking care of others and giving back to older adults in our communities. She grew up attending adult day centers and volunteering at nursing homes to serve elderly populations.

Adriana joins ElderTree with 10 years of professional work across finance, strategy, and operations in small and large businesses. Adriana started her career in Investment Banking advising public and private businesses through challenging situations. In 2016 Adriana joined The Home Depot’s Corporate Development & Strategy team where she evaluated inorganic and organic growth opportunities for the Fortune 30 corporation. After The Home Depot, she returned to working with small businesses at Applied Concepts where she led the key growth initiatives in pricing, operations, and team development. Adriana holds a B.A. from Columbia University in the City of New York and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. She currently resides in Northern Virginia with her husband, mom, and rescue pup!

At ElderTree, Adriana leads the expansion and growth efforts to serve older adults in the DC metro area and beyond. Our vision is to empower older adults to age well at “home” nationwide by delivering the highest quality of care management services. Interested in learning more about our impact & efforts? Reach out.