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"Sometimes you have to let go of the picture of what you thought life would be like and learn to find joy in the story you are actually living." Rachel Marie Martin
Welcome
This space was built by and for those walking the challenging, often lonely path of dementia caregiving. I'm creating a safe haven designed to help you pierce through the daily fog of Alzheimer’s with clarity and confidence and a whole lot less stress.
So, grab a cup of coffee and pull up a chair. I'm glad you’re here—stay a while, get to know me, and remember that you don’t have to navigate this journey alone.
A Little About Me
I didn’t set out to have a career in hospice care, but a few serendipitous encounters set my course. In what feels like the blink of an eye, over 25 years have passed. My journey in healthcare hasn't been a traditional climb up a corporate ladder; it's been more like a scenic roller coaster where the safety bar is held together by empathy and caffeine. I've looped through roles as a volunteer coordinator, social worker, program director, grief counselor, social worker, director, and back to social worker. I've found sitting bedside or sharing a pot of coffee with a caregiver is a better fit for me than behind a desk.
This work is also deeply personal. I helped my mom care for my dad during his 12-year journey with young-onset Alzheimer’s—back in the 90s, before there were resources or advocacy. Those years taught me patience, presence, and a different understanding of time and connection. Later, I walked that path again with my mom, who dealt with confusion and memory loss and passed during the COVID pandemic. These experiences shaped not only how I support others, but how I understand the quiet weight and sacred responsibility of caregiving. "The Long Good-bye" as Alzheimer's is often called, looks very different on the personal side than from the professional one.
I don’t have all the answers, but I’ve spent years listening, learning, and walking alongside those carrying too much. When dementia is part of the journey, there can be uncertainty, grief, and a deep longing for reassurance—and no one should have to navigate that alone. So I invite you to consider The Lighthouse as a beacon of hope that can help you navigate your season of caregiving.
Offerings
My offerings are designed to meet you exactly where you are—whether you’re just beginning to notice changes in a loved one, navigating the daily realities of dementia care, or walking through the sacred, uncertain terrain of end-of-life. Through coaching, education, and heartfelt support, I offer both practical guidance and a compassionate space to be seen and heard.
This isn’t just about caregiving skills. It’s about honoring the human experience within it—your love, your grief, your resilience, and your need for support along the way.
You don’t have to do this alone.
Mentoring/Coaching
In the fog of a dementia diagnosis, when everything can feel dark and overwhelming, navigating the path forward may seem impossible. I'm honored to be there from the moment the diagnosis casts a shadow, through the emotional landscape of acceptance to the passing. It's been said, "Dementia care is a marathon, not a sprint." I encourage you not to go it alone. Coaching services provide a listening ear, affirmation, reassurance, emphasis on the importance of self-care, and practical, personalized coping strategies to help prevent burnout.
Support Groups
Dementia support groups offer a unique sense of camaraderie, connecting you with others who truly understand the unspoken weight of the caregiving journey. This is more than just a meeting; it is a safe haven—a judgment-free space where you can be completely transparent about the raw struggles and the small, beautiful wins that define your daily life. By sharing these experiences with a community that "just gets it," the isolation of caregiving begins to fade and is replaced by the strength found in shared wisdom.
Legacy Work
Legacy work is a profound act of love that transforms a lifetime of memories into a tangible bridge between the past and the future. By intentionally curating a loved one’s photographs, cherished memorabilia, and sentimental trinkets, you create a rich landscape for reminiscence, allowing their unique story to be told. This process does more than just organize the past; it anchors a family’s identity, ensuring that the essence of a life—their values, their laughter, and their journey—becomes a lasting legacy. I am honored to facilitate reminiscence therapy during the time of gathering.
Care Navigation
While hospice and palliative care expertly manage the medical complexities of the journey, The Lighthouse stands ready to help you understand the world of dementia programs and long-term care options. We often assist with community resource education and referrals. By partnering with us for care planning, you gain a constant, watchful presence dedicated to bridging the divide between medical necessity and the holistic, everyday support your family deserves.
Death Doula
As your loved one prepares to transition, the holistic hospice team stands ready. The nurse, social worker, chaplain, and nursing assistants can increase their visits to offer additional care and support. So you may wonder why you would need a death doula. As compassionate as hospice workers are, they have large caseloads; and typically are unable to keep vigil.
I am able to stand as a quiet anchor, ensuring no one has to navigate and the fog of the final good-bye alone. Ideally, I flow in tandem with hospice. Just as a midwife helps birth a new life, an end-of-life doula supports the family and coaches their loved one as their body labors to release their spirit. I only wish we could witness their new birth. For me, this is heaven, but please know I respect all religions and faith practices. Proselytizing is against the Social Work Code of Ethics.
Civic Responsibility
At The Lighthouse, we believe that building a stronger community starts with understanding. We are honored to partner with churches, civic clubs, schools, and senior care organizations to provide essential education. Our goal goes beyond sharing facts; we focus on the heart of the matter—teaching neighbors and professionals alike how to truly communicate and connect with those experiencing memory loss.
Refections of a Lighthouse Custodian
Life with Al
Dancing with Alzheimer's
While caring for my mom during the COVID pandemic, I started a little YouTube channel, "Life with Al," where I shared bits of our journey, sometimes with tears, often with a touch of humor, always with a lot of love. I tried to provide dementia and resource education along the way. Feel free to visit me there.
