Sheila Ohstrom serves as the President and Co-Founder of Living with Dementia Inc., a non-profit organization that aims to assist caregivers of individuals living with dementia by providing access to support, education, resources, and respite. The organization offers caregiver training, programs, county-based educational summits, and respite care for caregivers across seven Central NY counties: Onondaga, Madison, Oswego, Cayuga, Cortland, Oneida, and Herkimer.

Sheila also works as a part-time consultant for Ichor Research doing community outreach and marketing about local clinical research studies focused on Alzheimer’s disease.

Prior to that she was CEO and Founder of Senior Home Care Solutions, a companion care company that cared for seniors with a specialty in dementia care from 2010 to 2025. She also founded Dementia Training Solutions which specialized in training nationally for facilities, caregivers, and families on skills to work with loved ones with all types of dementia.

Sheila is a certified Teepa Snow Trainer, Consultant, Coach, and Engagement Specialist. Sheila is an alum of Alfred University holding a BS in Business. Sheila joined the health care industry after a diverse career in management in the Petroleum Industry, Telecom, and Pharmaceuticals because of a personal connection with dementia. Sheila is also an active member of the community in various organizations.

Melissa Murphy, a dedicated Aging Life Care Professional ®, Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), and Certified Care Manager (CMC), is the esteemed Founder and CEO of Aging Advocates CNY.

With over a decade of profound experience in the aging field, Melissa stands as a beacon of expertise and compassion and is often referred to as a visionary for the future of aging services.

Melissa’s journey in eldercare began in senior housing where she uncovered a common trend among families. They were overwhelmed, underprepared, and in dire need of professional guidance. Melissa knew she had an opportunity to meet this need through unbiased advocacy with her expertise in various facets of eldercare, including care management, housing solutions, dementia care, and care consulting.

Kim Staiger is an advocate for those who need assistance for a better quality of life, no matter their age.  Over the course of nearly 20 years in healthcare in Central New York, she has found a special fondness for elders.

 As the Director of Admissions and Marketing for Loretto Housing, Kim is a compassionate responder to the needs of our community.  She lives the Loretto mission of providing care for those who need it, allowing them to continue living their lives with purpose, wholeness, and dignity.

 A life-long Central New Yorker, Kim has devoted her career to healthcare and helping people live their lives with purpose and dignity. In 2007 she began her work in homecare, assisting elders in the community with staff and services to keep them in their homes. In this role Kim’s specialty was outreach to those with Traumatic Brain Injuries.  It remains one of her proudest accomplishments – to watch as people who once doubted their independence achieve it.

 Kim joined Loretto in 2010 as an Admission Representative. In this role Kim was responsible for some of the most sensitive situations involving elders: those who are not safely living in their homes.  Kim devoted time and energy to make these cases a priority and ensure these people achieved better quality of life in assisted living.

 Understanding that loved ones looking for solutions are seeking empathetic, qualified help navigating health challenges and growing older, Kim is a solution-oriented leader who puts people first.   It’s the fundamental perspective she brought to her six years as Administrator of Loretto’s Buckley Landing facility, prior to taking her skills to the role of Director of Admissions and Marketing.  She considers it an honor to help families in Central New York.

 In addition to her work at Loretto, Kim has been active with the United Way’s charity work for many years.

Alison serves as the Manager of Kinney Home Services at KPH where they oversee the seamless integration of services across IV infusion therapy, durable medical equipment (DME), retail pharmacy, and specialty pharmacy. In this role, Alison ensures that patients receive timely and coordinated care by facilitating communication between care facilities and services through KPH.

With a strong focus on quality, efficiency, and patient experience, Alison plays a key role in streamlining referral processes and supporting the delivery of comprehensive care solutions. Her commitment to collaboration and attention to detail help maintain continuity of care and uphold the high standards of service excellence that define KPH.

Linda Johnstone is an Executive Director with a passion for helping others. With several years of experience in the personal service industry, she has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to helping those in need.

Throughout her career, Linda has been recognized for many accolades including the Friends of Social Work Award from The University of Rochester Medical Center and the 2021 CNY Nonprofit Executive Director of the Year. She thrives on helping those with complex challenges and fostering positive outcomes. Linda is known for her dedication to seniors in the community, which makes her a sought-after expert in the Adult Day Service industry.

As the Executive Director at Silver Fox Adult Day Centers, Linda continues to make a significant impact by leading two vibrant locations that serve a large 4-county area in Central New York. She has built the area’s strongest team of elder-care aides, and oversees all aspects of each location, including operations, activities, staffing and more.

John M. Murphy Jr., Esq. is the Founder and Owner of Safe Harbor Wills and Trusts. John founded the company to help families protect their home and life savings from catastrophic long-term care costs and other possible creditors.

In addition to running the company, John is on the faculty of the National Business Institute, where he writes legal content and teaches continuing education credits for attorneys and financial professionals.

John is also an adjunct teacher for Atticus Attorney, the premier coaching program for small and medium-sized law firms across the country.

John and his wife, Janne have been married since 1992. They have 4 adult children and 2 dogs. In his off time, John enjoys golfing and traveling with his wife.

Born and raised in Syracuse, New York, Barbara Carter takes great pride in serving the community she has always called home. As a licensed Realtor® with Hunt Real Estate ERA, she specializes in assisting buyers and sellers throughout Onondaga County and the surrounding areas, helping them achieve their real estate goals with confidence and clarity.

Barbara holds several professional designations, including Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES®), Pricing Strategy Advisor (PSA), and Buyer Specialist. These credentials, combined with her client-first approach, allow her to effectively guide first-time homebuyers, support seniors navigating major life transitions, and help homeowners strategically position their properties for maximum value. She is committed to delivering exceptional service, clear communication, and strong results at every stage of the transaction.

Passionate about her work, Barbara finds great fulfillment in helping clients navigate one of the most important decisions of their lives while building lasting, trusted relationships along the way.

Outside of real estate, Barbara enjoys spending time with her son at local sporting events, vintage shopping, and caring for her ever-growing collection of plants. Together, they are actively involved in volunteering and giving back to the community through local events and neighborhood initiatives. Community involvement is deeply important to Barbara, and she values the opportunity to instill those same values in her son.

Kelly Parisi brings more than 25 years of experience in the field of communication disorders. She holds a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and has dedicated her career to supporting individuals and families navigating complex cognitive and communication challenges.

Kelly’s work is deeply informed by personal experience. She was a devoted caregiver to her mother, who lived with Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, an experience that continues to shape her compassionate, person-centered approach to care and education.

She is a certified PAC Trainer and Certified Consultant, providing training to healthcare professionals and guidance to families seeking practical strategies for dementia care.

Jess Bowline is the founder and creative director of Indigo Inkwell, a strategic consultancy dedicated to helping nonprofits turn bold ideas into funded realities. Specializing in branding, marketing, and grant writing, Jess partners with organizations to bridge the gap between their mission-driven impact and their public messaging.

Through Indigo Inkwell, Jess works side-by-side with leaders to transform complex programs into clear narratives that resonate with funders. Her approach is rooted in the belief that great work deserves to be understood, funded, and celebrated. She helps clients translate strong theories into stories that funders trust, ensuring that impactful work is heard and believed.

Having served on multiple boards and committees, Jess is deeply committed to supporting new non-profits as they find their funding footing and spread their mission. She was drawn to Living With Dementia out of a sincere desire to help families navigate complex challenges. In her role on the board, Jess is focused on leveraging her professional expertise to amplify the organization’s voice. She is dedicated to spreading critical awareness of the services available and serving as a steward for new grant opportunities that will expand the non-profit's reach and impact.

Description Kelsey is a CNY native and is devoted to giving back to the community. She has over 12 years of experience serving seniors in various settings including memory care, assisted living and skilled nursing. She started as a Recreation Therapist, where her passion for improving quality of life began, and she currently works as the Executive Director of Peregrine Senior Living at Onondaga Hill. She has been recognized for several honors, including ESAAL’s All Star award for Memory Care Director in 2020, and recently Peregrine Senior Living was awarded the 2025 Senior Living Community of the Year through Community Living Advocates.

Kelsey finds great fulfillment in serving and supporting families, caregivers and those living with dementia. She prides herself on providing continued education and training for her staff at Peregrine and fostering relationships within the community.

Outside of work, Kelsey enjoys spending time with her daughter and family. Being outside is her other passion, and you can find her walking her dog, hiking and just enjoying the calming presence of nature during her free time goes here.

Maggie Reap is an Assisted Living Administrator at McHarrie Pointe, part of the McHarrie Life

Senior Community, where she provides leadership grounded in quality, compassion, and resident-centered care. With more than 25 years of experience in long-term care, Maggie has developed deep expertise in case management and dementia care, guiding older adults and their families through complex healthcare and life transitions with empathy and professionalism.

Throughout her career, Maggie has been recognized for her collaborative leadership style, commitment to regulatory excellence, and dedication to creating environments that uphold dignity, safety, and quality of life. Her extensive background enables her to seamlessly blend clinical insight with operational leadership, ensuring high standards of care while fostering a culture of respect, accountability, and teamwork.

Maggie is a certified Teepa Snow Positive Approach to Care® Consultant, equipping her with

evidence-based dementia education and practical care strategies for both care teams and families.

This specialized training strengthens her ability to support individuals living with dementia through compassionate communication, behavioral understanding, and person-centered care practices.

Maggie is honored to serve on the Board of Directors for Living with Dementia, where she can contribute her professional expertise to advance education, advocacy, and innovative approaches that improve the lives of individuals affected by dementia and the communities that support them.

In 1987 Audrey Gibbs joined the United Way of Jefferson County. The title for the position might as well have been chief cook and bottle washer. They didn’t have office furniture for her, the desk was a card table with a folding chair. Hired to brand the agency through marketing initiatives, Audrey quickly jumped into public speaking, forming a speaker’s bureau of board trustees and campaign volunteers. She secured billboards within the tri-county area, radio and television spots, all at no charge, and coordinated corporate campaign appeals. Within a year $500,000 was raised, a solid figure for rural northern New York. They also gave her a proper desk and chair!

Returning to Syracuse in 1989, she joined the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra as volunteer coordinator. During her four years there, she was promoted to Director of Annual Giving and ultimately Director of Development, successfully bringing a $10 million campaign to a close.

Having added the arts to her career, Audrey resigned to return to health and human service. She joined the United Way of Central New York as Director of Major and Planned Giving. “Planned giving was just developing in health and human service, the time was right for organizations like United Way(s) to ask donors to give in perpetuity through bequests and other planned giving vehicles.” Within two years she took their major giving society over $1,000,000 and cultivated a devoted trustee to founding chair of the Alexis de’ Tocqueville Society (gifts of $10,000 annually). After that, she went to Crouse Irving Hospital Foundation, where she coordinated the hospital’s annual events and annual giving initiatives.

In 1995 Audrey was recruited by Syracuse Home, central New York’s premiere not-for-profit senior healthcare continuum. After successfully developing and marketing McHarrie Towne, the organization’s independent retirement community of nearly 100 homes, Audrey became the Director of Development and Marketing, launching all marketing and development initiatives for an organization that quite literally had nothing in place. This year Audrey celebrates 26 years with the organization as well as a successful capital campaign that helped to build a new 80-bed long-term care wing, a renovation project that resulted in state-of-the-art assisted living apartments, a specialized dementia unit and a complete short-term rehabilitation therapies center. Audrey is currently Director of Philanthropy, focusing on major and planned gifts for the 171-year-old organization that is now a complete senior healthcare continuum called McHarrie Life. (Retired December 2024) Audrey lives in Kirkville, just outside of Syracuse, New York, and Henderson Harbor on nearby Lake Ontario in summer. An avid reader, gardener and dog lover, she is married and has a 32-year-old son, and a 26-year-old daughter and two Labrador Retrievers.

Audrey’s Philosophy: I believe philanthropy can change everything.

Becky Guiles brings over 15 years of experience in social media and digital marketing to Living With Dementia, where she now serves on the Board of Directors as Digital and Social Media Marketer. Throughout her career, Becky has been featured on The Today Show, People.com, Fortune Magazine, and other national platforms, helping brands share stories that truly connect.

Her professional path shifted profoundly through personal experience. Becky became a relentless advocate for her mother during her battle with pulmonary fibrosis, and later for her father as he navigated Parkinson’s disease and dementia. She experienced firsthand the emotional weight, complex paperwork, medical decisions, and constant advocacy required when caring for a loved one with a life-limiting illness.

Walking through the trials, challenges, and tender moments of caregiving changed her. It led her to fall in love with aging advocacy and to serve as a care companion with Aging Advocates, supporting families with empathy, steadiness, and heart.

Today, Becky combines strategic storytelling with lived experience to amplify the voices of caregivers, educate families, and ensure no one navigating dementia feels alone.