Aging, Dementia & Family Caregiving
Care for the relationship.
Support for the changes.
When memory or independence changes, the emotional impact reaches well beyond one person. Support can include you, too.
You don’t have to make sense of it alone.
A diagnosis can change the way a family thinks about the future. Spouses, partners, adult children, and other caregivers may find themselves balancing love, exhaustion, uncertainty, and difficult decisions.
I offer psychotherapy, family support, education, and consultation for people adjusting to cognitive changes and for the people close to them. We can work on the emotional and relational challenges while keeping dignity, identity, and connection in view.
Practical support for complicated situations.
- Adjusting to a diagnosis or a transition in care
- Caregiver stress, changing roles, and personal limits
- Family conflict over responsibilities and care decisions
- Communication and understanding behavioral changes
- Anticipatory grief, loss, and mixed feelings
- Maintaining connection, meaning, and quality of life
Experience that informs the work.
Aging and dementia care have been a significant focus of my professional career. I am a Dementia Capable Care Specialist (DCCS) through the Crisis Prevention Institute and have led extensive trainings and workshops for healthcare professionals, employees, and family caregivers. I have presented at conferences and professional programs for organizations including the Alzheimer’s Association and Institute on Aging, and have served as a provider for Family Caregiver Alliance.
I bring this experience together with my background as a family therapist to help older adults and their families navigate the emotional and relational dimensions of aging and dementia—from changing relationships and caregiver stress to difficult decisions and family disagreements about care.
Dementia changes relationships. It doesn’t diminish the need for connection, dignity, creativity, and meaning.
My professional background includes leadership of the Irene Swindells Alzheimer’s Residential Care Program at California Pacific Medical Center and senior leadership at the San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living, including Executive Director of Frank Residences.
That experience informs attention to the whole person: remaining abilities, creativity, relationships, and what continues to bring meaning. The work is grounded in the challenges families actually face.
A clear role. These services provide psychotherapy, family support, education, and consultation. They do not include neurological diagnosis or medical treatment of dementia. Any medical questions should be directed to a physician or appropriate medical specialist.
See creative dementia care in practice.
In “Play’s the Thing!” at the Creative Arts and Dementia Symposium, Rob demonstrates his creative approach to dementia care. Watch the complete presentation, shared by the Alzheimer’s Association California & Nevada.
Original video: “Play’s the Thing! — Creative Arts and Dementia Symposium.” Loading the player connects to YouTube. Watch on YouTube.
Professionals and organizations can also explore training and consultation.