Colin Sandler, LCSW, CCM, Co-Chairman
Owner of Medicaid Solutions, LLC, Colin has spent over 22 years as a homecare social worker and elder care consultant, allowing her to encounter and then master New York Medicaid. Colin is a Certified Care Manager (CCM) and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), and she holds an MS in Social Work from Columbia University.
Amy Slingerland, LCSW, Co-Chairman
Amy is a Licensed, Registered Clinical Social Worker who holds an MS degree in Social Work from Fordham University. She volunteers in a local Nursing Home. Amy is employed as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for Hudson Valley Elder Care, LLC (a Certified Geriatric Care Management Service) as well as by Seniors Helping Seniors (Senior Companion and Home Care Services) as a Healthcare Consultant and Community Liaison. She has over 30 years Social Work experience including positions at the the Westchester County Department of Social Services, Psychiatric Emergency Response and Adult Inpatient Hospital, Short-Term Rehab and Skilled Level Nursing Home, Geriatric Social Work, and Home Care and Quality Assurance. Amy participates actively in The Westchester Central and Northern Geriatric Committee meetings, the Blue Ribbon Professional Networking Organization, and WEDC Senior Providers. Amy has a passion for helping people and advocating for seniors and their families. She enjoys a diverse range of personal and professional connections in the Social Work, Health Care and Senior Communities.
Leana Walsh, Secretary
Leana is Owner & Eldercare Advisor at Assisted Living Locators of Westchester NY, working to see that older adults and their families receive the support and assistance they need to manage life transitions. She has more than 20 years of related experience working with and volunteering in skilled nursing facilities. Assisted Living Locators offers a no-cost placement service for seniors and their families, providing expert advice and tours for Assisted Living Communities, Memory Care, Independent Retirement apartments, short-term and long-term care options including in-home care.
Catherine (Kitty) Wynkoop, PhD, FACHE(R). co-Founder, Treasurer
A healthcare executive and management consultant for 35+ years, Kitty has been developing aging-related programs and services since 2006, including most recently WestFair Rides, a transportation connection for older adults and people with disabilities, the Westchester/Fairfield Aging in Place Coalition, and Active Living Over Fifty (ALOFT). Following graduation from Bates College, Kitty served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Iran. She holds graduate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, UNC Chapel Hill School of Public Health, and Brandeis University Heller School for Advanced Studies in Social Policy. She is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Carolyn Cony
A licensed master social worker with thirty plus years of experience as a social work supervisor for licensed home care agencies, Carolyn was social work supervisor for Dominican Sisters Family Health Service (now known as Archcare at Home) for 23 years. She also supervised the social work team at Bethel Long Term Home Health Care and at Visiting Nurse Services of Westchester. Carolyn earned her MSW degree at Fordham University and her BA degree at the University of Wisconsin, majoring in Sociology. Currently, Carolyn and her husband have begun a new business, LegacyVideoGroup, devoted to helping seniors and their families create videos of family history and values to pass on to future generations. In addition to joining the board of Boxwood Alliance, Carolyn is on the board of Westchester Care at Home, the licensed agency of VNSW, and participates in the Interagency Ethics Committee in Westchester as well as the Northern Westchester Geriatric Committee.
Desiree Lara
Owner of Lara Medicaid Advisors, LLC, Desiree says: “One of the many reasons that lead me to start my own business was watching the confusion and stress around the Medicaid process. Over the last 20 years, I have helped countless families get ready for the Medicaid application process. The thing that was always consistent in these families was just how misinformed they were, not only about the Medicaid guidelines, but understanding their rights. I have worked within the nursing home setting for over 20 years and understand the requirements for both nursing home and community home care. I have a background in finance and I am also a participant in the Northern Westchester Geriatric Committee, as well as fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Association.”
Lynda O’Hanlon
Also a member of the WestFair Rides Board of Directors, Lynda is a caregiving consultant and community organizer. Active in countywide caregiver coaching and training with the Livable Communities Caregiver Collaborative. Westchester County Nursing Home Ombudsman.
Founding Board Members, Retired
Richard Farrell – co-Founder, Emeritus
Richard is a marketing consultant and writer with Richard Farrell Associates, as well as a founder of the Friends of Bedford Burying Grounds Foundation, a local nonprofit organization. He has been President of the Bedford Free Library and Chairman of Bedford Historical Review Commission. Between 2008 and 2010, Richard edited goALOFT, a monthly aging in place newsletter for northeast Westchester. He also wrote for WestFair Rides and other nonprofit organizations. Richard has retired and moved to Somers.
Nancy Gould Ralphs, CLU, CLTC, co-Founder, Emerita
Nancy is a long term care planning specialist with Certification in Long Term Care with Chartered Life Underwriter designation from the American College of Financial Services. Nancy is an associate of ACSIA, a national firm which specializes in the planning for the expenses of long-term health care needs. The firm works with all of the leading long-term care insurance companies. Nancy is also active with the Estate Planning Council of Putnam County (currently as its President), the Society of Financial Service Professionals in Westchester (Past President), and the Westchester/Putnam Geriatric Committee.
J Donna Sullivan, LCSW, C-ASWCM. co-Founder, Emerita
A licensed clinical social worker and a certified private geriatric care manager, J has retired and moved to Florida. She had worked in the geriatric field for over 25 years in both private and public sectors and had a wide network of aging specialists that she drew upon to assist clients and their families. J, who holds a Masters degree in Social Work from Hunter College and a Masters in Education from Iona College, is the developer and Principal of AgeWiseConnections, a geriatric care management business. She holds post graduate certificates in geriatrics from Columbia University and Boston College School of Social Work, and was a member of the Board of Ethics for the Town of Somers.
