A chief of staff for your family's aging transitions
When something changes, families hear from many specialists: doctors, attorneys, care agencies, contractors. Each one sees their piece. Someone needs to see the whole picture, help the family decide together, and keep things moving. That is the role I fill.
Specialists see their piece. I see the whole picture, and I keep it moving.
Why every family needs a sounding board
A fall, a diagnosis, a loss or a move rarely changes just one thing. These are the patterns I see most often.
Everything changes at once
Health, money, legal authority, the home and family roles all shift together. Each specialist handles one part, and the family is left to connect them.
Some decisions have a deadline
Powers of attorney must be signed while your loved one can still understand them. Hospital discharge plans are made in days. Waiting can close options.
Families decide under stress
Siblings see things differently, spouses are exhausted, and the person at the center can feel left out of decisions about their own life. A calm, neutral voice helps everyone be heard.
The help is scattered
Occupational therapists, elder law attorneys, benefits counselors, contractors, care agencies. Knowing who to call, and in what order, saves months.
What a chief of staff does for your family
I work for you and your loved one. My job is to keep the whole picture in view and make the next step clear.
What this looks like in real life
A daughter caring for her mother knows the house needs grab bars, a ramp and a bathroom that works. She does not have the time or energy to manage contractors. I arrange an occupational therapist's home assessment, get bids from qualified contractors, review them with the family, and keep the project on schedule. The family makes the decisions and pays the contractors directly. The daughter gets her evenings back.
Ways to work together
Every engagement starts with a free 20-minute call to understand your situation and whether I can help.
Big-picture session
A 90-minute conversation, in person or by video. We look at the whole situation across all four areas, review your Transition Readiness Check, and leave with the three most important next steps.
Facilitated family meeting
I talk with each family member first, then lead a structured meeting where everyone is heard, including your loved one. You receive a written summary of what was decided and who does what.
Transition plan
A written plan across your loved one's people, affairs, wellbeing and decisions. It covers what must happen while they can still decide, who to call for each piece, and what to watch for next.
Chief of staff, monthly
A reserved block of time each month. I coordinate professionals and projects, follow up on decisions, and stay available as a sounding board when something new comes up.
Rate: $150 an hour, billed in quarter hours, with an estimate agreed before any work begins. Monthly blocks are $125 an hour. I work with families in person and by video, which suits siblings in different states. Consulting is provided and billed by Peritus and Company, Inc.
Who I am
For decades I helped organizations through consequential change, at Deloitte, Capgemini and in the financial sector. Much of that work was facilitation: bringing people with different views to a decision they could all live with. Then I guided my own family through aging transitions and saw how much families need that same kind of help.
I hold a PhD in Organizational Psychology, an MA in Organization Development and an MBA, and I am a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS), with training in gerontology and healthy aging. I have also project-managed the remodeling of more than a dozen homes. Read my full story.
Common questions
How is this different from a geriatric care manager?
A geriatric care manager, often a nurse or social worker, focuses on care: assessing health needs and arranging care services. I focus on the whole transition: the family's decisions, legal authority and paperwork, the home, and the people involved. When your family needs a care manager, I help you find a good one and work alongside them.
Who do you work with?
Adult children, spouses and partners, and older adults planning for themselves. Many families start with one person who is carrying most of the load. Your loved one is always part of the conversation.
What don't you do?
I don't give legal, financial or medical advice, and I am not a licensed care manager. I bring in qualified professionals for those needs and help you prepare for those meetings. I don't hire or pay contractors on your behalf, and I don't accept referral fees from the professionals I recommend, so my advice is yours alone.
When should we call?
Any time a transition is coming or has just happened: after a fall or hospital stay, a new diagnosis, memory changes, the loss of a spouse, or a possible move. Calling before a crisis gives your family the most options.
Start with a conversation
A free 20-minute call to talk through what is happening and what would help most. No obligation.
SilverBeacon consulting services are provided and billed by Peritus and Company, Inc. They cover planning, coordination and facilitation and are not legal, financial, medical or care management advice. Peritus and Company also offers fiduciary services; working with me never requires using them. See our Disclaimer & Privacy Statement.