Your Eldercare Consultants is a team of caring, professional geriatric care managers with advanced degrees in social work and training in Gerontology.
A leading provider of care management for older adults and their families for over two decades, we have the expertise to help families understand and plan for many changes that accompany aging.
Joan Richman Ente, A.M., L.C.S.W., Manager of Your Eldercare Consultants
BA, Oberlin College; AM, University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration
Joan has more than 25 year of experience in mental health, family counseling, staff development and aging. Her background equips her to work with the special needs of clients and families, always mindful of their stories, complicated relationships and themes that recur through the generations. Joan has a keen interest in the management of Parkinson’s disease and neurodegenerative cognitive disorders. A natural communicator, Joan speaks regularly about aging issues to business, community and professional groups. She has written a monthly column for the Chicago Jewish News and many articles for CJE’s LIFE magazine.Joan sees resilience as a central element in aging; she believes that care management builds on strengths. Her approach is practical and encouraging. Joan is resourceful and imaginative, grounded in thorough knowledge of Jewish culture, health care, systems, community services and other local networks.Joan thanks the (baseball) gods for the multiple blessings of: wonderful adult children, strength training, Theo Epstein’s management team and the exuberant World Champion Chicago Cubs. “Let’s win two”!
Barbara Sarasin, C.N.A., M.S.W.
BA, University of Illinois; MSW, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Working in the field of aging since 1984, Barbara brings a unique perspective to her work with older adults. Her formative experience as a Certified Nurse’s Aide helps her understand both frailty and the challenges of hands-on physical care. She has worked in private homes, skilled nursing facilities, adult day programs and an inpatient psychiatric unit.
Barbara spearheaded our bill-paying program and has helped clients with their paperwork for more than 25 years. She helps clients de-clutter their homes and has developed a model group approach to clutter management. Barb is a member of two professional hoarding task forces. She is in demand as a speaker on this topic.
Barbara’s warm, practical “no-nonsense” approach is extremely helpful to many clients. She has detailed knowledge of the senior housing resources throughout the city and suburbs. Clients know they can depend on Barb to sort through their personal matters in a non-judgmental, compassionate and reassuring manner.
Rosann Corcoran, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., Manager of Counseling Services and Linkages
BA, Augustana College; MSW, Jane Addams School of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago
Rosann, a psychotherapist and Manager of CJE’s Counseling Services, is our aging and disabilities practice specialist. She works with older adults, many suffering from severe and persistent mental illness. Rosann supervises the Linkages program for aging parents of adult children who have disabilities. She routinely helps families navigate complicated, often confounding, service delivery systems.
Rosann has taught graduate level courses in social work and aging at UIC’s Jane Addams College of Social work and Loyola University School of Social work in Chicago. She has been a guest lecturer and instructor in the University of Chicago’s Social Worker with Older Adults” certificate program. A presenter at several prestigious conferences, Rosann oversees field instruction for clinical social work graduate students interning at CJE SeniorLife.
Rosann utilizes principles of mindfulness in her clinical work, helping older adults “be in the moment” to enhance well-being and perspective. Outside the office, she and her family enjoy their close-knit community of friends and neighbors and spend as much time as possible at their lake house.
Christie Norrick, M.S.W., Manager of Consumer Assistance
BFA, Washington University; MSW, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, St. Louis
Our staff often partners with the Consumer Assistance specialists at CJE to find best possible solutions for our clients. Christie’s staff members are specialists in benefits eligibility and the Illinois Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP). Keeping up with changing health care systems is their priority when it comes to advising clients.
Christie’s experience lies in working with vulnerable populations. Her approach is person-centered and specific to every client’s different circumstances. While she gets satisfaction from advocating for clients and solving problems, she also knows how important it is just to be heard.
Christie is an active member of the Chicago Bridge professional group (specialists in aging services) and completed the NASW/Hartford foundation Supervisory Leaders in Aging program in 2016.
Christie enjoys walking at the lakefront in her off-hours life. She cooks and spends family time with her nephews.
Laura Prohov, M.S.W., M.B.A., Vice President of Community Services
BA, University of Illinois; MSW, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; MBA, Northwestern University
Laura has overall responsibility for Community Services at CJE SeniorLife and oversees a broad array of core services including: Your Eldercare Consultants, Counseling, Personal Care, Transportation, Home Delivered Meals, Consumer Assistance and Holocaust Community Services. She plays an active role in Government Affairs, advocating for programs and funding that enables older adults to age in place. In the past year, Laura has led the effort to ready CJE for the State’s transition of older Medicaid recipients to managed care.
Laura attended the University of Illinois where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Social work with an emphasis on health care. She earned her M.B.A. at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.
Laura’s preparation for leadership began with a medical social work job at Rush University Medical center. She opened and managed Elmhurst Memorial Home Health Care and worked in health care consulting, focusing on projects related to older adult services.
Laura also brings a wealth of personal experience to the collective wisdom of our team. For a decade, she partnered with her husband and siblings to care for her aging mother and in-laws. Her understanding and appreciation of care management is deep and heartfelt.
Alicia Lopez, B.A., Intake Coordinator and Compliance Associate
BA, National Louis University
Alicia assists our staff with initial inquiries and scheduling. She anchors our practice at the main office and can reach any care manager in the event of a client emergency.
Alicia, a Chicago native, joined our team in 2014. She is a graduate of National Louis University, with a major in Applied Behavioral Sciences and concentrations in Public Policy and Aging Studies. Her prior work as a paralegal broadened and enriched her college experience.
Bright, analytical and detail oriented, Alicia supports Your Eldercare Consultants in many ways and has special sensitivity for the urgent care needs of our clients. Away from the office, her growing family and show-quality Great Dane make for a vibrant, busy life.