Director of Care Management
Sharona is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with experience in mental health, education, administration, and care management. Most recently, she was the director of a home care agency with a geriatric care management division. This motivated Sharona to join Elder Advisory Group and focus on working directly with clients in care management.
Additionally, Sharona’s strong social work and caring background support her in advocating effectively for older adults and their families that face aging challenges. Sharona services clients all over the Houston area, especially the central areas of River Oaks, Bellaire, and Meyerland.
Originally from New York City, Sharona graduated from City University of New York with a bachelors degree in Psychology and earned her Masters of Social Work at Adelphi University in 2003. She then supervised a day program for adults with chronic mental illness. Upon moving to Houston in 2008, Sharona was the Associate Director of Field Education at the University of Houston’s Graduate College of Social Work and connected with many local agencies prior to transitioning to senior living. In 2011, she began working with seniors in an assisted living and a few years later transitioned to home care where she further solidified her passion for care management and working with older adults. In 2016, Sharona received her care management certification from the Aging Life Care Association.
According to the Aging Life Care® Association website, An Aging Life Care Professional, also known as a geriatric care manager, is a health and human services specialist who acts as a guide and advocate for families who are caring for older relatives or disabled adults. The Aging Life Care Professionals® is educated and experienced in any of several fields related to Aging Life Care / care management, including, but not limited to counseling, gerontology, mental health, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychology, or social work; with a specialized focus on issues related to aging and elder care.The Aging Life Care Professional assists clients in attaining their maximum functional potential. The individual’s independence is encouraged, while safety and security concerns are also addressed. Aging Life Care Professionals are able to address a broad range of issues related to the well-being of their client. They also have extensive knowledge about the costs, quality, and availability of resources in their communities.
Patients we accept include:
- Older adults with or without the support of nearby relatives.
- Older adults who need help with everyday tasks, but don't require nursing care.
- Patients suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
- Older adults struggling with complex medical needs.
Care Managers can be nurses, social workers, physical therapists, psychologists or other related professionals and are typically licensed in their specialty.
Our geriatric care management (GCM) services are private-pay. Medicare/insurance does not cover GCM services, and we do not accept Medicaid. Depending on individual policies, some long-term care (LTC) policies will cover the cost (in part or in whole) of GCM services. Please check with your LTC company regarding your policy prior to scheduling an appointment.
A care management client assessment is a comprehensive psychosocial tool that care managers utilize to evaluate an individual’s medical, emotional, mental and physical health in order to develop a coordinated plan to maximize overall health with aging.
Aging Life Care Association is the professional organization for professional care managers.
