On Monday, March 18, four local experts will answer audience questions during the Morning Pointe Foundation’s free Caregiver Café discussion, “How to Make Tough Decisions for Your Aging Loved One.”
The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Silverdale Center Creekside Theatre, part of the Silverdale Baptist Academy campus. Family members of aging loved ones are invited to a question-and-answer session on areas of financial planning, Medicaid and Medicare, veterans benefits and geriatric care.
“We are so blessed to have each of these panelists with us – each one is strong in their area of expertise,” said Miranda Perez, Morning Pointe Foundation executive director. “Putting all of them together makes for a wonderful opportunity to cover so many questions families may have as their loved ones age. If you have an aging loved one, or you are aging yourself and just want good, sound advice on these topics, I encourage you to come, listen and ask questions. I am sure everyone will leave with some takeaway that will be relevant to their situation.”
Meet the Panelists
Rebecca Miller is an elder law attorney with Chambliss, Bahner and Stophel, P.C. She works with clients in Tennessee and Georgia on elder law, special needs planning and care coordination. She approaches her work with an understanding both of the legal and emotional sides of her clients’ cases. She was named one of the Best Lawyers in America by Trusts and Estates Business for 2024.
Tara Simpson is a licensed insurance agent and patient advocate. She has been a social worker in the healthcare field and helps clients with questions regarding Medicare, Medicaid, health insurance, life insurance, dental/vision insurance, cancer/critical illness policies, hospital indemnities and the Affordable Care Act. She is a member of the Patient Services Committee for the Chattanooga Kidney Foundation and is the treasurer for the Tennessee Society of HealthCare Social Workers.
Kristi Wick is the Vicky B. Gregg chair of gerontology and assistant professor for the UC Foundation. She has a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and is a certified Geriatric Specialist. She is working to raise awareness of and early detection of dementia. She has been an appointed member of the Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability since 2020 and is the vice president of the Tennessee Nurses Association, District 4.
Mary Ross-Tarkington is the national director of client relations for Elder Veterans Legal Aid Group. She is a National Certified Counselor with many years of experience counseling seniors. She has been a memory program specialist as well and volunteers with the Alzheimer’s Association and Alzheimer’s Tennessee. She is the daughter of a veteran and has a passion for helping seniors learn about the VA benefits available to veterans and their surviving spouses.
Moderating the discussion will be Amy Boulware, care manager for elder law and special needs with Chambliss, Bahner and Stophel, P.C. She has been helping seniors and individuals with disabilities find resources for more than 30 years – whether that be healthcare, benefits, housing, transportation, financial planning or other areas.
“Bringing people together to learn about planning for their aging family members is critical,” said Boulware. “Many families think they have time to discuss these issues and put them on the back burner because it may be uncomfortable. The worst time to have these conversations is during a crisis. By bringing these topics to the community, we can hopefully put them on the front burner. This setting is a non-threatening place to learn about what they may be facing in the future.”
More About the Event and Foundation
Tickets are not required for Caregiver Café. The Silverdale Center Creekside Theatre is located at 7236 Bonny Oaks Drive. Guests should enter by the sports field.
Coffee and desserts will be available prior to the start of the discussion.
The Morning Pointe Foundation offers its Caregiver Café educational series as a free service to the community each spring as part of its mission to provide caregiver support programs. The Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Morning Pointe Senior Living founded by senior healthcare entrepreneurs Greg A. Vital and J. Franklin Farrow. In addition to the caregiver support, the nonprofit sponsors educational awareness events and funds scholarships to advance the care of seniors throughout the Southeast.
Founded in 1997 by Vital and Farrow, Morning Pointe Senior Living owns and operates 38 assisted living, personal care, and Alzheimer’s memory care communities in five southeastern states: Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama and Indiana.
