Current President of Montana Mediation Association.
With thirty years experience in healthcare, my career began as an Assistant Activity Director in a nursing home before spending 25 years in healthcare regulation. As the Complaint and Abuse Coordinator with a healthcare regulatory agency for over 20 years, I have had the unique opportunity to listen, advise, recommend, mediate, advocate, and resolve issues related to concerns of residents/patients, health care facilities and/or family members. Between 2004 and 2014, I participated in over 200 Informal Dispute Resolution (IDR) hearings between healthcare facilities and the regulatory agency. As a result, I comprehend the complexities of employee conflicts, discharge planning challenges and the care planning process with healthcare facilities. I retired from the Senior and Long Term Care Division in the Home and Community Based Waiver program May 2017. From 2018-2020 I was the Abuse in Late Life Advocate at The Friendship Center which is a domestic violence shelter in Helena, Montana. I currently volunteer at the shelter a few hours a week. I am a nationally qualified Eldercaring Coordinator in Idaho. I am an AARP volunteer who focuses on Prepare to Care and Social Media Fraud Prevention topics.
Additionally, since 1990 I have been a renter and/or a landlord. I have provided training and education to many groups and associations regarding the differences between mediation and small claims court. I am currently working with the Billings Mediation Center's Conflict Resiliency Program regarding tenant evictions.
Conflict areas I-Mediate : Employee disputes; long term care facility discharge notice conflicts; delinquent payment issues; Facility Admission Contract/ Agreement issues; conflicts between residents, family members and facilities and landlord/tenant disputes.
Providing Education, Advocacy and Mediation for all aspects of the aging community.
Training available: landlord and tenant conflicts, Solving communication barriers during care plan meetings, disability etiquette, resource development, understanding the differences in State of Montana and Federal laws and rules for healthcare facilities.
