Early Career and Foundational Experiences
My journey in working with seniors began in 1995, when a gerontology professor invited me to serve as her assistant at a skilled nursing facility. In this role, I facilitated a wide range of group activities, conducted one-on-one sessions, and assisted recovering patients. Additionally, I provided sensory stimulation experiences for residents living in long-term care. As one of only five team members, I was responsible for ensuring that every resident felt comfortable and had plentiful opportunities to engage in various activities.
I regularly participated in weekly care plan meetings that brought together families of long-term care residents, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nursing staff, and our social services department. These collaborative sessions marked the beginning of my informal education, which ultimately led to formal studies in Kinesiology and Gerontology. This educational foundation paved the way for my specialization in working with older adults and adults with disabilities.
Collaborative Care and Professional Growth
Specialized Training
and Academic Contributions
During my academic training, I interned with the Balance and Mobility Program, the Lifespan Wellness Clinic and the Senior Fitness Program at the Ruby Gerontology Center. I was part of one of the very first teams to collect data via movement assessments all over Southern California, that established normative fitness values for different age groups of seniors, supported by two separate grants. These formative experiences opened new opportunities, such as teaching at three local colleges and becoming one of the first instructors to lead the offsite Balance and Mobility Program for St. Jude Medical Hospital in Southern California.
Course Development and Ongoing Impact
Over the past 25 years, I have designed ten college courses tailored to diverse fitness levels for seniors, young adults, and older adults with disabilities. My teaching career has extended across skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, assisted living and memory care communities, independent living retirement communities, and senior centers. These experiences have brought me immense joy and created meaningful, lasting relationships that I deeply cherish.