Behind Caring Connections
Caring Connections of New Jersey & Pennsylvania is led by an executive board, which is at this time, made up of the county facilitators.
Sheli Monacchio
Sheli founded Caring Connections of New Jersey and Pennsylvania in 2011 with just two people and a vision. Caring Connections of New Jersey now has a network of over 600 qualified healthcare professionals throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Sheli's 19 year experience in the senior care industry has lead her on a journey to help hundreds of families through her extensive experience in Assisted Living, Hospice, Home Care, Skilled Nursing and Senior Living Placement. She will educate families and help them sort through the confusion when it's time for them to make some very important decisions for those who are planning ahead or those who are in mid-crisis
Her compassionate client-centric approach allows her to personally get to know her clients so she can put together the best options for the family caregivers or the isolated senior. Sheli is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and can assist families who are struggling to manage the behaviors of their loved one suffering from dementia.
Sheli credits the success of Caring Connections of New Jersey to the members who have supported this organization and give their best to serve the seniors in New Jersey and Pennsylvania on a daily basis.
COUNTY FACILITATORS
The following indispensable individuals are facilitators in our county groups.
Cris Brown
@ cris.brown16@gmail.com
Cris Brown has been in the healthcare profession for over 23 years. She has been the Director of Community Outreach and Education for Imperial Healthcare in Neptune for the last 14 years. Cris received her undergraduate degree from Monmouth University. Cris maintains a strong relationship with the senior community by providing education on the latest healthcare trends while also planning events that improve quality of life. She very much looks forward to being an integral part of Caring Connections and bringing valued resources to patients and their care givers.
Josephine Celentano
@ jcelentano@concordrehab.com
Josephine launched her career in the health care profession in 2013. Along the way, Josephine has held numerous positions in admissions at top facilities, creating a well-earned reputation as a leader who consistently performs. Josephine is a compassionate and highly respected worker, who is always available to her team. She has a keen understanding of the need to foster strong relationships with both families and patients as they journey through the path of recovery and healing. She understands the importance of making first and lasting impressions and makes each encounter as memorable and comfortable as possible.
In her current position in Marketing and Development at the Concord Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Josephine continues to provide guidance to families during the difficult times transitioning loved ones to facility care. She is known for her sense of warmth, her comforting smile and her compassion. Josephine works diligently to align herself with the continued growth of the center seeking out and nurturing relationships with local physicians and hospital staff who trust her on her recommendations for the ideal path to recovery and/or long term care.
Josephine coordinates her career with raising her family in Toms River, where she resides with her husband Joe and their two children; Joey (5) and Giuliana (4). Her entire family will tell you she is a warm and caring individual who extends her love to all who surround her.
Cathy Chabala
@ cchabala@theclareestate.com
Cathy is the Marketing Director for The Clare Estate Assisted Living in Bordentown, NJ. Cathy lives in Hightstown, NJ, and was born and raised in Woodbridge Township. Cathy has had the opportunity to working in long term care, residential home care and assisted living throughout NJ as Admission and Marketing Directors. She excels at offering healthcare information and education to the seniors in the community. She believes the best way to help families is to "listen" with compassion. Families feel most vulnerable when their loved one is sick or in a crisis situation. Helping those families is so rewarding. Cathy loves to sew and to paint, especially children's furniture. Cathy has two sons and three grandchildren that keep her busy.
Jessica Cox
@ marketing@rosemountaincarecenter.com
Jessica Cox has been working in healthcare since 2012. She got her start in Admissions and Marketing for a Long Term Care building in Somerset County. She made the transition to Home Care in 2016 working to bring resources to the senior community in their homes. In 2019 she joined a Long Term Care building serving Middlesex County, going back to her roots. She is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and has completed the Hurricane Marketing Course. Jessica looks forward to this next step with Caring Connections and educating families and seniors on their options when it comes to their health.
Christina Fleming
@ CFleming@windsorhc.com
Christina Fleming has been in healthcare marketing for over 10 years. She is currently the Vice President of Marketing for Windsor Healthcare, and serves as the organizations lead for corporate strategy and marketing initiatives, as well as oversees the internal and external sales teams. Christina has a passion for bringing people together and is excited to be facilitating the Union County committee for Caring Connections.
Dana Goldfarb
@ dgoldfarb@arborcompany.com
Dana joins Caring Connections with over 18yrs of senior living experience. She is now the Marketing Director for Arbor Terrace in Middletown. Dana began her senior living career as a Director of a Memory Care community. While she loved working with those inflicted with dementia, she found her true passion in helping families during their time of need. She is a Certified Assisted Living Administer, a Certified Dementia Practitioner and a mentor.
Dana feels that working with seniors and their families is an honor and a privilege. Her drive to be a strong resource for families in need of direction and support is evident throughout her career. Dana is looking forward to being more intricately involved with Caring Connections and offering more resources to the community.
Patty Kern
@ pkern@windsorhc.com
Patty has been a healthcare professional for over 10 years. She started her career at Hackensack Meridian Health as a physician liaison and has transitioned to helping seniors at Windsor Healthcare. Patty’s current role as Director of Marketing for Abingdon and Ashbrook Care & Rehabilitation allows her to work with the community, professionals, seniors, and families to help make the transition from hospital or home to a skilled nursing facility as comfortable and seamless as possible. Throughout her 10+ years in the healthcare field one thing remains consistent, the importance of patient care. Patty knows firsthand how challenging the process can be for the patient and loved ones and takes pride in being a resource to them. She also has a passion for connecting with people and helping individuals grow professionally. She is honored to be a part of Caring Connections and looks forward to assisting the Union County community and the professionals that serve them.
Janet Kuebler
@ janetk@rah-wcnj.com
Janet Kuebler has a B.S. degree in Chemistry from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida and a MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. janet and her husband purchased the Right at Home franchise covering Hunterdon and Somerset Counties in 2007 and have been providing care to the senior community and disabled adults after personal experience caring for her in-laws. She is a Certified Senior Advisor, a Certified Dementia Practitioner and we are facilitators of the Virtual Dementia Tour, which is a hands-on sensory training tool for those providing care to dementia patients. Janet is also trained as a Mental Health First Responder. In addition to her professional experience supporting seniors in their homes, Janet has years of family caregiving experience over her lifetime caring for various family members.
Julie Lehrman
@ jlehrman@homecare.com
Julie Lehrman, MSW, has been working in the home care sector for close to 10 years as a business development specialist. She has been in the role of VP of Business Development with Homecare.com since December of 2017. Prior to that she worked as a business coach for Hurricane Marketing Enterprises, assisting home care company owners and marketers to grow their census and increase revenues. Julie began her home care career with SeniorBridge, a geriatric care management, home care and private duty nursing company in 2009 and worked for SeniorBridge/Humana at Home until 2016. She enjoys using her Social Work background to educate and support families and seniors who are in transition. Julie helps these families to understand what private duty home care is as well as the costs associated with it. Currently, Julie is facilitating the Caring Connections meetings in PA on a quarterly basis. She looks forward to expanding the PA meetings to several additional counties.
Linda Mundie
@ linda.mundie526@gmail.com
As the Director of Business Development at The Gardens at Monroe, a 5-Star subacute rehab and long-term care facility in Middlesex County, Linda Mundie has had many opportunities to help families as they navigate the journey of care for their parents and loved ones. She has more than 25 years’ experience in healthcare. Linda has previously held the position of Admissions Director at The Gardens, and, before that was employed for 8 years with Compassionate Care Hospice as a Community Liaison and Educator.
Creating strong relationships and partnerships has been Linda’s longtime approach to business success and she has built a large community of like-minded professionals to support the senior population that she serves. Her involvement with Caring Connections has given her many opportunities to further that objective.
Linda lives at the Jersey Shore with her husband, Mike, and enjoys summer at the “Shore” and beautiful sunsets.
Fran Pannella
@ franpannella@gmail.com
Fran Pannella is a Licensed Practical Nurse, Dementia Care Practitioner, Senior Personal Trainer, and Brain Fitness Facilitator. She is a member of the American Senior Fitness Association and International Association of Story Keepers. Fran is currently working towards a certification as an Essential Oil Practitioner and Safety Advocate.
Fran has over 20 years of experience in geriatric nursing, dementia care, senior living sales and marketing, senior fitness and wellness and is passionate about positive aging and quality of life for those individuals living with dementia. She created a specialized fitness program for individuals with dementia called Movement Music & Memories and is a member of the Alive Inside Foundation Board of Directors.
Tony Szatkowski
@ tszatkowski@seniorhelpers.com
Tony Szatkowski owns "Senior Helpers Home Care" in Southern Middlesex, Monmouth and Mercer counties. Prior to Senior Helpers, Tony owned a few Goddard Childcare center in NJ and PA. He also spent 18 years working at Schering-Plough pharmaceuticals.
Tony thrives on being a hands-on owner and has his hands in all facets of his business. He is involved in doing all "Initial Intakes" with each inquiry that comes into his office. "Clients like to meet the owner and its my vested interest to meet the client and sibling", Tony explains. His business is divided into 80% of his caregivers taking care of client in their own homes and 20% of the business comes from Assisted Living facilities. It is important that people have the opportunity to stay in their homes as opposed to moving into Assisted Livings.