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Jennifer Prell
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Jennifer Prell
Senior Partner & President
Jennifer will help any senior find the best housing or care option that meets their needs, budget, and preferred location. “I really care and want the senior to be happy with the outcome and whatever transition they need to face. Silver Connections provides free senior housing referrals and care options to seniors, families, and other professionals.
In 2003, Jennifer started Paxem, Inc., a senior relocation company that helps in all aspects of the move; organizing, de-cluttering, packing, set up, staging, move management and design, etc. Her experts help seniors throughout the “right sizing” project and can pack and move a senior into a new senior residence in one day. Helping families find the best senior care or housing alternative became the next service to offer.
Jennifer prides herself on helping others. Her background in volunteering to help the elderly has prepared her to assist those in need. Her passion has always been to facilitate services between people and to see them succeed. She recently joined the board of directors for The Helping Our Heroes Foundation (HOH). HOH raises money to help Illinois Military Personnel, Veterans, Firemen/Women, and Policemen/Women with residential-related expenses due to their financial distress. 100% of the proceeds from all events goes directly to the foundation which is run by volunteers.
Jennifer is a member of many senior groups focusing on improving the environment for seniors; the Life Services Network, Continuity of Care, Association of Senior Service Providers, Northwest Suburban Senior Coalition, Seven Local Chambers of Commerce groups, the Better Business Bureau, and several other civic organizations. Jennifer and her two corporations volunteer for various groups and support over 60 local charities.
Jennifer’s number one job is being a Mom. She is her Daughter’s softball coach, and assists at her Son’s baseball games. She has been married for 20 years and believes that family should always come first. |
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Pat O'Dea-Evans
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Patricia O'Dea-Evans, MS, RN, LCPC, CCM
Senior Partner & President
"It is an honor to provide services to seniors and their families. I have the privilege of being able to share my professional experience with families seeking how to find the best alternative for themselves or their situational needs."
Pat is a Geriatric Care Manager and Nationally known expert who has been helping Adult Children help their elderly parents for over the past two decades. She developed “How to Help Your Employees Help Their Aging Parents” A workshop designed to help you save your employers time, money and frustration. Pat has an extensive background helping families for over thirty years. She has worked in Hospitals, Nursing Homes, and Residential Properties. Some of her past positions include Clinical Director of Geriatric Services, Admissions Director, Compliance Officer and Vice President of Administrative Services at Chicago area Hospitals. She is a columnist on “Elder Care” for the Chicago Hospital News a monthly publication in that market.
Pat has a Masters Degree from Aurora University, Bachelors in Behavioral Sciences from National Louis University and Professional Registered Nursing AS Degree from Harper College in Palatine, IL. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the State of Illinois, Registered Nurse license in Illinois. She has national certification as a Case Manager. She has held past Certification as a Masters Alcohol and Drug Counselor and past National Certification as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. She served on the NCTRC Certification Board of Directors.
The State of Illinois Director for the Department of Aging, Mr. Charles Johnson, has appointed Pat to be an Advisory Board Member for The Department of Aging, Public Health, and Healthcare and Family services on the Older Adult Services Advisory Committee. In this role, she is the representative for family caregivers. “Ultimately, the goal of this initiative is to transform Illinois’ system of older adult services making it the most comprehensive, affordable and sustainable service delivery system possible.”
Pat also represents the interests of seniors for US Congresswoman Melissa Bean’s 8th District Senior Advisory Committee as Chair of Veterans issues for the 111th US Congress. Pat was selected for the faculty of the 2008 NCOA-ASA Aging in America Conference held in Washington, D.C. She is a Board Member for the Illinois Continuity of Care Organization and Member of the Certification Committee for the National Geriatric Care Managers Organization.
As a volunteer, Pat provides marketing and education on the Veterans “Aid and Attendance” program. An under utilized benefit for seniors and their widowed spouses that had served during wartime for the United States of America. Pat is an expert in senior housing and care options and specializes on how to help employers and family caregivers learn about senior resources. Pat has a wealth of information on how to access both private, state, Veterans and federal services and programs.
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Gail Niksic
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Gail joined Silver Connections in February 2007 as a Senior Care Consultant with more than nine years' experience in the sales and marketing of senior living communities from independent retirement properties to skilled nursing homes. She also worked as a Director of Business Development for a national home care and care management agency. Gail was a co-facilitator at an Alzheimer's Disease support group at Northwestern Medical Center.
With her extensive network of professional healthcare relationships, Gail brings her own passion and dedication to seniors and their well-being.. She has extensive knowledge of geriatric resources, as well as the professional standards and compassion needed to facilitate the needs of seniors and their families while maintaining their dignity with minimal stress. |
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Paula Skweres
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Senior Care Consultant
Paula joined Silver Connections in July 2007 as a Senior Care Consultant. She had recently gone through over a year of family crises, with three different family members, that included dealing with rehabilitation, skilled nursing, hospice and memory care. She found out what it was like to try to wade through the myriad of different facilities and services in order to find the best care for her family members. As she often tells the families she works with, she knows what they are going through as she had experienced their frustration, (self-induced) guilt and not knowing who to talk to or where to go for assistance. During the last situation, she worked with Jennifer Prell at Silver Connections who assisted in her mother-in-law’s placement. Impressed with the care, concern and empathy displayed by Jennifer, Paula asked Jennifer if she could join Silver Connections.
Paula’s prior experience was largely with Fortune 100 companies in the consulting, sales and marketing areas. In 2002, she left her job with Microsoft and entered into a franchise which provided business coaching to individuals. She prides herself in her ability to listen to her clients, understand their needs and present an appropriate solution. Paula is passionate about helping seniors and their families and tries her best to make sure they don’t have to go through the same frustrations she went through.
Paula’s second love is her Golden Retrievers, Riley & Harley, and is an active member of As Good As Gold, the Golden Retriever Rescue Group of Northern Illinois. |
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Diane O'Dea
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Senior Care Consultant
When Diane's mother was diagnosed with Parkinson's, it threw her family into turmoil. She had to find care for her mother, sell the house, find out what to do with all the stuff, and take care of financial matters. After this experience, Diane realized how stressful and overwhelming it is for families to sort through senior housing and the issues that go along with it.
"The first person I helped find senior housing was Dorothy, my best friend's mother. She was in a property that wasn't suited for her needs. My friend and her husband still rave about how much Dorothy has improved mentally and physically since she found her new home. I am thrilled that I was able to help this family. I am looking forward for the joy and accomplishment that will come from helping other families."
Diane has a MA from the University of Hawaii in American Studies, and a BA from Loyola in Liberal Studies. Diane loves music, art and traveling.
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Ellen Vinzani
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Senior Care Consultant
Ellen joined Silver Connections in January 2007 as a Senior Care Consultant. Previously she worked for 10 years as an activity director in three different retirement communities. Prior to that she was the program and volunteer coordinator at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum.
Ellen's first involvement with senior housing was in searching for a good community for her father, who she moved here from New York at age 91. It was confusing and difficult to find the right fit. There were many options but upon looking into them, most were not appropriate. Ellen is now dedicated to educating and guiding others in this same situation.
Ellen is married, has two grown sons and a cat! She also does presentations entitled, "Traveling Teacups". Her interests include traveling, entertaining and bicycling |
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Kitty Watson
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Senior Care Consultant
Kitty has spent her entire career working with Seniors. Her vast experience includes: activity director in a nursing home, director of a Park District, village senior citizen director, director of a township senior department, senior tour operator, director of a home health agency and an independent retirement community, and the marketing director of an assisted living chain.
In addition, Kitty is certified as a Care Manager also known as a GCM Geriatric Care Manager, she is a licensed Reverse Mortgage agent, has done senior housing referrals for over six years and most recently has been the Director of Sales and Marketing for Paxem, Inc. She currently serves as a Senior Care Consultant for Silver Connections Chicagoland’s largest referral service for senior housing and care. She is well-known to be a resource for seniors in the south suburbs. Kitty has a Bachelors of Science in Parks and Recreation and a Masters in Public Administration.
Active in her community Kitty is Vice President of Resource Development – South/Southwest United Way.Treasurer of Matteson Area Chamber of Commerce, Board member of her homeowners’ association, President of South Suburban Continuity of Care and on the State Board for the Illinois Continuity of Care Organization as State President. |
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Tamara Kruse Nahigian
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Senior Care Consultant
“Moving is always a stressful time in our lives especially when it involves our loved ones. As your Senior Care Consultant, I am your source to help alleviate the overwhelming stress and save you valuable time in selecting the appropriate senior care community. It is my pleasure to educate and guide you through the decisions needed for your complete satisfaction. I will listen to your concerns and your expectations and together we will find a place to call home.”
Tamara graduated from Purdue University and has been in real estate and sales for the past eight years. Her own grandfather suffered with Alzheimer's and she can relate to anyone dealing with this disease. Tamara is dedicated to making a difference in people's lives on a daily basis. |
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Tess Hurley
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Senior Care Consultant
“Helping families find the best resources for senior housing and care is most rewarding for me. I know this task is overwhelming and stressful which is why I chose to dedicate myself helping them. Nothing brings me as much satisfaction as when a family thanks me for the guidance I gave them in finding them the perfect community for their parent. Every time I consult a family I think of my own parents who enjoyed the last six years of their lives in a community that embraced them and made them part of their home. They were truly happy, which is why my passion is to help other families find such happiness in their later years. ”
Tess has been working with families of seniors for several years. Tess’ prior experience was in sales and sales management. She has a M. S. of Business Management from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, WI.
Tess worked with seniors while serving on her parish board of directors and through a number of nonprofit organizations she worked with.
Tess enjoys spending time with her family by making many memories for her grandchildren to cherish. |
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