The Compass Difference
You want to hire the best geriatric care manager for the senior in your life but how do you know? An excellent strategy is to seek a geriatric care manager who is certified by The National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers. On January 1, 2010, the association introduced membership categories, including the official Certified Geriatric Care Manager category which requires specific higher education levels, supervised work experience and one of four industry-sanctioned professional designations. Alissa Schramm has achieved this gold standard of membership, offering a high degree of confidence that you are choosing a knowledgeable, trustworthy professional.
While some geriatric care companies offer advice on whether a senior should remain at home or move to a care community, they also benefit directly because they offer home care services. Compass does not provide home care services, assuring unbiased guidance. We are, however, very familiar with home health and home care agencies—as well as care communities—and can direct families appropriately.
Only an elder care professional who has worked at care communities in management and direct care positions truly understands the inner workings of this often-confusing field. Alissa offers that valuable experience. That's important to you because if your loved one should require care away from home, you need someone who knows what to expect and how to plan for a successful transition.
Compass is much more than a referral service. Elder care is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Alissa, a trained geriatric care manager with years of experience, meets with seniors and their family members to learn about their values, needs and goals before developing customized plans of action.
In her second career as a geriatric care manager, Alissa draws on her exceptional skills of observation, interviewing, research and writing that were sharpened during her years as a newspaper reporter. These abilities result in insightful and accurate evaluations of seniors, leading to successful plans of action. Alissa's reports are thorough and expertly written, a relief for families seeking clear direction.
Our History
Alissa Schramm, president and chief operating officer of Compass Elder Care Specialists, Inc., has helped seniors in a professional capacity for more than 14 years.
While enjoying a successful writing career, Alissa was inspired by her experiences assisting her grandmother and a dear elderly friend. A native of Cleveland, Alissa enrolled in the Interdisciplinary Degree Program in the Social Sciences at the State University of New York at Buffalo. The program is designed for students wishing to pursue focused inquiry into areas of contemporary public interest. Alissa studied aging issues in Sociology, Social Work, Philosophy, Social and Preventive Medicine, Nursing and Counseling departments and earned a master of science degree.
Alissa relocated to direct the opening of an assisted living facility in Arvada, Colorado, hiring and training staff members and admitting all the residents. Next, Alissa served as the manager of an Alzheimer's residence at a retirement community in Denver. She provided hands-on care and family guidance at both buildings, enabling her to bond with residents and their relatives.
Interested in the emerging field of care coordination, Alissa sought a position as a geriatric case manager at a private agency in Denver. For more than seven years there, she planned and directed the care of people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia and seniors with complex medical conditions.
Curriculum Vitae – Alissa Schramm
Education
Certifications, Memberships and Affiliations
Community Service
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