Join us for an informative panel on caregiving for aging parents and loved ones, including folks facing the challenges of Dementia. Nicole Saia, LICSW, will present on what to know about types of care, how to pay for care, safety tips for those with physical and cognitive challenges, how to interact with loved ones with dementia, and how to cope with the emotional aspects of caring for an aging loved one. Melissa DeMarino, MSW/LICSW, will delve further into Dementia and the patient and care partner experience, and will elicit the best practice frameworks around defining Dementia as a set of symptoms and habilitative ways to support those affected and their care partners in the home and community.

Nicole Saia is a licensed social worker with 24 years of experience in the field. She has worked in child welfare, and hospital and community settings, serving the older adult population for the last half of her career. Nicole has been working at the Concord Council on Aging for over five years as their Social Services Supervisor where she provides direct support to older adults and oversees the COA’s Outreach and Social Services team. 

Melissa DeMarino is Medical Social Worker at Emerson Health in both the Home Care and Outpatient Rehabilitation Departments. She has worked in 5 states and 3 countries in settings of Palliative, Hospice, Home Care and Outpatient Clinics over the last 20 years. She has a passion for a systems approach to care that incorporates patient centered care within their homes and communities.