My career in health insurance began in 1997 in Lake Oswego after caring for a 96-year-old grandmother with Alzheimer’s, alongside my mother who was widowed and now ill herself, while raising my children at the same time.  Long term care planning became my passion.  I was a co-founder of a nationally recognized successful Long-Term Care educational nonprofit catering to those interested in learning about LTC.  The organization helped provide educational programs through collaboration with civic, legal, public and private entities, including universities.  These informational seminars provided geriatric program resources for the professional and general public.  Knowledge surrounding LTC, Health Insurance, Medicare, other support systems, and helping those already in need of care, resulted in the message; proactive planning is the best course of action to avoid potential financial loss as well as the emotional and physical tolls on the individual, the family, the caregiver and or care receiver.