In 2005, I started Caregiving Corner to combine my passion for working with older adults with the needs of family caregivers – to have peace of mind, clarity, and confidence about their role as a caregiver.
We use our expertise and resourcefulness to help families of older adults navigate through the complexity and emotional impact of caregiving decisions. As the result of our guidance, families will experience less stress and greater peace of mind.
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Our Founder
Jennifer T. Szakaly attended UNC-Charlotte and earned her Master of Arts in Gerontology in 2002.
Following her work for various for-profit and non-profit organizations in the aging industry, she opened Caregiving Corner in 2005. Jennifer became nationally certified as a care manager in 2008 and nationally certified as a guardian in 2018.
Currently, Jennifer is serving as the President of the Southeast Chapter of the Aging Life Care Association and is a Board Member of the North Carolina Guardianship Association.
More important than her professional accomplishments are the qualities of compassion, integrity, and resourcefulness that equip her with the skills to help families through the most difficult caregiving challenges.
Jennifer is a proud Advanced Professional Member of the Aging Life Care Association.
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Professional memberships
We pride ourselves in our commitment to stay abreast of the ever-changing landscape of senior services and aging research. To this end, our Aging Life Care Managers are members of the following professional organizations:
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Ashley Brooks
Ashley received her Master of Arts degree in Community Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2001.She recently joined the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care managers as an Associate Care Manager and is currently pursuing her license to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
Her professional experience includes counseling, chaplaincy services, crisis, emergency & trauma services, consulting in patient care, conducting assessments, locating community resources & research services, and assisting individuals who are dealing with grief and loss. Ashley’s commitment to our firm’s clients is to provide methods and resources to generate personalized solutions that can restore balance in your life. She will be with you every step of the way while you navigate the challenges that arise in taking care of a loved one.
Ashley is a proud Professional Member of the Aging Life Care Association
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Susan Ferone
Susan received her Masters in Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel HIll in 1993 with a concentration in mental health. The North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board has certified Susan as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She currently serves on the Board of Social Advisors for the UNC School of Social Work.
Her professional experience includes work as a Care Coordinator-providing referrals, establishing care teams, supportive therapy and educational programming. Susan has co-facilitated support groups for both caregivers and those experiencing grief and loss. Her community involvement includes volunteering with public education, affordable housing and scouting.
Susan is a proud Professional Member of the Aging Life Care Association.
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Marilyn Morenz
Marilyn earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from New York University. She has worked with older adults in the Charlotte area since 1981 in the fields of oncology, hospice, and palliative care.
Marilyn serves on the Faculty and is a certified Instructor for Respecting Choices, an educational curriculum which promotes advance care planning discussions. She is a member of the N.C. Partnership for Compassionate Care and past-president of the Piedmont Chapter of the Hospice & Palliative Nurse Association.
Marilyn has been a long time patient advocate and educator with a focus on advance care planning. She has done presentations on this topic for numerous audiences and remains dedicated to educating people about how to make and clearly communicate healthcare decisions.
Marilyn is a proud Advanced Professional Member of the Aging Life Care Association.
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Myrna Hodges
Myrna earned her ADN from Rockingham Community College in Wentworth, N.C. She has worked with older adults in various fields of nursing including med/surg, ICU, endoscopy, hospice and palliative care in both the home and hospital settings. While with hospice she developed clinical software training materials and utilized them to teach office staff, interdisciplinary team members and physicians how to use and become proficient with the program through ongoing support from her and her team.
Myrna has a passion for patient advocacy and will work tirelessly for our clients to maintain their highest level of functionality, independence, and wellness. She has a broad understanding of our local medical systems and is adept at navigating them for our clients and their caregivers.
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Deborah Agnone
Deborah graduated from Appalachian State University with a Masters degree in Education and a Bachelors degree in Special Education with a focus in psychology. Her undergraduate studies at Queens College encompassed Music Therapy.
Deborah has taught school, developed a special education program for a missions school abroad and served as an activities coordinator for a dementia day program at a prestigious retirement community in Charlotte.
Deborah brings a personal touch to our clients with her music and art abilities and specializes in bringing creative fun and connections to our clients through outings and one-on-one time spent exploring each individual’s varying interests and needs.
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Allie Wicker
Allie Wicker received her Master of Science from Columbia University School of Social Work in New York City. Allie is currently a licensed social worker in the state of North Carolina.
After graduation, Allie worked as a geriatric social worker at a large non-profit organization in New York City where she was able to work directly with a diverse population of older adults. Allie then worked at a small geriatric care management practice where she helped clients and families navigate the unique challenges that come with aging. Upon her relocation to Charlotte, Allie was excited to continue her work as a care manager at Caregiving Corner.
As a care manager, Allie brings her compassion, patience, and calmness to every situation when working with clients. She has a life-long commitment to enriching the lives of older adults and adults with
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Allyson C. Jones
Allyson received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1986. Her professional experience spans 30 years of patient care in Charlotte, with focus in oncology, obstetrics/gynecology and dermatology. Her roles have included primary care, triage, patient education, and health care coordination with both physicians and specialists. More recently, she served as part of Novant’s COVID screening and care teams in multiple locations throughout Charlotte.
During her career, and in support of family members, she has developed a passion for caregiving in the aging process. She brings a personable, high-energy approach to her patients, establishing relationships with patients and families to ensure a clear understanding of patient needs.
Allyson believes that peace of mind in the aging requires planning, coordination and emotional support, and she’s excited to be part of the Caregiving Corner team.
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