Our Team
The foundation of the Graceful Transitions Care Management Program™ is built upon 3 core principles: Quality of Life, Health and Function. Our strategy of addressing these core principles is through our multi-specialty approach. Our team is comprised of a Care Manager who specializes quality of life, an experienced Nurse Care Manager who specializes on the health and clinical needs of our clients, and a Consultant Care Manager who is an experienced Physical Therapist who specializes on the functional health of our clients. Each of us lends something different to our clients. Our team has worked together for almost a decade on a multi-disciplinary team in a Skilled Nursing Facility setting. We are passionate about what we do and we look forward to helping you.
Care Manager & Founder
It is my passion to help seniors and families navigate the complex world of aging. Other than enjoying my family and gardening, there is nothing in the world that I enjoy more than to empower seniors to age gracefully and support their families. That's why I named the Care Management Program "Graceful Transitions".
I made the decision early on that I wanted to work with seniors. It was an easy decision to make because seniors have been a huge part of my entire life and my passion is working with this generation. I have been deeply ingrained in the world of seniors since I was born. My mother, a wonderful and talented nurse and one of our consulting Care Managers, worked at the same nursing home since I was 3 months old. I went to daycare there, got my first job as a data entry clerk, and furthered much of my career there for 17 years with my last position being Director of Admissions, before I decided to follow my heart and start my company, Sona, LLC and then developed Graceful Transitions Care Management Services.
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Alyssa Cohen, CSA (Certified Senior Advisor), CDP (Certified Dementia Practitioner)
I am a Certified Senior Advisor®, which is a designation earned through the Society of Certified Senior Advisors. I have experience and skill in multiple areas including Skilled Nursing, Skilled Nursing Admissions and Discharges, hospital discharges, Geriatric Behavioral Health, Home Care and Care Management. I am also a Certified Dementia Practitioner, a designation assigned by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. My experience in multiple areas of geriatric care and working with many different families has afforded me the opportunity to understand the many facets of aging, provide solutions to problems, refer for services and offer the best support. It's also allowed me to meet the best providers in the business, including my incredible Consulting Care Managers who are so talented and offer so much knowledge, compassion and experience. I have also had the opportunities to meet other amazing providers of service like Non-Medical Home Cares and Home Health, Elder Law Attorneys and others, who have dedicated their services to serving seniors.
I know how overwhelming this can be. I've been there, too with my own family. My ultimate goal is to empower you, provide you with education and resources and provide you the support and advocacy you need. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you and your family.
Alyssa Cohen, Certified Senior Advisor (CSA ), Certified Dementia Practitioner
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Michele Bourque, LPN-C, Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP)
Care Manager/Certified Dementia Practitioner
Michele has been a Geriatric Nurse since 1982, dedicating her life to caring for the seniors of our community. Michele is incredibly skilled in managing seniors with chronic health conditions, providing compassionate guidance and education to her patients and their families. Michele has worked with thousands of patients and their families, coordinating, and monitoring skilled nursing services and discharge planning. Her knowledge is not only clinical, but she is also an expert on Medicare benefits in the Skilled Nursing Facility setting. This is especially helpful for families that may question if their loved one is appropriately being discharged due to their benefits ending. Michele has been certified by the American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators and is certified by the Resident Assessment Institute. Michele has more than 38 years of nursing experience, but the last 25 years of her career has been primarily focused in care coordination and planning, collaborating with large clinical teams, educating seniors and their families on their medical diagnoses, curating detailed care plans and putting them to action.
Michele is an expert in Skilled Nursing, Skilled Nursing Facility care management and discharge, mitigating clinical risks, clinical education and family support. Michele is also a Certified Dementia Practitioner, a designation assigned by the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. Beyond her clinical skills, Michele is a compassionate, dedicated and caring person who completely understands the challenges that both seniors and their family face because she, too, has managed the care of her own parents. We are thankful for Michele's expertise as a Care Manager and her wide ranges of skills, her compassion and her wisdom. She is thrilled to be able to offer her knowledge and support to clients in the community setting.
Karin Cohen, RN
Care Manager
We are so pleased that Karin joined our family’s team of Care Managers in 2023. Karin has shared her many talents in nursing across multiple settings in health care for over 43 years. Karin graduated from St. Francis School of Nursing in 1979 and extended her education with a focus in Health Care Administration through the St. Joseph’s University in Maine.
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Karin’s experience spans across multiple settings, including Cardiac Nursing, Occupational Nursing, Urgent Care, Medical/Surgical, Home Health including home management of Infusion Therapies, Quality Management in Managed Care and Hospital settings for many years as well as management of health plan member appeals and grievances.
Above all, Karin is compassionate, dedicated and loving to our Clients, their families and her family and friends. We are thankful to have Karin on our team.
Donna Ewers
Community Relations Director
Donna joined our team in 2023 in a role created for her. Donna is a woman in motion who shows up daily with pure enthusiasm, positive energy, and attentiveness to detail. Networking and relationship-building are her true strengths, as people are naturally drawn to her upbeat and warm personality. She has earned a reputation for her ability to connect, and she always shows up with a smile dedicated to making a positive impact.
Every facet of Donna’s life and career has had one common thread: service. As Community Outreach Director, Donna can do what she does best to create experiences, connect people, and share our mission, which she often says is the most fulfilling role in her career. In her 44-year career, Donna has experience in the entertainment industry, hospitality industry, health field, working in the support position on a grant to educate and up-skill PCAs and PCTs at Yale New Haven Health Services, and being the baker of the most blissful chocolate chip cookies ever!
Active in the Alzheimer's Association and always looking for new opportunities to be involved.
When she is not working, you will find Donna with her family and having fun with her four grandchildren, who are the lights of her life. Cycling, whitewater rafting, and hiking take her on adventures with her partner. Donna is active and passionate about everything she does.
We are thrilled to have her share our message and the work we are doing for our seniors at Graceful Transitions.
Elizabeth Bodner, MSPT
Consulting Physical Therapist
Liz has blessed the Health Care industry with her compassion and talent in practicing Physical Therapy since graduating with her Masters of Science in Physical Therapy from Sacred Heart University in 2002. Liz’s primary focus is in Geriatrics, serving as a Director of Rehab Services in a Skilled Nursing Facility for almost 20 years. She is an expert in physical therapy, sub-acute rehabilitation, discharge planning, home safety and maximizing functional mobility. Liz has not only the talents of a skilled Physical Therapist, she also offers her in-depth knowledge of Medicare benefits and skill in regard to therapy in a Skilled Nursing and outpatient setting. Liz’s role is to assess our client’s functional mobility, assess the safety of the home and make recommendations such as referrals for Physical, Occupational or Speech Therapy, safety adjustments to the home and much more. Her in-depth knowledge and expertise makes her an excellent Care Manager, educator and advocate for our clients. We are so glad to have Liz serving our clients as a consultant on our team.
