Brooke has been in long-term care since 1989. She graduated from Santa Clara University in 1989 with a bachelors in psychology and in 1993, graduated from San Jose State University with a Master’s in Social Work. In 1997 she received her Activity Director Certification and began consulting to both social services and activities.
Her passion is teaching facilities how to manage residents with difficult behaviors while implementing creative and person appropriate interventions. Brooke has been an active member of the Quality of Life Subcommittee for CAHF and has presented in panel format on Depression, Falls, and Workforce Shortage. Brooke has also been a frequent presenter for CAHF and QCHF on Managing Psychotropics, Working with Difficult Behaviors at quarterly meetings and the D.O.N. Conference in Las Vegas. She has also been a presenter for California Association of Long-Term Care Medical Directors in Anaheim.
Currently, Brooke is working with CAHF to develop an online Activity Certification course and is the Team Leader for the Person-Centered Dining with the Quality of Life Subcommittee.
Alzheimer's Association of the East Bay: Brooke is a regular speaker with this group. Social Service Designee Certification Class: Chabot College, Hayward: Brooke is the instructor for fall 2009.
Recieved advanced degrees from Cal Berkeley. When completing her graduate program, Mayo was involved with a group of community advocates for the elderly. Together they presented before the California State Legislature concerns regarding abuse of the elderly. Out of this presentation, the current SOC reporting form was developed.
Mayo was also involved with the early development of senior nutrition sites and the home delivered meal systems in Northern California. After working with elderly population struggling to stay in their own homes, Mayo began working with long term care facilities and became the first nursing home social worker in Contra Costa County.
Over the course of 23 years in this industry, Mayo served on several committees; one of which developed the standard California admission agreement. Her next endeavor was participating in the design, development, and programming of Alzheimer's units which lead to her activity director certification. Discharge planning also became an area of expertise. After working in several active rehab facilities and four years exclusively with a Kaiser Contracted Unit, discharge planning became her niche. Mayo has written articles for healthcare and social work journals and has published two books on elder abuse.
She is currently working with a publisher on a careplanning book.
What began 25 years ago as a part time job doing assessments on new patients in a local nursing home became,over the years, a fulfilling career.
Mary Anne Weeks graduated from UC Berkeley with a Master’s in Public Health and began her professional life working with allied health professionals to develop educational material to be used at the junior college level. Following a brief retirement to have her children, a happy circumstance allowed her to resume work part time thus allowing her family time.
The field of long term care evolved, along with the job responsibilities/expectations. Mary Anne worked for 22 years in facilities as the SSD. In addition, she also facilitated a community-based Alzheimer’s Support Group for 18 years.
Following “retirement”, Mary Anne has been using her extensive knowledge of the dynamics of residents and families in the crisis of placement into long term care by consulting with new professionals in the field. She also brings to them a comprehensive knowledge of psychotropic medications and the guidelines necessary to maintain facility compliance of this special category of drugs.
A book, LONG TERM CARE..., which she co-authored with 2 others, is in it’s third printing.
Joni is an accomplished consultant to the long-term care industry with a highly successful track record spanning twenty five years. She has extensive experience in every level of care including skilled nursing, acute rehab services, residential and assisted living, and group homes for the developmental disability. Widely recognized for innovative program planning and expertise in regulatory compliance, she was a member of the Hillhaven western regional consulting team, and Marketing Director for a pioneering national brain injury rehabilitation company. She also assisted in writing the Pleasure of Your Company, an in-room visit manual, now in use throughout the industry.
Joni graduated from Washington Universtiy in St. Louis, magna cum laude and obtained her masters degree in Recreation Therapy from San Francisco state University. She is a long time champion of culture change in long-term care that empowers clients toward greater respect, choice, and dignity.
Joni Berke, MS, RT
Tonia M. Sassi
Tonia Sassi has been serving in the medical social work community for nearly twenty years.She has worked in long term care, physical rehab, chemical dependency and psychiatric treatment settings, focusing on supporting patients and families as they cope with issues resulting from illness, hospitalization and rehabilitation.
Tonia is a dynamic consultant and team-player, supporting and collaborating effectively with facility clinical staff.She quickly partners on issues relating to patients’ health, treatment, and family dynamics.Tonia is a strong resource for discharge planning in partnership with patients and their families, and with community and home health services.
Tonia graduated with a BSW from the University of Washington School of Social Work and is currently working toward a Masters degree from Dominican University of California.She has a long-time penchant for the geriatric population and for patients faced with psychiatric challenges.To these areas, she brings compassion, respect, humor and an awareness of the importance of dignity to the patient.
Lysa Atondo, MA Lysa@brookerusso.com Lysa provides interim social services for facilities. She is a master's prepared professional who has worked with our group for the past year. She provides an unsurpassed caliber of work and is quite skilled at managing the workload required with a high Medicare census. She easily integrates herself into the existing team and produces outstanding results.
Laura Russo Business Office Manager Laura has been an integral part of this group for the past five years. She maintains a jovial demeanor and efficient billing practices. Laura is definitely the glue of this operation.
