Eldercare Partners Staff

Eldercare Partners Administrator:

Krista O’Connor started her position as the Eldercare Partners Administrator in February 2007. Ms. O’Connor holds a Master of Arts degree with a double major in Health and Human Services Administration and Management. During the past ten years, she has held a number of management positions in the local health care and human services industry, including HealthPartners, UCare and the Neighborhood Health Care Network.  Her focus has been in the areas of managed care programming, health promotion, grant and contract compliance and project management for organizations serving vulnerable populations. Ms. O’Connor can be reached at krista.oconnor@darts1.org or 651-234-2251.

Family Consultants:

Barb Cooley, Licensed Social Worker, MS in Continuing Education with a focus on Human Services, has several years experience working with families and caregivers impacted by chronic illness. Barb is part of the team at Wilder Foundation and her focus is providing caregiver support in Ramsey county.

Deb Hoger, Licensed Social Worker, has worked with Senior Community Services as a senior outreach worker since 1991, working with older adults and their families. Deb often facilitates family meetings and arranges a series of caregiver education classes.

Gayle Wright Fickbohm, Licensed Social Worker and Certified Case Manager, has worked with elders and their caregivers for over 20 years. At Senior Community Services, Gayle does Caregiver Coaching and provides Care Management services. She also facilitates Caregiver Education and ongoing Caregiver Support Groups.

Kathy Pansegrau, BS, Social Work, is a service coordinator for DARTS, working with residents in a West St. Paul apartment building and coaching family caregivers. She also has experience in Care Management with mental health clients.

Lee Ann Eiden, MSW, Licensed Graduate Social Worker, has served seniors for many years in independent housing and long term care settings prior to coming to Senior Community Services. Lee Ann provides Care Management and Caregiver Coaching as well as facilitating ongoing Caregiver Support Groups.

Lori Angus, Licensed Social Worker, joined the Senior Community Services staff as a senior outreach worker in 1987 after doing advocacy work at Little Brothers, Friends of the Elderly. Laurie does Caregiver Coaching and provides outreach to seniors by way of her special interest in working with isolated seniors who have mental health issues. 

Lynn Cibuzar, Licensed Social Worker, is a service coordinator for DARTS. Lynn works with seniors to determine needed services and with families to support their caregiving efforts with Caregiver Coaching and Care Management. She has worked at DARTS since 1990 and is a leading presenter of education sessions on aging and caregiving issues.

Marian Danielson, Licensed Independent Social Worker, MSW, has been a senior outreach worker with Senior Community Services since 1994, providing Caregiver Coaching and Care Management. She has experience in hospice, crisis counseling, adult protection, and working with people with multiple sclerosis.

Mary Cordell, Licensed Social Worker, is a service coordinator for DARTS.  She works with older adults in Dakota County to identify and coordinate needed services and supports family caregivers through Caregiver Coaching and Care Management. Mary also has experience in service planning for adults with disabilities and volunteer management.

Missy Campbell, MA, has worked with seniors and caregivers for over three years. Prior to joining HSI, she was a member of the mental health department at the Minnesota Veterans Home - Minneapolis. Missy received a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of St. Thomas. She has over 100 hours of post-degree training in caregiver and aging issues and her specialty areas include family caregiving (including Alzheimer's caregiving) and transitions/adjustments related to aging.

Susan Makela, Licensed Social Worker, is a senior outreach worker, Family Consultant, and Caregiver Support Group facilitator with Senior Community Services, with a specialized background in conservatorship and Medicare-related health insurance issues. Before coming to SCS in 1996, Susan worked with isolated elders at Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly for 16 years, coordinating volunteers.