Woodward Respite Care Fund | Board of Directors

Board of Directors

Executive Director

Julie Holland

Julie was the caregiver for her husband, John, who at the age of 91 passed away in 2009. She served two terms as the President of the Denver Chapter of OWL and served two terms as the Regional Representative on the OWL National Board. Her work history includes eight years with Lord & Taylor, initially as a part-time Sales Associate and within 3 years was promoted into Human Resources as HR Assistant and then Director. She worked twelve years as Executive Assistant in Nursing Administration with Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center and ten years as Executive Assistant to the Legal Counsel with Tenneco Oil Company.

Secretary

Marcia Reish, RN BSN

Marcia graduated from Iowa Lutheran School of Nursing and has a Bachelors Degree in Nursing from Metropolitan State College. In July 2008, she retired from the Colorado Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. For 16 years she was the Early Stage Services Coordinator for the Alzheimer's Association conducting classes about early Alzheimer's, facilitating support groups and providing individual and family counseling. Marcia's career also included working in adult day care settings, long-term care communities, home health and hospital settings. She served on the Board of InterCommunity Caregivers and volunteers with the Alzheimer's Association Colorado Chapter.

Treasurer

Susan Stern

Susan Stern has Social Work degree from Metropolitan State College and has worked in the field of aging for the past thirty years. She retired in 2006 after working as a Medicaid and Medicare counselor for 14 years with Centura Health Insurance Counseling for Seniors, primarily helping seniors and/or their families understand and access Medicaid long term care services. She wrote a book to help families understand the Medicaid system, Colorado Medicaid for Long Term Care, Surviving the Process, which is now on the Colorado Division of Insurance’s website. She conducted workshops on Medicaid for care providers working in the field of aging. She currently serves on boards of the Denver Department of Human Services and Seniors’ Resource Center, and is a community member of the Denver Department of Human Services Adult Protection Team. She has been a member of the Woodward Respite Care Board for 17 years.

Kathleen Barela

Kathleen is a graduate of Mt. St. Mary's College in Los Angeles with a degree in Social Work. She was a Mental Health Worker with the San Luis Valley Mental Health Center, working with a team of six other professionals, providing services to the chronically mentally ill, emotionally disabled, developmentally challenged and the elderly. She taught reading in Denver Public Schools to middle school students who read below the fourth grade level. Kathleen also coordinated the daily operation of an Adult Day Center. Before retiring in 2009 she had been with the Senior Resource Center in their Adult Day & Respite Program for twenty and a half years. As a Family Care Specialist she was responsible for recruitment of participants, and worked with the families on an ongoing basis to support them in their difficult 24/7 caregiving situation. She has been a volunteer for the Alzheimer's Association these past 15 years as a facilitator for an Early Stage Support Group.

Jane Barton MTS, MASM

As the founder and owner of Cardinal, LLC, Jane listens to, writes for, and speaks with patients, family members, pastoral caregivers, and healthcare providers who deal with the lived experience of serious illness, disability, and aging. Jane is by nature an educator, storyteller, and listener. These gifts and abilities serve her well in the process of creating relevant, captivating, and transformational programs. Jane’s professional journey has been interesting, to say the very least. Jane served as the Director of Education for the Life Quality Institute (LQI) from 2005- March, 2011 where she created and presented educational programs to community members, healthcare providers, and national audiences for the purpose of improving the lived experience of those persons and families challenged by serious, advanced, or terminal illnesses. She began her career in hospice and palliative care at The Denver Hospice in 2004 as a chaplain intern. She has worked as a chaplain, bereavement facilitator, and director of education. Prior to her seminary and hospice work, Jane worked as a petroleum exploration geologist/geological manager for 16 years followed by three years in financial services.

Jo Bausch Hammergren

Jo has Bachelor's degree in Education and a Master's in Library and Information Science. She was employed for 8 years at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf in Rochester, N.Y. After moving to Denver she opened a small business; taught GED classes for Metropolitan State College; was president of the Older Women's League twice; helped with check writing for retirees and out of state clients; volunteered for the Probate Court, and is currently a volunteer at the Denver Botanic Gardens. She was the volunteer Treasurer for the Woodward Respite Care Fund for ten years.

Joan Bell, MSW

Joan has BA in Sociology and a MSW from Denver University. She has practiced social work in a variety of settings for many years. Most recently was with the Colorado Department of Health Care Financing Medicaid Department and before that with the Department of Human Services. Her main areas of expertise are in the development and evaluation of social programs for individuals needing long term care--the elderly and disabled. While employed at the State, she developed a deinstitutionalization program to encourage appropriate placements in nursing homes and a single entry point system for long term care. Both of these programs received national and state recognition. Joan also worked at the University of Denver for 12 years where she conducted national research regarding social programs. She later served as the Planner of Aging Services at DRCOG. Since retirement, Joan has been involved in the evaluation of programs for Traumatic Brain Injured persons and assisted in the evaluations of programs for Homeless persons and for hospital based indigent care programs.

Kathy Eggleston

Kathy has degrees from the University of Denver in Pipe Organ performance and Liturgical Studies. She has worked as a Minister of Music in the area for five decades. After twenty-five years, she has resigned from a full time music position at Bethany Lutheran Church, presently accepting part time interims and substitute work as needed. She plays the piano for several care facilities including Brighton Gardens. Kathy serves on the Board of the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver, the Denver Brass, and as a Dean of the American Guild of Organist for the Denver chapter, as well as serving on the National Board as a representative for denominational relations. Kathy’s husband of 47 years was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2005 and is now in a secure Alzheimer’s facility. Her mother was diagnosed with dementia shortly after that. She has firsthand experience with the needs and emotions of caregivers, understanding the ups and downs of the caregiver’s journey.

Jo Shannon

Jo Shannon is a graduate of the University of Colorado, with a BA degree in Spanish. She had a 33-year career with the Federal Department of Health and Human Services, working as a Claims Representative with the Social Security Administration, Program Specialist and Program Manager in several Federal Programs. She retired in 2001 as Regional Program Manager of the Child Support Enforcement Program. Through her personal experience with her mother’s Alzheimer’s Disease she was made aware of the importance for caregivers to get a break from the arduous, exhausting, and stressful role of caregiver. She was a Helpline Counselor for the Alzheimer’s Association for 9 years.