Meet Gail Leichtman, MEd, LSW, CMC and ALCA New England Chapter Member Since 1999

July 12, 2024   |   Special Spotlight

Where do you practice, Gail?

The office is in Waltham, MA, and I cover most of the towns inside Route 495, although I prefer to see clients who are closer to the Waltham area.

How long have you been a member of ALCA?

I joined ALCA in 1999.  My husband read an article about the new field of geriatric care management and thought that I might be interested.

What led you to the profession of Aging Life Care?

For a while in college, I lived with my grandmother, who was diagnosed with “hardening of the arteries”.  The experience of caring for and loving someone with Alzheimer’s disease made working professionally with elders the obvious choice.

What resources or services do you frequently recommend to your clients to help them navigate the aging process more effectively?

I consider it to be my job to help clients navigate the challenges of their specific situation.  The services I most often recommend to clients are in-home care and move managers

What is one piece of advice you can offer to those new to Aging Life Care?

Create strong boundaries.  This job will ask you work every hour of the day and night and if you aren’t clear about your own limits, you will burn out.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I am a competitive swimmer, although I no longer compete in anything other than open water races.  I love to dance and have performed with Peter DiMuro’s dance troupe at various locations around Boston.  My husband and I travel as often as our jobs allow, and our travels have taken us from Iceland to Patagonia to Tibet, and all of the continents in between.

To reach Gail:  Gail Leichtman, MEd, LSW, CCM; Your Elder Experts; www.yourelderexperts.com

 

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