Our Team
Abby Durr
Owner & Founder
I was compelled to start a company dedicated to finding care for aging loved ones after caring for my grandparents. Being by my grandpa’s side during his final months, and breaths, changed my life. I got to wash him, hear his life’s regrets, and watch his 5 loving daughters struggle through his end-of-life care. Years later, I cared for my grandma throughout her long, slow decline. When she needed more care than what we could provide as a family, it was a big mix of surprising emotions. We started with in home care, and ultimately moved her out of her home of 50+ years.
After doing this work on my own for a few years, I realized that with all of the options in the Seattle area, I needed a team to do this well. There are simply too many options for one person to keep track of (a good problem to have). One by one, incredible team members have come to us and today we have a truly unique, skilled, and caring group of experts ready to serve you.
Entrusting a loved one’s care to someone else may be one of the hardest things you ever have to do, (or maybe you are so ready, and so burned out, you should have called us a year ago). Whatever the case, it is our passion and life’s calling to help you find the long term care and support you need. And if you just need a little help for a short time to get back on your feet again, we can help with that too.
Background: Abby’s work as a certified nursing assistant (NAC), care coordinator, and community relations director at a local assisted living community gives her a critical eye when evaluating care providers. She knows what it takes to staff and manage them well. Abby graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a BA in Sociology.
Interests: Gardening, hiking, playing outside with her kids, and keeping her senior care skills fresh. She and the team recently completed training to become certified Dementia Consultants through Positive Approach to Care.
Causes Abby loves: The Alzheimer’s Association and NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Ami Reischman
Senior Living Advisor
When Ami’s parents developed dementia and other health issues requiring help, her journey in the senior care industry began. She’s spent over four years and counting, navigating the often-overwhelming process, emotions, and relationships involved. Her experience with her parents gives her a passion and empathy to help others navigate this system confidently while feeling supported.
Background: Ami’s primary focus is to be the best possible mother to her two kids, and to protect and advocate for her elderly father.
Previously a stockbroker, institutional fixed-income salesperson, a vendor at Microsoft in various roles, and an Account Executive and Executive Business Manager for a management consulting firm.
BA in Business Administration and marketing CWU, Dementia specialty training, Mental Health specialty training.
Interests: Yoga, Pilates, hiking, walking, traveling the world, and spending as much time as possible with her dad.
April Graves
Senior Living Advisor
For the past 13 years, April has been helping vulnerable adults adjust to changes that aging can bring. She is passionate about helping families navigate the decisions surrounding hiring in home care and moving to a retirement or assisted living environment.
Before joining Silver Age in 2022, April worked for a well-known senior living community on the Eastside. This “inside look” at life during the pandemic allows April to share real-life stories with families and help them set realistic expectations.
Her inspiration for serving older adults stems from her close relationship with her Italian grandpa, Elmer. As his health took a sudden turn, she watched her mom struggle to find suitable senior living for both her parents—with only 48 hours to secure plans and without expert support. Years later, with her own Dad’s end-of-life journey, she again lived the joys and the struggle.
April listens with heart, helps families prioritize their goals, and guides them through every step of the way to make empowered long-term decisions. She enjoys learning about each client’s life story, so she can lead them to the best options for their safety, sense of well-being, and connection.
Background: April has an extensive history in the senior care industry, beginning in 2009, with critical roles at Fedelta Home Care, 1st Choice Advisory Services, Madison House Assisted Living, and most recently, Aegis Gardens Newcastle Assisted Living and Memory Care.
April has a BA in Communications from the UW, and has been a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)® since 2013.
Interests: Enjoys traveling, beach combing, cooking for friends and family, gardening, and reading (book club member 35 years). Also passionate about educating families on the benefits of proactive life care planning vs. a reactive approach.
Heather Bates
Senior Living Advisor
Heather has been in the eldercare field since 2017. Before joining Silver Age Care, she managed a branch for an in-home care agency. In this role, Heather had the pleasure of working with clients, family members, and caregivers to ensure a positive experience for everyone involved. Before joining the eldercare field, she enjoyed a role as a Pre-K teacher.
Heather was inspired to join the eldercare field after caring for her mother and grandparents in their times of need.
Interests: Spending time with her husband and three adult children. Hiking, kayaking, traveling, gardening and reading.
Causes Heather loves: She is passionate about the MS Society and the ALS Association.
Karen Anderson
Senior Living Advisor
Karen has been in the eldercare field since 2014. Before joining Silver Age, she was a Family Caregiver Support Specialist. Karen assisted unpaid caregivers in Snohomish County. In this role, she ran five support groups per month, helped caregivers navigate their scenarios; provided one-on-one consultation, and connected people to community resources.
She is currently caring for a family member who has transitioned through Home Care, an Adult Family Home, an Assisted Living Community, and now Memory Care. Karen assists families with a deep understanding of their challenges, feelings, and situations.
Interests: Karen enjoys estate sales in part because she gets to learn people’s stories through the way they lived, what they pursued, and what was important to them. She enjoys one-day travel trips to cities around the Puget Sound area.
Her passion for organization led her to nearly start her own business as a professional organizer. When she was young she would empty her mom’s junk drawer and organize it just for the fun of it.
Education: Master’s in marketing and Bachelor’s in accounting. She holds certificates in Aging in Place (CAPS) and Powerful Tools for Caregivers, and is a PAC Certified Independent Consultant through Positive Approach to Care.
Causes Karen loves: Old Dog Haven, domestic violence support groups, and PBS television.
Lynda McClelland
Senior Living Advisor
Lynda is currently working remotely from her new home in Florida. Prior to joining Silver Age, Lynda was the owner and operator of a loving, organized adult family home in Bellevue. She primarily served women with dementia. She knows the Adult Family Home industry inside and out. Still a caregiver at heart, Lynda naturally connects with seniors and their families and puts them at ease. Her vast experience makes her a powerful resource and guide to anyone seeking care options.
Background: Lynda owned and operated her Adult Family Home in Bellevue for 18 years! She loved the families she served, as well as her amazing caregivers. She’s thankful that her children grew up learning to tend to their elders. Lynda grew up in bush Alaska which taught her how to fix just about anything. Some of the jobs she held early in life include commercial fishing in Bristol Bay, construction, and ground school training to be a pilot.
Interests: Golfing, fishing, skiing, hiking, jet-skiing, gardening, handy mom projects, cheering people up, being a good child of God, daughter, wife, mom, sister, aunt, and great aunt.
What motivates her: Lynda cares deeply that all of our aging elders be treated with dignity, respect, love, and honor. She does her best for her Savior.
Mark Ibsen
Senior Living Advisor
Mark joined the team in 2018. For 12 years prior to Silver Age, he served seniors representing well-known independent, assisted living, and memory care communities throughout the greater Seattle area. Additionally, he managed specialty communities serving seniors with mental health and dementia challenges in California.
Mark listens closely to his clients needs and desires and helps them prioritize what is most important. Then with empathy, analytic research and careful consideration of their finances, he helps them find their best long term solution.
Background: Mark has an extensive history in the senior care field including key roles at Era Living, Merrill Gardens, Pacific Regent/Watermark Retirement Communities, and Sunrise Senior Living. Mark has a BA in Psychology and a Human Services Management Certificate. In 2021, Mark became a PAC Certified Independent Consultant through Positive Approach to Care.
Interests: Water & snow skiing, and biking & hiking with family and friends, and keeping up with his 3 inspiring daughters in their 20’s.
Causes Mark loves: Mark is involved in numerous community organizations including the Seattle area Senior Care Coalition which promotes the health and welfare of seniors.
Susan Watters
Senior Living Advisor
Susan brings 30 + years of experience in healthcare working as an Occupational Therapist in hospitals, nursing homes, and in-home care.
As an OT Susan has helped many seniors and their families with the decision-making process of transitioning to a new living situation. Susan’s focus is to keep seniors active, engaged socially, and feeling safe in their living environment.
Susan is fortunate to have several family members who are 90+. She has been involved in helping them choose independent and assisted living facilities and adult family homes and watched them thrive and live their final days in their homes.
Background: As an Occupational Therapist, Susan helped people with Parkinson’s, MS, strokes, and other diagnoses live independently with their everyday activities. She takes great care in listening to her client’s needs and helping them problem-solve to find the best place to live that will meet their needs for the long run. In 2021, Susan became a PAC Certified Independent Consultant through Positive Approach to Care.
Interests: Being outdoors, gardening, biking, traveling, and photography.
Causes Susan loves: Food and housing are basic needs Susan considers essential for a person to thrive. She supports the meeting of these needs through local community organizations such as Hopelink and NW Family Life.
Teresa Russell
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Teresa taught high school Health and Special Education for 13 years prior to joining the Silver Age team. During her time as an educator, Teresa ran a self-contained Special Education classroom where she worked as a behavioral specialist, teaching students with various emotional & behavioral needs. Teresa graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a BA in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Education.
Interests: Traveling, golf, basketball, Functional Medicine, reading and writing. Most of her free time these days consists of traveling to golf tournaments to support her son, who competes nationally.
Causes I love: The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, where Teresa participates in triathlons to raise money for blood cancer research. Seattle Children’s Hospital where she worked during college and is a guild member. The Lewy Body Dementia Association.
Lisa Stimach
Advisor Support & community outreach
Lisa has become her family’s informal “elder care resource coordinator.” When her mother-in-law had cancer years ago, it was overwhelming for her father-in-law. She was fortunate to have the time to find the necessary resources and help transition her mother-in-law to a skilled nursing facility, temporarily, and then on to an adult family home. Several years later, she supported her father-in-law, who had cerebellar ataxia and cancer. Lisa coordinated his moves from independent living to a lengthy hospital stay, followed by a month in skilled nursing, back to his apartment with home care, and finally to an adult family home. Her ability to research, follow up and help figure out next steps, as well as her calm, nurturing, and supportive manner, was a huge gift to her husband and in-laws during an overwhelming time.
Background: Lisa has been an elementary substitute teacher for the last 10+ years. She enjoys teaching and having the flexibility to be around for her sons as they go through school. Prior to substitute teaching, she was a stay-at-home mom for several years. Before children, she worked at Microsoft as a Program Manager.
Interests: Lisa enjoys hanging out with family and friends, gardening, RV camping, cuddling up with a good book, cheering on her husband when he drag races and her sons in whatever activity they are currently involved in, and helping friends and family by researching helpful resources.
Professional Memberships
To stay sharp and give back, Silver Age holds memberships with these organizations.
Association of Senior Referral Professionals
Promotes professional and ethical standards within the senior placement and referral industry. Silver Age is a founding member.
Senior Care Coalition
Supports those who serve seniors by providing a welcoming environment for education, resource exchange, and business development.
The National Placement & Referral Alliance
Cultivates professionalism, fairness, and the development of the senior placement and referral industry through collective initiatives to better serve seniors and their families.
Washington Health Care Association
The Washington Health Care Association is a statewide non-profit organization representing over 400 assisted living and skilled nursing facilities.
Bothell Chamber of Commerce
Official Chamber for Bothell & Kenmore
The Health Care Providers Council of Pierce County
A non-profit organization that promotes the highest possible standards of service, care, and well-being for older and disabled adults through networking, education, and events.
Edmonds Chamber of Commerce
Official Chamber for the city of Edmonds.
Washington Health Care Association
Affiliate Business Membership
https://www.whca.org/