About the Owners
Jennifer Pilcher, Ph.D., CMC
Dr. Pilcher was awarded her doctoral degree in Gerontology from the University of Massachusetts in Boston in 2005. Her professional experience has focused primarily on care and housing arrangements for elders with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, including policy and fundraising work for the Alzheimer’s Association of Eastern Massachusetts, the Alzheimer’s Association of Utah and the Massachusetts Association of Older Americans.
Prior to founding Clear Guidance in 2018, Dr. Pilcher has had career long experience working with people with dementia and their families. For seven years, Dr. Pilcher was affiliated with Hearthstone Alzheimer Care Assisted Living programs in Massachusetts and New York, where she held a number of management positions.
For 8 years, Dr. Pilcher worked both as a Care Manager and as the Director of Operations for AZA Care Management of Boston, MA.
In 2010, she joined Overlook CARE, a non-profit Care Management practice in Greater Boston, as the Clinical Director. In 2016, Dr. Pilcher was promoted to the position of Senior Executive Director of Care Management and Private Care.
In 2018, Dr. Pilcher founded Clear Guidance in order to return to her passion of working directly with clients and their families.
Dr. Pilcher also recently served as President of the Board of the New England Association of Aging Life Care and is the Editor in Chief of the Journal of Aging Life Care.
Daniel McShane, MSW
Dan McShane, Co-owner, is a Masters Level Clinical Social Worker who has an extensive background in mental illness. Mr. McShane spent the first 16 years of his career working in an inpatient psychiatric hospital as a Case Manager, where he excelled in developing treatment plans, providing direct care, conducting family meetings, developing comprehensive aftercare plans, behavioral coaching, teaching de-escalation techniques to clients and families, and providing training on managing crisis to families and facility staff.
After almost two decades in the inpatient setting Mr. McShane shifted his focus to working with clients on a long term basis. He was attracted to the field of Care Management as it allowed him to support his client’s treatment and progress into the community at large.
Mr. McShane’s experience in the field of mental health is extremely valuable for our clients who have struggled with lifelong issues or who have a dual-diagnosis that also includes dementia. Mr. McShane co-founded Clear Guidance with Dr. Pilcher to create a practice that caters to the needs of elders with these unique challenges.
Our Team
Kathleen Quinn, RN
Ms. Quinn received a Bachelor’s Degree in human services from Fitchburg State College in 1992. While working with developmentally delayed adults, Ms. Quinn attended Labouré College where she received a Registered Nursing Degree. Upon certification, Ms. Quinn spent 20+ years as a charge nurse in a psychiatric hospital.
Prior to joining Clear Guidance in 2018, Ms. Quinn worked as a Life Care Manager for a Care Management Practice serving the South Shore and Greater Boston areas.
Since joining Clear Guidance, Ms. Quinn has assisted families navigate through the challenges associated with long term care planning and implementation of elder services. Ms. Quinn’s medical and psychiatric background helps her create unique problem-solving techniques and insightful solutions for her clients. As well, she provides a secure and compassionate resource for families and clients throughout their journey.
Michelle Olson, PhD, LCAT ATR-BC, ACC/MC
Dr. Olson is a social gerontologist and a licensed, board certified and registered creative arts therapist and certified activity consultant with a specialization in memory care. She is also an adjunct professor at the Center for Gerontology at Concordia University Chicago and an instructor at the Lifelong Learning Institute at Vassar College. Dr. Olson has worked passionately in long-term care, assisted and independent living communities for over twenty years in the Hudson Valley region of New York. As a dementia specialist here at Clear Guidance, Dr. Olson is able to serve the New York counties of Westchester, Dutchess, Rockland, and Putnam.
Dr. Olson has worked as a consultant for various eldercare and non-profit organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association and Meals on Wheels since 2012 providing services and support for older adults and their family care partners. She has recently founded a 501(c)(3) charitable organization called, Evergreen Minds, Inc. which offers people living with dementia opportunities for meaningful connections and pathways to physical, social and emotional well-being through mindful immersions in nature, expressive arts and intergenerational connections.
Dr. Olson is a devout advocate for person-centered care, combating ageism within sociocultural and health care settings and creating dementia-friendly communities.
Maureen Powers, PT, DPT, MEd, Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), Certified Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Care Trainer (CADDCT)
Dr. Powers is a licensed Massachusetts nursing home administrator and physical therapist. She attended Simmons University for her undergraduate and doctoral degrees in Physical Therapy, and attended Salem State University for a Master’s Degree in Education.
Prior to joining Clear Guidance in 2020, Dr. Powers was the Vice President of Education and Development for a large nursing home company where she established dementia care training programs for staff, and assisted centers in developing dementia specialty care units. Then, she worked as a nursing home administrator where she implemented programs that improved quality of care and facilitated safe transitions across the continuum of care. In 2016, Dr. Powers was recognized by National Council of Dementia Practitioners as a Distinguished Educator.
Dr. Powers brings her years of experience to Clear Guidance with the goal of providing person centered care management for her clients and their families. Her training as a dementia practitioner and physical therapist allows her to assist families that are facing issues around cognitive impairment, dementia, and physical decline.
Michele Stephenson, MS, CSA, CCM, Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP)
Ms. Stephenson found her passion working with seniors later in life. Her purpose is to assist seniors and their care partners facing the challenges of aging, while simultaneously recognizing their limitless potential and value.
Ms. Stephenson received a Master’s degree in Gerontology and Aging Services from University of Massachusetts Boston and has 10+ years of experience in residential memory care communities.
Prior to joining Clear Guidance in 2022, Ms. Stephenson worked as the Resident Services Director at an assisted living/day program that focuses specifically on residents living with dementia and their families and friends. She uses her expertise to help clients navigate the physical, psychological complexities of aging, dementia and mental health issues.
Meredith Gingrich, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist
Ms. Gingrich is a Licensed and Registered Occupational Therapist with over 20 years of experience in helping adults, seniors, and their families to achieve their goals of rehabilitation, enhancing cognitive abilities, and improving quality of life.
Prior to joining the Clear Guidance team in 2020, Ms. Gingrich managed rehabilitation centers at skilled nursing facilities, and also owned a non-skilled senior home care business.
Ms. Gingrich understands the importance of seeing the whole person, and working together with the family and other caregivers toward short and long term goals. She has a unique ability to connect with clients, to listen, ask questions, observe, and to earn their trust. Ms. Gingrich's care plans are customized to each unique situation, and she has the ability to motivate even the most resistant clients to reach their goals everyday.
Debi Miller, Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP), Director of Development
Ms. Miller joined Clear Guidance as an Associate Care Manager in the summer of 2018. Prior to becoming part of our team, Ms. Miller has experience with both Care Management and Private Home Care. She was both the Manager of Private Duty Home Care and a Care Manager Assistant at a non-profit Care Management Practice in Greater Boston.
Ms. Miller has recently taken on the role of Director of Development which provides her the opportunity to enhance our already extensive offering of services.
Christina Burke, MSW, LCSW
Ms. Burke received a Master's Degree in Social Work from Salem State University in 1996. She has 15+ years of experience in various areas of health care and elder care. This vast experience includes a decade as Director of Social Services in three different skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities in the Boston Area.
Prior to joining Clear Guidance in 2020, Ms. Burke became skilled in best practices for the aging and disabled population when she worked as a Care Manager with Informed Eldercare Decisions, one of the inaugural care management agencies in the Greater Boston area.
Ms. Burke uses her expertise to assist families in navigating various aspects of the health care system, as well as complicated family dynamics. She is able to provide a comprehensive selection of options to families, while continuing to promote the highest quality of life for her clients.
Paula Lawrence, MSN, RN, CCM, Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP)
The focus of Ms. Lawrence’s career had been working with older adults. Ms. Lawrence found her passion for working with the older population early during her undergraduate nursing studies at the University of Pennsylvania. After completing her BSN, she returned to complete a Master's Degree in Geriatric Nursing.
Ms. Lawrence has extensive experience in the field of aging including: Medicare Home Care, Private Home Care, Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing and Geriatric Nurse Consulting. Throughout her career, she has held management positions as well as providing individual bed side care.
Because of her prior experience in so many areas, Ms. Lawrence has vast expertise in geriatric assessment. Ms. Lawrence brings her passion, knowledge and support to each client and family she works with at Clear Guidance. She aims to help each elder live life to the fullest, at the least restrictive level of care possible, and to ease the burden of care on their families. As a nurse, she understands the hands-on care older adults need.
From working across the health care spectrum, Ms. Lawrence has a clear understanding of levels of care available and how to identify both the benefits and concerns that accompany each level. Her goal is to provide knowledgeable, compassionate care to help clients and their families adjust to physical, cognitive and emotional challenges through the aging process.
Sandra St Clair, MA, Client Services Manager
As Client Services Manager, Ms. St Clair focuses on building strong relationships with Clear Guidance clients and family members to ensure they receive the highest level of support.
Ms. St Clair originally joined Clear Guidance as the Office Administrator in the Spring of 2021, bringing her experience in Human Resources and Office Management to support our growing organization.
Before joining Clear Guidance, Ms. St Clair received her Master’s Degree in Management and worked in many different industries. She worked for several years helping families connect with caregivers, where she gained solid customer care expertise. Her broad background, along with her passion for improving the client experience enables her to provide our clients with the exceptional attention they deserve.
Shelley Bernstein, Office Manager
Ms. Bernstein joined Clear Guidance to support the important objective of the practice: providing families with unparalleled care management. She brings a diverse set of experiences to her role as Office Administrator that range from financial services, human resources, and retail management.
A fairly recent transplant to the Boston area from the Rocky Mountains of Utah, when she’s not working with the team at Clear Guidance, Shelley can be found exploring New England in search of the best food and new running routes.
Silvina Ibanez, MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Expressive Arts Therapist
Ms. Ibanez is a professional Visual Artist, Mental Health Counselor, Art Educator, and Expressive Arts Therapist. She has more than 20 years of experience in the Arts Field, working with individuals, groups, and communities in the United States and abroad. Her educational and professional experience has been focused on contributing to change and healing through the arts.
Ms. Ibanez holds a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts (UNA Argentina), a Master's degree in Visual Arts (UNAM – Mexico), and a Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Expressive Arts Therapy (Lesley University, United States). She speaks fluently in Spanish and English.
As a teaching artist and educator, she facilitates art classes and workshops for people of all ages and abilities. As an Expressive Arts Therapist, Silvina dedicates her knowledge and unique approach to individuals living with neurocognitive or neurodegenerative disorders and to those with severe or intensive disabilities. Her principles, based on a humanistic approach and positive psychology, are the roots of her expressive arts therapy interventions. Silvina offers a person-centered, intermodal perspective to promote self-expression, creativity, and communication.
Laura McDonald
Ms. McDonald is a Care Manager who has extensive experience coordinating services and advocating for individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities in Massachusetts.
She received her Bachelor's degrees in Criminal Justice and Sociology in 2008 and earned certificates in Women in Leadership & Paralegal Studies in 2008 and 2010.
Ms. McDonald has substantial experience with both case management and coordination of support services in a variety of settings. Prior to joining Clear Guidance, Ms. McDonald spent the beginning of her career in New Hampshire providing supportive services to at-risk juveniles with mental health and substance use disorders in the school and court systems. She returned to the South Shore in 2012 and dedicated the past ten years of her career to a non-profit provider agency in Watertown, coordinating and maintaining consumer-driven services funded by the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) and the Department of Developmental Services (DDS).
Most recently, Ms. McDonald served as the Director of Individual Supports for the United Cerebral Palsy Association where she supervised a team of case management professionals. While in this position from 2018-2022, Ms. McDonald successfully expanded the service catchment areas to the South Shore & North Shore in Massachusetts, and Providence, RI.