Born and raised in Rochester, New York, Carole Larkin has gradually worked her way south, through a number of career iterations. She started her career with the Welfare Department for the State of Ohio. She later became a Computer Aided Design engineer for HVAC systems in Clean Rooms. In the early 90s, Carole went to University of North Texas to get her Masters Degree in Applied Gerontology. Like many others, Carole ended up in the senior services arena through the experience of caring for a family member, in this case, her mother. Today she is the owner of ThirdAge Services, a geriatric care management consulting firm in Dallas. She specializes in helping families with Alzheimer’s and related dementias issues. She can be reached at (214) 649-1392, or visit her on the web at www.thirdageservices.com. She is also passionate about Puzzles to Remember, a non-profit organization that collects and distributes puzzles for seniors with dementia-related illnesses. Check out their website at www.puzzlestoremember.com.
A native of Alabama, Diane Grainger has been a nurse for 30 years. She spent her early years in the operating room. About twelve years ago, Diane became aware of a unique program started by Gwinnett Medical Center in 1994. This program, the Congregational Nurse Program, was designed to promote health and wellness to churches and their surrounding communities. This concept, started in the Chicago area by Dr. Granger Westberg posited that nurse involvement following a hospital stay would have a positive effect on continuing heath and wellness. Though she continue in her role at Gwinnett Medical Center, it was an idea that was tugging at her heart. About ten years ago, Lawrenceville First Baptist Church created a position for a congregational nurse. Diane applied, got the job, and has been there ever since. She loves the program, and sees her position as much more than a job – she sees it as a calling. Diane can be reached at (770) 963-5121, via email at diane@lawrencevillefbc.org, or on the web at www.lawrencevillefbc.org. For more information on Gwinnett Medical Center’s congregational nurse program, click here.
