President

In 2003, Jennifer started Paxem, Inc., a Senior Move Management and Senior Relocation Company that helps in all aspects of the move. During this time, she helped with the Golden Diners Program, Kraus Senior Center, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and was a softball coach. In 2006, after seeing families go through huge amounts of stress trying to help their loved ones, she began helping seniors and families find senior housing and care. Jennifer's mission is to help any senior in need. "The families were completely overwhelmed. They were looking at inappropriate communities that were either unaffordable, didn't meet the seniors needs or didn't fit the seniors’ personalities. It was heartbreaking and made me realize that I could make a difference".

Jennifer prides herself in helping others. Her background in volunteering to help older adults. has prepared her to assist those in need. Her passion has always been to facilitate services between people and to see them succeed. Jennifer is a member of many senior groups focusing on improving the environment for seniors; Leading Age of Illinois, Vice President of Continuity of Care McHenry Lake Chapter, Board President of Collaborative Healthcare Urgency Group (CHUG), Board member of the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce and other civic organizations. Jennifer and her two corporations volunteer for various groups and support over 90 local charities.

Jennifer’s number one job is being a Mom. She started Elderwerks thinking that her children would be proud and hopefully, one day, participate in helping others. She has been married for over 25 years and believes that family should always come first.

MISSION STATEMENT: Our mission is to provide each family with senior housing and care choices that are a match for the senior and family needs. To provide community and professional education, show compassion, and provide needed support to assist in the decision-making process.

Community Resource Consultant
Gail joined Elderwerks as a Senior Care Consultant with more than twenty years' experience in the sales and marketing of senior living communities from independent retirement properties to skilled nursing homes. She also worked as a Director of Business Development for a national home care and care management agency. Gail was a co-facilitator at an Alzheimer's Disease support group at Northwestern Medical Center.

Gail is well known to Geriatric Care Managers and Case Managers within the Northshore areas of Chicago. She has developed many community based education and resource events that help adult children in finding resources for elderly parents. With her extensive network of professional healthcare relationships, Gail brings her own passion and dedication to seniors and their well-being.

Gail has an extensive knowledge of geriatric resources, as well as the professional standards and compassion needed to facilitate the needs of seniors and their families while maintaining their dignity with minimal stress. Gail also assists at Paxem, a Senior Move Management company, to help the families during the move.

You may see Gail at many healthy cooking demonstrations in senior communities put on by Chef Michael Niksic, The Food Mercenary who happens to be her husband.

Listen to Gail on Aging Info Radio AM560WIND

Watch Gail on WGN TV during an interview: http://wgntv.com/2013/09/11/caregiving-one-familys-story/

Community Resource Consultant
During Carol’s career, as an Account Manager with a Fortune 500 Company, her focus was to act as the liaison between the customer and the company. As team leader, Carol learned that the relationship with the customer is primary in the process of reaching the best solution.

In addition to her career as an Account Manager, Carol has owned two businesses. Staff relationships, business direction, schedule coordination, consulting and detailed research were some of the responsibilities. She worked with community chambers and volunteered for various community activities and projects. The goal of Carol and her team was to reach the best solution in all aspects of the business.

As Carol approached retirement her husband was diagnosed with MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment). She did extensive research and asked numerous questions. The current sources of information, through the internet, were not available. In the beginning the cognitive issues were minimal and life seemed to progress “as usual”. As behavior changes progressed the diagnosis progressed to Alzheimer’s. During this time health issues advanced with Carol’s mother. Her mother’s dementia progressed and she required full time skilled care. Both passed away in the same year.

Knowledge became power and the daily normal were lessons learned by experience. Carol’s new “career” was a nine- year education on dementia including services and resources for families, caregivers and patients. Carol has been a participant and a co facilitator for support groups. Currently she is the facilitator of a support group for anyone caring for someone with dementia issues.

Through education, relationships (professional and personal) and experience Carol has become a specialist in dementia issues. Compassion and understanding guide her in helping others to reach their best solution. Elderwerks is an opportunity to reach out and continue assisting others in finding their best solution. It is an opportunity to give back for the help she and her family received.

Silver Solutions Radio Interview February 2017

Certified Dementia Educator and Training Specialist 

Community Resource ConsultantTamara Kruse Nahigian is a Community Resource Consultant with Elderwerks. Tamara has been in the Senior Industry since 2007. She holds her Real Estate License in Illinois and Indiana and has been a Realtor since 2001.
Tamara’s focus is to lessen the frustration and stress families have trying to navigate the senior housing and care maze. Tamara is your personal concierge and advocate to understanding the senior industry. Her method relies on educating families with the facts and nuances of the senior housing market. Tamara will listen to your concerns and your expectations and together will find a place to call home. She is dedicated to making a difference in people's lives daily.
Tamara is originally from Valparaiso, IN and is married and makes her home in Hoffman Estates, IL.

Community Resource Consultant

Barbara grew up on the north shore of Chicago and holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois Champaign Urbana and is a Licensed Real Estate Broker in Illinois. Her hospitality career began with Marriott Hotels in both Chicago and Houston in both operations and sales. As the first retirement communities were being built in the Chicago area, she joined Senior Lifestyle Corporation and for many years served as Director of Sales for many of their communities as well as with Brookdale Senior Living. Her expertise assessing client’s needs, be it home care, independent living, assisted living or memory care has been extensive. Helping seniors has always been a part of her life from way back watching grandparents entertain in senior skilled care communities. Barbara has over 30 years of experience helping older adults with their needs.
In addition, several members of her family have been living with dementia over many years and for this reason the Alzheimer’s Association is a focus for Barbara, to assist in fundraising to help to find a cure! She enjoys the outdoors and exercise, tennis and entertaining for family and friends.
Her pride and joy is her family! Husband, David, son Jacob and pup Apollo, mom, Suzanne, sisters Karen and Diana and brother Larry, and many nieces and nephews.

Business Development Director 

Katie earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy from Alverno College in Milwaukee, and has 18+ years in the healthcare industry. She began her career as a Music Therapist with the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music working with the geriatric population; became a Resident Social Service Coordinator for dual diagnosis seniors; worked as a property manager in low-income senior housing; was the Marketing Director in skilled home health care; assisted in opening an inpatient psychiatric hospital in northern Illinois as the Community Liaison; and worked as the Manager of Business Development for a growing area hospice organization. The desire to get back to the not-for-profit world and expand the resources and advocacy available to older adults brought her to Elderwerks in 2021.

A firm believer in the importance of volunteerism, Katie serves in several volunteer leadership positions. She is the Vice President of Continuity of Care – State Board, Vice President of Continuity of Care - Lake McHenry Chapter; President of the Senior Service Coalition of Lake County; Board of Directors of AgeGuide, founding member of the Coalition for Aging Resources & Education; and is the past Corporate Sponsorship Chair for the Lake County Walk to End Alzheimer’s and past Vice President of the Lake County Behavioral Health Alliance. She has also served on several professional advisory committees for both hospice and not-for-profit home health agencies.

When not working, Katie enjoys travelling both locally and abroad with her firefighter/pilot husband in search of the perfect oyster, learning about craft distilleries and cheering on the Chicago Cubs.

To contact Katie about speaking engagements, senior needs or healthcare resources in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, please call 847-462-0885 or email her at katie.brooks@elderwerks.org .

Office Manager
Emily is the Office Manager at Elderwerks. Emily graduated from Northern Illinois University with a degree in Special Education. She was a Special Education teacher for four years both in Cary and in Carpentersville before joining Elderwerks. She is passionate about helping people. Emily enjoys learning and implementing new types of technology and programs at her job at Elderwerks. In her spare time, Emily enjoys going to concerts, listening to podcasts, reading, and spending time with her two rabbits.