Caring Strategies was founded in 2007 and is owned by Jeanie Moores Tauss, a licensed clinical social worker, gerontologist, and certified care manager. She is joined by a team of highly educated and seasoned professionals who have decades of experience in guiding families in making wise decisions in a wide variety of care and health circumstances. Caring Strategies care managers adhere to a national code of ethics and do not accept referral fees of any kind.
JEANIE MOORES TAUSS, MSG, MSW, LCSW, C-ASWCM
Owner and Certified Care Manager, is a licensed clinical social worker and certified care manager with almost 30 years of geriatric experience. She received her master degrees in gerontology and social work from the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology at University of Southern California, the oldest school of gerontology in the country. She also earned her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and is a Certified Dementia Care Partner®. An exceptionally close relationship with her grandparents eventually led her to a driving desire to help older adults maintain their independence and achieve the highest quality of life possible. She has a special expertise in assisting persons with memory loss and their families, and has led a support group for early stage dementia patients for many years. Jeanie’s past experience includes work in geropsychology, dementia clinics, hospital seniors’ programs as well as private practice. She grew up in Decatur and returned to Alabama after living on the west coast.
JULIE SMITH, MM – Director of Operations
Julie’s wealth of experience includes over 15 years in senior care including medical and non-medical home healthcare. In 2011, she became a Certified Senior Advisor and continues to hold that distinction. Her background includes networking, marketing, and community education. She has been, and remains, a sought-after speaker for national, state, and local conferences and is well-versed in a variety of topics related to successful aging, dementia and resources for family caregivers. In 2017, she was appointed by the governor to serve a 3-year term to the State Respite Coalition as an advocate for family caregivers. Other volunteer positions include Executive Committee Member for the Huntsville/Madison County Council on Aging, Advisory Council Member for Community Action Partnership, Walk to End Alzheimer’s Committee Member, and Board Member for UG2 Ministry in Uganda. Julie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Judson College and a Master of Management degree from the University of Phoenix.
LAURIE HILL, BSN, RN – Care Manager and Nurse
Laurie graduated from UAB School of Nursing with a BSN degree. Her first position as a new RN was in a skilled nursing facility in Huntsville 26 years ago. Although she went on to work in a wide variety of settings ranging from nursing education to cardiovascular care, she always stayed connected with the field of geriatrics. Caring Strategies clients appreciate her calm, thoughtful approach combined with her wealth of nursing knowledge as she creatively meets their care needs. Her engagement with older adults brings great joy and fulfillment to her life.
CARLA DURHAM, LMSW, MT-BC – Care Manager
Carla is a licensed master social worker and board-certified music therapist with over 20 years of experience in hospitals, hospices, clinics, schools and private practice. Carla’s unique blend of music therapy and social work skills richly enhances the care and wellbeing of her care management clients. Her playful sense of humor and can-do spirit energizes everyone she touches. A Huntsville native, Carla earned both her undergraduate degree in music therapy and her master degree in social work from The University of Alabama.
MONIQUE WHITAKER, MA, BA, LPN – Care Manager, Nurse, and SPARK! program manager
Monique has spent the last 23 years passionately serving others in the health care field; including an extensive background in nursing, health education, wellness, as well as with the Dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Health Psychology from the University of Alabama in Huntsville and her master’s degree in Health Education from the University of Alabama. In addition to serving as a nurse for over 20 years, Monique’s previous experience includes Health and Wellness program design, development, and implementation in a variety of settings. Monique is also a Certified Dementia Care Partner®.
SUE CHEEK, LBSW- Care Manager
Sue has been a licensed social worker for over 40 years working with the geriatric population. Growing up in Virginia, she received her Bachelor’s degree from Radford University and her Bereavement Certification from the Center for Loss and Transition in Fort Collins, Colorado. After her father was diagnosed with vascular dementia, she became more interested in that area and worked in memory care units in Washington State for four years. Her previous experience includes hospice, skilled nursing, assisted living, hospitals and the department of health. Currently, she facilitates a grief support group in Madison.
JANICE ROBINSON – Care Coordinator and Director of Engagement
Janice brings over 22 years of experience caring for the elderly in many capacities. A native Huntsvillian, she received her B.S. degree from Jacksonville State University. Experience as a “candy striper” at a local nursing home sparked her interest in helping the elderly at an early age. Although she did not initially pursue a geriatric care career path, caring for her mother with Alzheimer’s disease shifted her work to a variety of medical and private elder care positions. Her focus for the last 22 years has been to enhance the lives of the elderly by bringing joy, laughter and treats to their lives, while quietly ensuring that their care and safety needs are met. Janice’s expertise in dog care makes her our resident canine care manager for our clients with dogs.
SUSIE TALBOT – SPARK! Activities Curator
Susie came to Caring Strategies with a wide range of experiences from her diverse career as a secretary, photographic retouch artist, medical transcriptionist, and published free-lance artist. Additionally, as a wife, mother, and grandmother, she has honed her skill of developing connections with individuals in her own unique way. She kindled a sensitivity and desire to bring a spark and light to others while caring for her elderly mother-in-law and mother in their later years. Sharing her love for art, using a wide variety of materials, she aims to encourage each person to find and reveal their own natural creativity through the SPARK! program. Memoir writing, collage, handmade cards are only a few of the projects that Susie has shared with our clients. She is also a certified Zentangles instructor and a Certified Dementia Care Partner.®
JON HILL – Technology Concierge
Jon brings the perfect amalgam of technical expertise and interpersonal skill to our clients at Caring Strategies. While currently pursuing a degree in Business at University Of Massachusetts online, Jon consults with our clients to implement technology solutions that improve their quality of life, as well as solve technical and telecommunication issues with their existing home equipment. Jon is kind, patient, intelligent, and skilled with all things tech-related! He has been building computers since he was 15, and has worked as a professional cell phone and computer repair technician for over four years. Our clients especially love the way that Jon relates to them with the energy of his youth, and the warmth and compassion of family.
JORDAN RHATIGAN, MS – Office Manager
Jordan came to Caring Strategies from a senior living community where she coordinated resident services and provided a variety of services to meet the needs of residents. Jordan has a master degree from the University of Kansas and began her professional career as a geologist in Texas. In time, her desire to return home to Huntsville shifted her interests to a career that allows her to serve older adults while utilizing her organizational skills. She rises to the daily challenge of keeping the Caring Strategies team technologically functioning and organized while making sure the many needs of our clients are met in a caring and timely manner.
