Team
Keith Savell, B.A., M.S., Ph.D., CTRS
President and CEO
Dr. Keith Savell received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Illinois. He has held faculty appointments at Rutgers University, San Jose State University, and San Francisco State University. He is the Executive Director of Geriatric Healthcare Consultants, LLC - a company providing dementia care, social service and therapeutic recreation consultation to skilled nursing facilities. Dr. Savell also directs the Behavior Management Response Team – which assists skilled nursing facilities in their efforts to reduce and resolve acute dementia based behavior problems among residents. As a dementia care specialist, Dr. Savell also provides Dementia care training, environmental evaluation and consulting support to skilled nursing facilities and Alzheimer’s care units. Dr. Savell has delivered multiple presentations at international, national, regional, state and local conferences. He has numerous publications within the areas of psychosocial assessment, gerontology, self-efficacy, self determination and psychological well-being, as well as collaborative research methodologies. Dr. Savell has also provided expert witness testimony within the nursing home industry.
Elizabeth Dimpfl, MSW
VP of Consulting Operations and Quality Assurance
Beth received her B.A. in Social Work from Bethany College, and went on to earn her MSW from the University of Pittsburgh. She has more than ten years experience in long-term care, and has worked with seniors living in a variety of settings. She maintains her Social Work license in WV, where she also taught Human Development as an adjunct lecturer at her alma mater. Her experience and education provides a realistic and insightful perspective to help
improve quality of life for long-term care residents.
Elaine Dempsey, M.S., CTRS
Senior Therapeutic Recreation Consultant
Experience: Elaine Dempsey, MS, C.T.R.S. received her education from the University of Illinois and Longwood College in Virginia and she has her Dementia Care Practice certificate. Elaine has worked as a consultant with GHC since 1996. Prior to work in skilled nursing much of her employment has been as a program director and recreation therapist in psychiatric settings including the University of California – San Francisco, The Barry Robinson Center in Norfolk, VA and Portsmouth Psychiatric Institute in Portsmouth, VA. Elaine has served on numerous professional committees and presented in-services and workshops at local / regional conferences and within facilities in both long-term care and psychiatric care. She has designed systems for use in the assessment, care plan, progress note and program evaluation process.
Scott Hamilton, B.S., C.T.R.S.
Senior Therapeutic Recreation Consultant
Experience: Scott Hamilton received his B.S. degree in Therapeutic Recreation from California State University, Fresno. His previous employment includes: Assistant Director of Adult Day Program for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities, and most recently as a Therapeutic Recreation Director for a Long Term Care Facility in California (Skilled Nursing Facility and Dementia Unit). His special interests include implementation of Independent Multi-Station Recreation Programs, Multi-Sensory Stimulation Recreation Programs, Outcome based Recreation Programming, Recreation Programming for individuals with Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease, and behavior management techniques. Scott Hamilton is currently a Therapeutic Recreation Consultant with Geriatric Healthcare Consultants, LLC.
Cathy MacDonnell, B.S.W.
Senior Social Service Consultant
Cathy MacDonnell is a graduate of Fresno Pacific University in Fresno, California and has had over 7 years experience specifically in long-term care. She was the Director of Social Services/ Admissions Coordinator for a large SNF and has been an expansion consultant and an Advisory Board Member for an Older Adult Day Care and Alzheimer's Research Center. She is currently undergoing her Master's in Public Health and has been a consultant with Geriatric Healthcare Consultants since 2003.
Emily Feit
Social Service Consultant
Emily Feit receved her B.A. from the Univesity of Arizona and her M.S.W. from Yeshiva University's Wurzweiler Schoold of Social Work. Emily comes to GHC witha primary background in long-term care, which also includes inpatient geriatric psych, elder abuse, dementia and discharge planning. Prior to joining GHC, Emily worked in an outpatient geriatric clinic providing case management services, supportive counseling and family consultations to promote the quality of life of home bound seniors. Emily currently resides in Southern California and is actively pursuing her L.C.S.W.
Colleen Christensen
Social Service Consultant
Colleen Christensen received her B.A. in Psychology from California State Polytechnic University and her M.S.W. from the University of Southern California with an emphasis in Clinical Social Work. Colleen comes to GHC with a background in Individual and Group Psychotherapy, with a prominence in Chemical Dependency and treatment planning. Colleen has extensive training as a Social Service Director in a long-term care facility, providing supportive services to patients and family members, discharge planning, case management services, and sustaining the quality of life for the elderly. Colleen also has experience with patients undergoing extensive rehabilitation and long-term subacute care. Colleen currently resides in Southern California and is interested in furthering her education and training in the field of Social Work.