PARALEGAL

Catherine is a paralegal to Attorney Amelia Crotwell. She manages Amelia’s cases, keeping track of each client’s needs and planning strategies. She also assists Amelia in crafting customized legal documents to achieve clients’ goals, prepares documents for signings, follows up with clients about changes they desire, and assists with in-office and offsite signings. Clients may call Catherine directly for assistance when they have questions about the work being completed on their behalf or when they need to schedule an appointment or phone call with Amelia. Catherine’s many years of experience as a paralegal make her an effective and efficient problem-solver, and clients appreciate her warmth, compassion, and excellent sense of humor.

PARALEGAL

Jana came to Elder Care Law of Tennessee with a background in banking and executive legal support in the long-term care industry. These experiences prepared her well to assist her clients and Attorney Bailey Schiermeyer in implementing legal strategies related to clients’ assets, public benefits, and long-term care. Her “inside knowledge” of the rules and regulations of the financial and long-term care industries benefits the ELET team and her clients. Jana tracks all of Bailey’s cases from start to finish, prepares legal documents customized to the client’s unique needs and goals, communicates with clients about their legal planning, addresses their questions and concerns, liaisons with other professionals involved in cases, and assists with signings. Bailey’s clients call Jana directly for updates about the work being done on their behalf or when they need to schedule follow-up meetings and calls with Bailey. Jana’s organizational skills and professional experiences help her cut through chaotic situations and get to the heart of what must be done. At the same time, her genuine empathy and care for her clients enable her to relate to them and effectively advocate on their behalf.

PARALEGAL

Louisa serves as the point of contact and case manager for Attorney Julia Keck’s clients, helping them get the information and answers they need efficiently in often stressful and time-sensitive situations. Many of the clients she works with are amid care transitions, addressing financial concerns, or other urgent and demanding situations. Louisa’s two years of experience as the firm’s Front Office Legal Secretary prepared her for the various circumstances her clients face. Her calm demeanor and exceptional organization enable her to address these clients’ practical needs efficiently. She schedules calls and appointments, organizes documents and information, assists in implementing legal strategies, drafts vital legal documents, and relays information among the ECLT team, the client, and other stakeholders – all with the warmth and compassion needed to calm nerves and help restore peace of mind.

PARALEGAL

Lisa came to Elder Care Law of Tennessee with years of experience as a certified paralegal working in estate planning, public benefits applications, and probate cases. She is our paralegal in our Lebanon office and does everything from drafting and preparing estate planning documents for signings to filing important paperwork for probate cases. Lisa's experience combined with her love for her clients makes her an amazing asset to the ECL team.

ELDER CARE COORDINATOR

Care Coordinator Cindy Hutson guides clients and their families as they navigate the long-term care challenges of aging and disability. She completes in-home assessments, suggests changes to the home or alternate living arrangements to improve safety, coaches families through transitions to facility living, recommends ways to maximize happiness and independence, and attends care planning meetings for facility residents to ensure delivery of the best possible care. She also evaluates elders’ eligibility for public benefits such as TennCare CHOICES and VA Aid and Attendance and works with the legal team to prepare successful applications. Cindy’s contribution to the ECLT team includes medical and benefits knowledge and excellent client relations. She has a broad background as a Registered Nurse with experience in critical care, case management, and public benefits. She has been a TennCare Certified Qualified Assessor since 2013. Cindy loves working with elders and their families, quickly establishes rapport with her clients, and enjoys building long-term relationships with the families she serves.

ELDER CARE COORDINATOR

Kyra Clements joined Elder Care Law of Tennessee in July 2016, following an ECLT internship from January through April 2016. As an Elder Care Coordinator, she helps clients and families manage the challenges of aging and disability. Kyra assesses clients’ living situations, makes recommendations for ways to improve safety and quality of life, and guides families through sometimes difficult decisions to ensure that elders receive the best possible care. She supports family caregivers, attends care planning meetings for facility residents, and advocates for clients to ensure their needs are met. Kyra’s career in social services started in the late 80s when she worked with victims of sexual abuse, troubled teens, and individuals with mental illness. Following her father’s diagnosis with dementia, she began to shift her career toward addressing the needs of aging adults. In 2011, she and her husband started their own business, Golden Age Technology, which specializes in aging-in-place technology solutions. She is well-versed in using technology to help solve problems. Kyra completed a Geriatric Care Management certification program in 2016 and completed her MS in Gerontology in 2018. At Elder Care Law of Tennessee she has found a place to combine her social service skills and training with her passion for serving elders and persons with disabilities.

ELDER CARE COORDINATOR MANAGER

As an Elder Care Coordinator at Elder Care Law of Tennessee, Jill Shoffner helps clients gain access to the care they need and works closely with other service providers to coordinate care. She attends care planning meetings, provides guidance to family caregivers, and advocates for the elder or person with a disability to ensure that he or she receives the best possible care. Jill visits clients in their homes to assess care needs and potential safety issues and makes recommendations based on her assessment. Jill has over 14 years of experience as a social worker in East Tennessee and is incredibly familiar with TennCare’s CHOICES program, having worked as a care coordinator for one of the program’s Managed Care Organizations from 2010 to 2014. She continues to serve elder adults, people with disabilities, and their families through her work at Elder Care Law of Tennessee.

Dawn joined the Elder Care of Tennessee team in September 2024, bringing with her years of community involvement and a strong desire to help her clients navigate the terrain of long-term planning. Her knowledge of Middle Tennessee and her connections to local facilities allows her to guide loved ones through facility placement, health assessments for public benefits applications, and everything in between.

PUBLIC BENEFITS MANAGER

As Public Benefits Manager, Hailey Michel-Evleth works closely with Life Care Planning clients and the legal team to gather financial documentation, determine eligibility and strategies, and file claims with TennCare and VA. As clients and their families collect the documentation for their applications or appeals, they can rely on Hailey to provide patient and caring support, help them communicate with financial institutions, and ensure all deadlines are met. Hailey’s previous work as a manager of a grocery rescue program required her to practice meticulous documentation, engage in strategic planning, and keep products and processes moving quickly – all skills that helped her process her clients’ applications efficiently. Her passion for serving others reflects her quality work and friendly service to ECLT clients.

PUBLIC BENEFITS ASSISTANT

As a Public Benefits Assistant, Rusty collaborates with Public Benefits Manager Hailey Michel-Evleth to assist clients in qualifying and applying for public benefits like TennCare and VA Aid and Attendance. Rusty evaluates clients' assets, gathers necessary documentation, investigates old policies for their value, prepares benefits application packets, and guides clients through the information collection process for successful applications. Often working under tight deadlines due to clients' immediate needs for program qualification, Rusty's organizational skills and technical proficiency are key. Moreover, his empathy helps calm clients, allowing them to focus on family, work, and other vital aspects of life.

PUBLIC BENEFITS ASSISTANT

Claire works side-by-side with Public Benefits Assistant Rusty Prochnow and our Public Benefits Manager Hailey Michel-Evleth to walk our clients through the process of applying for public benefits. While the process of applying for benefits can be challenging and tedious, Claire brings kindness and dedication for helping individuals and families navigate the complexities of public assistance programs. With a commitment to community support, she strives to empower clients by providing clear guidance and resources tailored to their unique needs.

INTAKE SPECIALIST

As an Intake Specialist at ECLT, Alyssa’s role is to listen compassionately to new callers’ stories and determine whether ECLT’s services may suit them. Coming from a background in speech-language pathology and direct customer service, Alyssa is an active listener sensitive to the needs of elders and the family members who support them. She is motivated to help them find solutions. During intake calls, she listens to the details of the person’s situation, asks about their goals, collects data about their medical and financial circumstances, and gets to know their values and priorities. She offers reassurance that ECLT can serve as a resource to help them overcome their challenges. If the caller’s needs are not within ECLT’s practice areas, or if the caller chooses not to schedule a consultation, Alyssa directs them to other community resources so they can get help addressing their concerns.

BILLING & SYSTEMS SPECIALIST

Charles wears many hats at ECLT, from customer service in the front office to technical support with devices and systems. As the Billing & Systems Specialist, he works directly for Practice Manager Malinda Joshi, assisting with client billing, liaising with vendors, and tracking firm metrics. He helps implement strategies for office organization, sets up equipment for new employees, and assists with special projects ranging from marketing initiatives to building and grounds improvements. Charles also helps in the front office daily, greeting clients and answering and directing calls to the appropriate team members. He joined ECLT in 2019, coming from a position in a small business in which he also worked in several diverse roles. His adaptability, technical mind, and enthusiasm for supporting his coworkers make him an essential asset to the ECLT team.

LEGAL RECEPTIONIST

Emily is the friendly presence who greets clients in the front office and the voice on the phone directing callers to the appropriate team member. As the captain of the ECLT communications hub, Emily ensures that callers and clients quickly reach the appropriate team member. In addition to receiving visitors and directing calls, Emily also accepts documents delivered to our office, processes paperwork, and distributes it to the appropriate team members, keeps our office space client-ready, and opens files for our new clients. Emily’s calm demeanor, careful organization, and genuine compassion for our clients and their families make her a valuable asset to the ECLT team and to those we serve.

PRACTICE MANAGER

Malinda Joshi works behind the scenes at Elder Care Law of Tennessee to maximize efficiency and promptly ensure clients receive the best possible service. She administrates ECLT’s case management software, investigates IT solutions to streamline workflow, and develops office procedures. She also writes content for the ECLT website and assists in developing marketing strategies and materials. Since 2011, Malinda has adapted to diverse roles as different needs within the firm have arisen and has handled projects such as graphic and interior design, event planning, newsletter and presentation writing, and overhauling filing systems. She also works in the reception room, greeting clients and assisting with the paperwork flow in the office.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH & FAMILY MEETING FACILITATOR

Dr. Michael Mailahn works with Elder Care Law of Tennessee to provide Family Meeting Facilitation services for clients and their families facing difficult care-related decisions. He guides parties through stressful discussions, maintaining a respectful decorum to ensure all voices are heard, and all ideas are considered. Michael has worked for the past 15 years for the State of Tennessee, conducting complaint resolution, mediation, workplace harassment (Title VII) investigations, and conflict management training. Before his work with the state of Tennessee, Dr. Mailahn worked in a Chronic Pain Center as a Behavioral Medicine Counselor. There, he performed Biofeedback, Relaxation, Imagery, and Hypnotherapy sessions for patients wanting/needing to learn coping skills for managing their distress from longstanding pain and suffering.

INTAKE SPECIALIST

As an Intake Specialist at Elder Care Law of Tennessee, Sarah’s primary responsibility involves attentively listening to the narratives of new callers and assessing whether the firm’s services align with their needs. Sarah demonstrates a profound capacity for empathy, particularly towards supporting family members caring for their loved ones.

Throughout intake conversations, Sarah delves into the caller’s situation, inquiring about their objectives, gathering pertinent medical and financial information, and gaining insight into their values and priorities. She reassures them that ECLT is ready to support navigating their challenges. Should the caller’s requirements fall outside ECLT’s scope or if they opt not to proceed with a consultation, Sarah adeptly steers them toward alternative community resources to address their needs.

LEGAL ASSISTANT

Stephanie joined Elder Care Law of Tennessee in 2021 and is the firm’s Legal Assistant, directly supporting all the Paralegals on our team. With prior experience in the New Hampshire court system, exceptional organizational skills, and close attention to detail, Stephanie has always been well-positioned to ensure our clients’ legal documents are executed accurately, recorded as needed with the proper government offices, and delivered to our clients in a tidy package. Stephanie often liaises with courts to obtain required information and expedite clients’ work, sends letters to clients on behalf of ECLT Attorneys and Paralegals, and calls clients to obtain information or deliver updates about their work. Her eagerness to support others and her fantastic sense of humor make her a joy to work with, both for clients and fellow ECLT staff.

ASSISTANT PRACTICE MANAGER

As Assistant Practice Manager, Victoria handles various tasks behind the scenes that help Elder Law of East Tennessee operate smoothly. She develops staff policies and procedures, assists with hiring and onboarding new staff, manages travel arrangements, supports continued staff education and attorney certifications, assists with scheduling appointments at our Johnson City office, and everything in between. No matter what task she’s working on, Victoria always keeps excellent client service at the heart of everything.