About Us
What is Continuing Care at Home?
Continuing Care at Home (CCaH), also referred to as a Continuing Care Retirement Community without Walls, is a model that was developed over 30 years ago by Friends Life Care in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to help individuals age in place. CCaH programs allow for individuals to remain at home and receive similar benefits to that of a Continuing Care Retirement Community including financial protection like a “Type A” community or life care contract. CCaH programs focus on keeping people at home and independent for as long as possible through the central service of care coordination or wellness coordination. Care Coordinators are professionals that build a relationship with members of a program to provide advocacy and support along with coordinating any services that may be needed as one ages.
CCaH programs have a one-time entrance fee and then an ongoing monthly fee which covers the benefits of the program and the future cost of long-term care services including home care, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing. Non-refundable fees are often tax deductible as a prepaid medical expense (please consult your tax professional). Long-term care services do not have a waiting or elimination period and last a lifetime. CCaH programs offer a variety of different plans that can stand alone or be paired with an existing long-term care insurance policy.
In Maryland, CCaH programs are regulated by the Department of Aging.
History
The Wesley was originally formed in 1867 by Dr. George C.M. Roberts and 24 female church members to be an extension of the mission and ministry of the United Methodist Church. Their goal was to serve seniors of the greater Baltimore region by providing quality long term care programs and facilities that preserve dignity, improve quality of life, promote spiritual growth, and strengthen relationships.
The Wesley Inc. owned a Continuing Care Retirement Community campus on Rogers Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland. This building was sold in 2008, but the Wesley Inc. has remained dedicated to its mission.
Over the past 14 years, The Wesley Inc. has been serving seniors by funding private and county grants that support aging in place technologies and initiatives.
In 2020, The Board of Directors decided to pursue development of The Wesley at Home to bring the CCaH model to Maryland and help seniors age in place. The Wesley at Home is planning to begin welcoming members in the Summer of 2022.
Our Mission
is to bring a continuum of coordinated wellness and long-term care services to older adults in Maryland in their own communities and homes.
Our Values
are driven by the mission of The Wesley Inc. which has been serving older adults in the Baltimore Metro area since 1867.
Respect
Autonomy
Individuality
Engagement
Choice
Diversity
Our Vision
is to empower older adults to age in their chosen setting safely while receiving coordinated social, residential, and preventive health benefits and services. We strive to lead in providing high-quality service options and personalized assistance with navigating services to help Members maintain independence and meet their health and wellness goals.
Meet Our Team
Amanda Young, MS CMC, Executive Director
Amanda Young serves as the Executive Director of The Wesley at Home. She is an experienced master’s prepared gerontologist (McDaniel College) and specializes in operating Continuing Care at Home (CCaH) programs. She has extensive nonprofit experience and is currently working on her PhD in Leadership and Gerontology at Concordia University Chicago. Her dissertation is a qualitative analysis of the wellness coordination model in CCaH programs. She previously served as Executive Director of BeWell@Home, the CCaH program of the Lutheran Homes of South Carolina. During that time, she was also able to serve as Senior Director of Independent Living of Franke at Seaside, one of Lutheran Homes of SC Life Plan Communities. Prior to that experience, she was the Wellness Coordinator for Pathstones by Phoebe a CCaH program of Phoebe Ministries in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Ms. Young has presented twice on the CCaH model at LeadingAge’s National Annual Meetings. She is a Certified Case Manager (National Academy of Certified Case Managers). Early in her career, she provided case management to older adults at an Area Agency on Aging in Pennsylvania.
Amanda enjoys educating individuals about the benefits of CCaH programs and seeing how valuable this program and its services can be for aging adults. She loves building relationships with clients and being able to make a difference in their lives.
Amanda is a native of Pennsylvania, but was living in Charleston, SC prior to relocating here in Baltimore with her husband, three rescue dogs, and cat. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and listening to her favorite stand-up comedians’ podcasts.
Jessica Novello, RN, BSN, MS, Administrator & Care Coordinator
Jessica Novello serves as the program administrator and a care coordinator for The Wesley at Home.
She has 8 years of experience as a Registered Nurse and has worked in acute care in the hospital setting as well as sub-acute and long-term care on a pulmonary rehabilitation/ventilator unit. She was formerly Board Certified by American Nurses Credentialing Center in geriatric nursing and is a member of the American Geriatrics Society. After obtaining a master's degree in Applied Gerontology, she began working in long term care planning and public benefits applications at an elder law office, a position held for 7 years. Jessica has extensive professional experience in Medicaid Long Term Care and Medicaid Waiver services and applications. She enjoys being part of interdisciplinary teams, working with physicians, attorneys, social workers, and nursing staff.
"I started my career within the walls of hospitals and intermediate care facilities. I quickly realized that preventative care and community support could have limited so much of the medical emergencies that I was helping to treat. I made it a personal and professional goal to learn about resources within the community and help families make plans to access needed services so they can achieve a happier and healthier life in the most comfortable location: home."
Tracey Franz, LMSW, Care Coordinator
Tracey Franz, LMSW serves as Care Coordinator of The Wesley at Home. She is an accomplished and versatile Social Work Professional with extensive experience assisting diverse populations in hospice, oncology, aging, welfare, and mental health. She also has experience in individual and group therapy, crisis management and interdisciplinary team collaboration.
Her bachelor’s degree in Social Work is from Notre Dame University and her master’s degree in Social work is from the University of Maryland. She has worked at the University of Maryland Medical Center and Season’s Hospice and Palliative Care. She is a lover of dogs (she has a mastiff) and rehabbing old houses.
Tracey has been part of the Ferretto Eldercare Consulting team for over 9 years and is cross trained to serve The Wesley at Home members. Ferretto Eldercare Consulting has been serving the Baltimore Metro area since 2008 through various interdisciplinary case managers with a combined 400+ years of experience in the field of aging.
Board of Directors
Bradley D. Paulis, ASA, MAAA, President
Bradley Paulis is an actuarial consultant and partner at Continuing Care Actuaries Inc. He has 40+ years of actuarial experience with Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Home Care programs. He is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries and volunteers on the long-term care reform and public programs sub-committees. He has been involved in education and projects spanning from preliminary model designs for insurance and long-term care entities to analysis of financial impacts for insurance and healthcare programs and products in real time within changing markets. to He is the current President of the Wesley Inc. Board.
Jason A. Frank, Esq.
Jason Frank is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA Emeritus), retired from private practice, and former legal counsel for the Baltimore County Department of Aging. He has 40+ years of experience as an attorney in Maryland. He has been a part of passing significant legislation to benefit old adults within the State. He has been involved with National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) for over 20 years. He is a published author of the text, Elder Law in Maryland, and is an adjunct professor teaching a variety of interdisciplinary elder law courses. He is a long-term advocate for older adults. Jason has served on the following boards: LifeBridge Planning Committee, Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center, Myerberg Senior Center, and many other legal, cultural, and aging endeavors.
Rodger Henning, DPT
Rodger Henning is a retired Physical Therapist. He has 45 years of clinical care experience in Maryland and has specialized in Respiratory, Developmental, Rehabilitative and Restorative Service provision. He has worked in various settings including, long term care facilities, correctional institutions and in private practice in the community.
Diane Martin, PhD.
Diane Martin, Ph.D. (University of Maryland) is a Professor of Gerontology with a research focus in geriatric assessment and aging in place models. She is the Director of the Geriatrics and Gerontology Education and Research Program (University of Maryland) and former Director of the Center for the Study of Aging (McDaniel College). She worked with the State Community for Life℠ program to establish the learning criteria and certificate for the statewide Community for Life℠ Service Coordinators. She brings wide range of educational, administrative, and research experience to the Board. Dr. Martin has worked on State programs including, emergency preparedness for older adults in Baltimore City and development of online-training programs for aging in place initiatives.
Mickey Miller, AIA
Michael (Mickey) Miller is an architect with extensive experience in design, budget development, and project management. He is University of Maryland’s Capital Projects Manager. He has experience in designing and renovating long term care living facilities for older adults and has been on the Wesley Board and involved in program develop with the Wesley for over 15 years. He has been a board member on community revitalization projects and religious service endeavors for the Methodist Church.
Debra Wertheimer, MD
Debra Wertheimer is a physician and the prior Medical Director for Veteran Administration’s Hospice Care Program. She has held faculty and/or staff positions for over 40 years in various medical schools and hospitals in Baltimore City and County. She previously worked in a variety of clinical leadership positions such as, Associate Director of clinical services and as a pain and palliative care consultant with Levindale’s Geriatric Center. She is the former Director for University of Maryland Hospital’s Waxter Center Home Care and Geriatric Assessment Program. She also currently serves on the board of Edenwald and General German Aged People's Home of Baltimore, Inc.
Gordon Fronk, Esq.
Gordon Fronk is a founding principal at the Law Firm Hollis, Cronan, and Fronk, PA and serves as legal counsel to The Wesley Inc. He has been a practicing attorney in Maryland for over 50 years specializing in small business development, financial and estate planning, mature business restructuring, as well as various aspects of business management including organization, capitalization, structuring, taxation, personnel relationships, contracts, and land acquisition. He is an army veteran. He is the former President of the Wesley Inc. Board and has been a past Director for The Wesley. Mr. Fronk is actively involved in church, alumni association, and municipal matters in the local community.
Program Committee
The Wesley at Home was developed under the guidance of the following Program Committee consisting of geriatric service professionals in the Baltimore County and Baltimore City area:
Mary Faith Ferretto, LCSW-C, C-ASWCM
Mary Faith Ferretto is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Advanced Social Work Case Manager. She is the President and Founder of Ferretto Elder Care Consulting Inc. Her team has been serving older and disabled adults the Baltimore Metro Area since 2008, coordinating all aspects of care from community to institutional services. She has extensive experience in group and individual counseling, geriatric assessment, caregiver support, discharge planning, and community and facility service navigation. She designed and implemented the elder and adult assessments care management program for Keswick at Home.
Jennifer Rynbrandt, MA CMC
Jennifer Rynbrandt is an Aging Life Care Manager and holds a master’s degree in Health Care Administration. She has experience in geriatric program direction and interdisciplinary team leadership. Her clients include older adults, adults suffering from mental health issues, degenerative cognitive deficits, progressive physical diseases, and/or age-related disease. She performs all aspects of care management including comprehensive assessments, care planning, crisis intervention, advocacy, placement, and education to support adult clients, their families, spouses, partners, and friends. She is currently spearheading Ferretto Elder Care’s Smart Plan program which serves younger older adults. She is a member of the Aging Life Care Association and The National Academy of Certified Care Managers. She volunteers with various artistic and health initiatives in the community. She has been a gallery-represented studio artist since 2004, and featured in multiple North American shows by jurors from notable institutions such as The Corcoran and National Geographic, among others.
Elizabeth Weglein, MS
Elizabeth Weglein is CEO of Elizabeth Cooney Personnel Agency and Elizabeth Cooney Care Network which provides in-home long-term care services and is the oldest full-service nurse referral agency in the country. She is an expert in the home health care and allied health field, developing, implementing and overseeing Private, State and Federally funded medical programs for over 27 years. She is active in local and national organizations that support individuals and families with resources to assist with health related and daily living needs and has created and helped pass policy that improves Marylander’s health care options. She is also the current President of United Seniors of Maryland. Her past-held board positions include, The Coordinating Center, Maryland National Capital Home Care Association, and Maryland Caregiver’s Support Coordinating Council among many others.