APA News

Bev Ross
Executive Director
Creative Aging Cincinnati

Bev’s compassion for the senior population was instilled as a child witnessing family members care for her grandmother. Her passion for working with the senior population began while attending Northern Kentucky University. She chose to work at an adult day program for the required practicum hours needed for her degree in Mental Health and Human Services.

Following her graduation in 1999, Bev worked as an Activity Director at Eldermount Adult Day Care, now Bayley Adult Day, for 10 years. Here, she took great pride in scheduling activities, events and trips for the seniors in her care. During this time, she also acquired the Activity Director’s Certification. Continuing her education at what is now the University of Mount St. Joseph, Bev then received her Recreation Therapy Certification. In 2007, she resigned from Bayley to be home with her first child. At that time, she was offered and accepted a new role as the Executive Director of Creative Aging. Considered the best of both worlds, this part time position with a home office enables her to be with her three children while working to make a positive impact in the lives of seniors throughout Greater Cincinnati.

One of our retiring board members is Ruth Anne Van Loon. Ruth Anne has been on the APA board since 2014 and retires from her board position at the end of 2019.  Most recently, Ruth Anne has been the chair of the Scholarship Committee. She has been impressed and gratified to see the commitment of young professionals in training to careers working with older adults. She has also been grateful to be part of this organization that supports students through scholarships.

Originally from Chicago, Ruth Anne moved to Cincinnati more than 25 years ago. She is a professor and Director of the School of Social Work at the University of Cincinnati. 

Thank you for your time and dedication to the APA, Ruth Anne!

A few more tidbits about Ruth Anne:

Q: What do you most enjoy about your job? 

A: I am always gratified when young, aspiring professionals share their enthusiasm for what they are learning, along with their excitement about doing important work.

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you're not working?

A: Knitting socks and staying out of political discussions. (haha!)

Randy Quisenberry is a member of the Association for Professionals in Aging, a board member, and chair of Membership and Sponsorship Committee.

Randy chose a career serving the public.  After spending 10 years with Butler County Government where he worked with many departments and agencies including Job and Family Services, Children Services, Butler Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Randy moved to the Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio (COA). He is the Manager of Procurement and Provider Services.

The COA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing quality of life for older adults, people with disabilities, their families and caregivers. The organization promotes choice, independence, dignity and well-being of seniors through a range of services that help people remain in their homes for as long as possible.

Founded in 1971, the COA is part of the national aging services network and is a state-designated Area Agency on Aging, serving individuals across a multi-county region that includes Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton and Warren counties, with limited programming in Greene and Montgomery counties. One call to COA links people to the wide variety of agencies, information and programs that serve older adults, people with disabilities and their caregivers.

Randy took time to participate in our member Q&A.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your work?

I find it extremely rewarding to contribute to services that have a high impact on vulnerable populations. I monitor Service Providers to ensure senior citizens are getting the highest quality care at the lowest cost to serve as many seniors as possible.

Q: What do you enjoy most about being involved in the APA?

A: My membership provided me with the opportunity to network with people, companies, and agencies that share the same commitment in serving seniors.

Q: What do you like to do when you're not at work?

A: I like to garden, golf, and walk - especially on the bike trail.

Q: If you had one superpower, what would it be?

A: Flight

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

A: Australia

Q: What is your favorite band? A: Steely Dan

Q: What is your favorite local place to go?

A: The Loveland Bike Trail

Q: What is the last book you read?

A: Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance

The APA's newest and youngest board member is Elizabeth Henderson. From the time she was in high school, Elizabeth knew that she wanted to work with seniors. After watching her grandparents go through the aging process, she became passionate about her future field.

Elizabeth is currently a senior at the University of Cincinnati, and is working on her Bachelor's of Social Work degree, as well as her Deaf Studies Certificate. In 2016, Elizabeth began volunteering at Twin Towers, and she now works there as an Activities Specialist.

Q: What do you love most about your job?

A: I love interacting with the residents of Twin Towers, and getting to know them on a personal level.

Q: What do you value most about your membership in the Association for Professionals in Aging?

A: The APA gives me the opportunity to meet new people in different occupations within the aging population.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

A: Hawaii

Q: What do you like to do when you're not at work?

A: I like to go on walks with my dogs, do puzzles, and go to local breweries.

Q: What is your favorite place to eat?

A: My favorite places to eat would be Wings and Rings or Fuago. When I visit my parents in Dayton, Ohio it would have to be Milano’s Pizza.

Sylvia Dwertman entered the senior care industry as a Marketing Liaison for Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services in 2014 after a 30 year career in air travel.

Visiting Angels is the 2nd largest home health care franchise in the United States, providing in home non-medical care for seniors. Their goal is to help seniors stay in their homes and assist them with the day-to-day activities that we take for granted when we are able and healthy.

Sylvia participated in our Member Q&A. Read her answers below:

Q: What do you like most about Visiting Angels?

A: Mike Schroth, owner, has such a passion for caring for seniors and his dedication to providing services makes me proud to work for him.

Q: What do you enjoy most about the work you do?

A: Representing a company that provides such a valuable service. I enjoy the people I meet and the educational programs I teach.

This past year I became a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader, and, I enjoy taking the gift of laughter to seniors. It’s called laughter yoga because it incorporates the deep breathing of yoga with laughter exercises. Laughter exercises are initiated thru childlike playfulness in a group setting resulting in fake, then real laughter.  Laughter Yoga can help increase the oxygen in your blood, lower your blood pressure, feed positive endorphins to your brain, helps with depression and improves your overall well being. The greatest compliment I can be given is “I feel so much better now!”  There are many known benefits to laughing, that it truly is “the best medicine.”   

Q: What do you enjoy most about your APA Membership?

A: Meeting people and getting to know them. There are so many people working for the seniors trying to provide services that are so valuable to their well being.

Q: What do you like to do when you're not at work?

A: I love to travel, so, I am always planning my next trip.  I spend hours researching destinations in order to select my next adventure.  I also enjoy playing Pet Rescue on my iPad.  I have played it on and off for the past few years, and, I am currently on level 2224. I’ve been stuck on this level for the past month, so if anyone has a tip for completing it, call me!

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world where would you go?

A: I have been blessed to travel the world! The one place I still want to travel to is Australia.

Q: What the last book you read?

A: Obstruction of Justice by O’Shannessey.

Q: What is your favorite quote?

A: Work, save, travel, repeat.

Q; What is your favorite local attraction?

The Cincinati Zoo, especially in the spring.

You can learn more about Visiting Angels on their website and connect with Sylvia on LinkedIn.

Betsy founded Queen City Transitions in 2008, a senior move management company specializing in helping elders and their families navigate the numerous challenges they face when confronted with the need to downsize, clear out estates and reclaim hoarded spaces. The organization now has 13 employees. It was the first certified senior move management company in the Greater Cincinnati Area.

Betsy was born and grew up in Cincinnati and went to Walnut Hills High School. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Psychology. She has lived in 8 states: Ohio, California, Michigan, Massachusetts, Virginia, Florida, New Mexico and Kentucky. She moved back to Cincinnati in 2007 and then to Covington, KY in 2010.

Queen City Transitions has been a member of the National Association of Senior Move Managers since 2008 and has reached "Diamond Society" status. They specialize in hoarding clean up & support along with move management and estate dispersal. They are also NASMM At Home certified which helps seniors who wish to "age-in-place."

Betsy took time to participate in our Member Q & A. Check out her answers below:

Q: What do you enjoy most about your work?

A: Queen City Transitions makes a difference in the lives of elders and their families. When a client arrives at their new home after QCT has settled them in, they often say, "I don't know what we would have done without you!" That is such a great feeling! I am very proud of our stellar reputation in the community because the bulk of our referrals are from word-of-mouth referrals.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your APA membership?

A: The APA is a unique organization that combines networking, scholarship, educational and CEU events. I enjoy working with other board members who work with seniors in the Greater Cincinnati area. I think we make a difference!

Q: What do you like to do when you're not at work?

A: I am an avid Cincinnati Reds fan and during the season I go to 50- 60 ballgames. I also love reading, travel, cooking, gardening and especially my family including two granddaughters.

Q: If you could have dinner with one person who would it be?

A: I would love to break bread with Michelle Obama. She is such a fabulous role model and is an inspiration to so many including myself.

Q: If you could have a super power what would it be?

I would love to be able to fly! No more traffic issues for me!

Q: What is your favorite quote, movie, television show, music or band?

A: My favorite quote is "Are you sure?" from my favorite movie My Cousin Vinny.

Q: What are your favorite local places?

A: Great American Ball Park, Krohn Conservatory, Smale Park, and my local three-bridge walk over the Roebling Bridge to the Purple Bridge and the Veteran's Bridge separating Newport from Covington.

Betsy will be the APA President in 2019 and 2020.

You can learn more about Betsy and connect with her on LinkedIn.

Sandra M. Jones Mitchell is a professional advocate for senior citizens. In 1975, Sandra’s first job was preparing hot meals for seniors citizens at Washington Park Elementary School. In 1976-1977, Sandra worked at Cincinnati Veteran’s Administration Hospital assisting the elderly escorting them to their doctors’ appointments within the hospital. In 1986, she worked in an Avondale nursing home as an Activity Coordinator. In 1988 Sandra began her career with Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services, where she continued assisting individuals with developmental disabilities, by helping them stay connected to the community.

In 1993, she co-founded Serving Older Adults through Changing Times (SO-ACT) along with the late Sandra L. Massey. SO-ACT is a 501C-3 non-profit organization created to serve and advocate for older adults for the right to aging in the communities they call home. When SO-ACT was started Avondale had the second largest senior population in Cincinnati. Sandra is a tireless advocate on behalf of our seniors and believes our elders are essential and vital members of our community. On August 26, 2018, SOACT celebrated 26 years of advocating for seniors throughout Hamilton and Butler Counties.

Sandra has also provided and continues to provide consulting services to families, helping them with their aging loved ones. She has helped arranged home care services, transportation and utilities assistance. For several years Sandra has been a part of the American Society on Aging- an organization well connected to aging issues nationally.

Sandra has addressed loneliness and isolation within our aging population and the effects it has on their health. She strongly believes by offering companionship, community activities, building relationships, and encouragement allows the seniors to stay engaged and just might prevent the ongoing spread of these documented major health issues.

The love and passion she has for older adults had a major impact on Sandra attending The College of Mount Saint Joseph to earn a Bachelor Degree in Gerontology in 2003. She will be continuing her education in 2019 towards her Master’s Degree in Gerontology from Miami University. “It is our duty to honor the wisdom of our elders, respect their life experiences and treat them as community gems”.

Sandra joined the Avondale Community Council at age 17, serving as a Trustee for 15 non-consecutive years and currently serves on the Board of Trustees. Sandra has also served on numerous other boards and community volunteer opportunities along with being an active member of the Corinthian Baptist Church since 2000. Sandra has been recognized for numerous awards for her advocacy services throughout the community.

The wife to Robert L. Mitchell, mother to Theodore and grandmother of Nyia and Angel, Sandra will be retiring from Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services in April 2019, after 30 years of services.

Deb Cyprych was the Executive Director for the Hyde Park Center for Older Adults from 1989 to 2018. She led a staff of ten in providing supportive services and engaging activities to enhance the independence and quality of life for older adults in eastern Cincinnati.

Under her leadership, the Center increased revenue; added staff; and expanded its service area from two to seven neighborhoods. While coping with the funding shortages that challenge many senior centers, Hyde Park Center has continued to achieve positive results for thousands of older adults through transportation, meals, case management, and wellness activities.

Deb was active in the APA from 1991 to 2004, when it was still called the Greater Cincinnati Joint Council on Geriatric Care, or GCJCGC. She served on board as Secretary, Co-Chair of Education Committee, and Co-Chair of Advocacy Committee; served on committee for two Tristate White House conferences on aging in 1995 and 2005

In 1993, Deb initiated a six-week genealogy series at the center, and got hooked. The genealogy group is still meeting once a month, and now Deb is starting a new chapter as a full-time professional genealogist.

She lives in an old house in Mount Auburn that needs a lot of work but has a great view. Her daughter and three grandchildren also live in Cincinnati, and she’s looking forward to spending more time with them.

Aimee Steel has worked at Blueridge Vista Health and Wellness since August of 2016, shortly after the hospital opened. She currently serve as the Director of Clinical Services, overseeing all of our social services and therapy staff, programming/therapy services, and discharge planning.

She received her Masters in Social Work with certification in Trauma Informed Care from Northern Kentucky University in May of 2015. She has worked in the field of mental health for over 10 years and have worked specifically in the Geriatric Psychiatry field for two and half years in the acute inpatient setting. She absolutely loves working with people every day in any capacity. She has a passion for mental health, and feels that the geriatric population is a largely underserved subset of the mental health community. Her most favorite part of her role aside from working alongside an amazing team, is being able to identify what drives geriatric patients to success, decreases behaviors and therefore improves their overall quality of life when they leave to go back home.

Blueridge Vista Health and Wellness CEO, Ben Teitelbaum, shared his thoughts on Aimee’s greatest challenge and accomplishment over the last 2 ½ years, “Although Aimee lacked any prior leadership experience, she took on a brand new leadership role 2 1/2 years ago at Blueridge Vista, a brand new freestanding inpatient psychiatric hospital. She has met that challenge head-on, building a reliable, trustworthy, and impactful team of social workers and recreational therapists. In her role as Director of Clinical Services, Aimee has built a top-notch department, become an incredible asset as part of the senior leadership team in the hospital, and been the mainstay for the organization during its formative years. She has significantly improved the lives of hundreds of patients, and blossomed into a true clinical leader along the way.“

Aimee lives in Milan, Indiana with her husband Jeremiah and three children, Brayden, age 9, Ava, age 7, and Madelynn, age 3. As a family they thoroughly enjoy the outdoors and can often be found on the Ohio River fishing.

Born and raised in a small rural community, about 45 minutes east of Cincinnati, Bill DeHass grew up surrounded by corn fields and various livestock farms. His youth, for the most part, was spent exploring fields and wooded areas that went on for miles. His grandmother, who we affectionately called "Mo", lived with his family up until he was 18 years old. After she was diagnosed with Alzheimers Disease she passed rather quickly. Bill learned so much from her in my formative years, but he never forgot the feeling as the disease progressed and she didn't know who he was. She is the reason he took the path he is on now.

Immediately following his graduation from Northern Kentucky University in 2004, he began his social work career working at a small recovery center. At that time he worked with individuals from various age groups. In 2006, he began is career with Clermont Senior Services, Inc. working solely with older adults, and he has never looked back.

Clermont Senior Services is a private, 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to serving older adults. It is a source for information on services for seniors, age 60 and over, who live in Clermont County, Ohio.

For nearly 50 years, Clermont Senior Services has been providing and coordinating in-home and community based services, enabling older adults to live independently for as long as possible. We also serve as an information and referral source for seniors, as well as their families and caregivers.‘Service With Heart’ is the benchmark of our service and our staff exemplify this with their actions each and every day.

Bill says, "In my twelve years at Clermont Senior Services I have crossed paths with hundreds, probably thousands, of older adults and caregivers. Each of them shared their unique stories with me. I have always enjoyed the thought that I made it into their story.

Bill took time to participate in our Member Q & A. Check out his answers to learn more about him below:

Q: What do you enjoy most about being involved in the APA? A: APA is such a fascinating group of professionals, all coming from different organizations and backgrounds within the field of aging. Being involved with APA allows for the sharing of information in an attempt to better the services that are provided to the older adult population. I am also very fond of the Student Scholarship program. As many of us know, the cost of a college degree is on the rise. I love that APA can play a role, albeit small, in helping young professionals, especially those interested in the field of aging.

Q: If you could have dinner with one historical figure (living or not) who would it be and why? A: I don't know if he counts as historical, but I would love to have dinner with Bill Murray. How much fun would that be!?!

Q: If you could have one superpower, what would it be? A: Time travel...because, why wouldn't you want that.

Q: What is your favorite quote, movie, television show, music or band? A: I love all the films of Wes Anderson and I also have a very strong affection for 90s British rock band, Oasis.

Q: What is your favorite local place to go? This could be a restaurant, a park, a museum, any local place you enjoy. A: I would have to pick two favorites. The first is a little Thai restaurant on the East side called Ban Thai. My wife and I have been going there since we were teenagers. As a lover of music, my second favorite place is Everybody's Records in Pleasant Ridge. There is no better therapy than flipping through records.

Bill was the APA President from 2017-2018. He is still an active APA Board Member.

You can learn more about Bill and connect with him on LinkedIn.