YES! Team

Deborah Hanna is one of the founding members of YES! She is armed with passion to support and advocate for families affected by young-onset dementia.

The development of programs for education and support for families of YES! is her heartbeat. Deborah has a BS in Psychology and an MA in Therapeutic Education. Later, she completed her Specialist in Aging post graduate degree. Deborah completed Clinical Spiritual Support Training and Hospice certification in both direct patient care and bereavement training. A transition in career from early childhood to gerontology was triggered when her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

Deborah has been a facilitator for the young-onset memory loss support group for many years at the MD Alzheimer’s Association, and then went on to co-found YES! and establish a resource partnership with the MD Alzheimer’s Association. She co-founded Pretty Awesome Ladies (PALS), a social group for YOD care partners, and has been a panelist speaker at various Maryland Alzheimer’s conferences. She also has an established partnership with Lorenzo’s House, an organization that also serves young-onset families exclusively.

Deborah retired as the Director of National Patient Advocacy at Clinical Site Services (CSSi), and supported enrollment for clinical trials, including Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases research. In her spare time, Deborah enjoys relaxing at the beach, hiking, and spending time with her grandchildren, ages 8, 7, 6, 4, 4, and 3!! Three boys, and three girls. They feed her soul.

Karin Abma is a professional with experience in higher education and the nonprofit world. She is an independent contractor and consultant who has a wealth of experience in grant writing and management, online communication, program development, and supervision. With a former employer, Campus Compact Mid-Atlantic (CCMA), she managed an AmeriCorps VISTA federal national service grant worth approximately $1.5M. This grant allows 35 member campuses to recruit an AmeriCorps VISTA member to complete an anti-poverty project like a campus food pantry or a tutoring and mentoring after-school program. Her experience working with CCMA has given her insight into a small nonprofit doing many different things with a limited budget. Working with nonprofit social media presence, online newsletter, and website, Karin knows how important it is to communicate the idea and mission behind the organization through real people and real stories. After her father-in-law was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s in 2014, she experienced a steep learning curve in the needs and care required for both those with YOD and caregivers. She is excited to use her expertise to help grow YES! as an organization and to convey the YES! stories that are so impactful, whether for advocacy, fundraising, or in support of caregivers. She enjoys hiking, listening to a good investigative podcast, and playing roller derby. She lives in Frederick, MD with her family.

Throughout her life, Audra McShane’s mother was her rock. She taught Audra how to be a strong, independent woman. Three years ago, Audra’s life completely changed when her mom was diagnosed with moderate stage Early Onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 56. At that time, Audra was living her dream as a Golf Professional in Florida. Once the diagnosis was determined, she had to make a decision: stay in Florida or move home and help with her mom. She chose to move home. It was the right decision. Her step-father is her mom’s primary caregiver, but Audra spends two days a week relieving him and spending time with her mom. Audra first learned about YES! through a Facebook group and couldn’t believe that this group was in the region. She felt so alone and isolated and like no one truly understood the pain of watching a parent deteriorate. YES! was exactly what she needed. She was able to make personal connections right away and was eager to help provide the resources and support to others that she received. Erin and Audra have been working to grow the Social Media platform for YES! with the mission to reach those that might be feeling the same thing Audra felt. “If we can help just one person feel less alone, we have served our purpose,” Audra says.

Nelly Hutchinson is a certified clinical social worker who earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Penn State University and her Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work at Columbia University. Nelly founded her own private practice in 2023, Healing Awaits LLC, where she serves children, adolescents, and adults who are coping with past, recent, and ongoing traumas. Nelly also provides supervision, consultation, and training around treating trauma. Throughout Nelly’s life, her mother was her best friend. They did everything by each other’s sides until things began to change in 2016. After Nelly noticed changes with her mother that others hadn’t seen yet, she pushed for further testing and her mother was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease in September of 2019. Nelly struggled with this diagnosis, as it was the first time in her life, she really had to sit with the idea of losing her best friend and lifeline. Nelly’s sister-in-law watched as Nelly navigated this diagnosis and found a support group for Nelly known as Young onset dementia Education and Support (YES). Nelly joined the group in October 2020 and her life changed for the better as she finally received support around this life changing diagnosis. Nelly realized that she wanted to use her skills and background required to be a therapist to assist others navigating this diagnosis as well. Therefore, she began facilitating the youth group, a group designed to support the high school children of those who are diagnosed. Nelly is excited to provide support to this community who is very deserving and in need.

Michelle graduated from the University of Virginia with a BA in Psychology and spent the first part of her career working within Johns Hopkins Outpatient NeuroRehabilitation Program as a psychometrician, where she administered paper- and computer-based tests to determine how clients’ brains were functioning. During lengthy interactions with these clients, they often shared stories of their day-to-day challenges. Inspired by their resilience, she began co-facilitating a support group for people with early stage, young onset dementia and their caregivers and has cherished the opportunity to learn from members for the past ten years. After witnessing the loss of her own grandparents to young onset Alzheimer’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis, she felt compelled to enter the field of occupational therapy, in which she planned to help clients with physical and mental health issues to regain functional independence and to maximize quality of life. In 2016 she graduated from Towson University with an MS in occupational therapy and has gained experience working in a variety of healthcare settings. She has recently established her mobile practice, MY Vitality Therapy, delivering Skills2Care®, a Medicare-covered program that supports caregivers of people living with dementia in their homes. Michelle enjoys spending her free time in the gym, reading a good book, cooking with her husband, or exploring the outdoors with her dog Cisco.

Shannon L. Hammond, Esq., is a founding member and current President of YES!, Inc., and contributes extensive professional and personal experience with young onset dementia to our mission.

Shannon has dedicated her legal career exclusively to the practice of Medicaid and estate planning. She is deeply committed to assisting clients in greatest need and zealously advocates for those with diminished capacity. She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), the Coalition of Geriatric Services (COGS), the Senior Provider Information Network (SPIN), and the Elder Law and Estates and Trusts Sections of the Maryland State Bar Association. She was named a Maryland Super Lawyers Rising Star in the field of Elder Law in 2013-2015, 2019, and 2020, as published by Baltimore Magazine.

Shannon is a frequent lecturer on legal issues involving Medicaid, estate planning, and probate. She has taught “Strategic Planning for Aging and Asset Protection,” at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland Renaissance Institute and “Legal Issues and the Elderly,” at the Johns Hopkins University Odyssey Program.

She presently serves as a Member of the Peer Review Committee, appointed by the Attorney Grievance Commission; a Member of the Carroll County Adult Public Guardianship Review Board; a Member of the Board of Directors for the Glen Meadows Foundation. Shannon previously served on the Board of Directors for the Maryland non-profit organization By Their Side, which advocates for developmentally disabled Marylanders and their families.

Personally, Shannon is the primary caregiver for her mother who was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia at age 61 and who moved in with Shannon, her husband, and her two young children in 2017.

Linda Baumler, EA, MBA, is the Treasurer of YES!, but more importantly, the widow of Robert, who died from complications of Lewy Body Dementia in 2018 when he was 63 years old. Linda met Deb Hanna two months before Robert’s death and was invited to join a PALS (Pretty Awesome Ladies) support group for a much needed chance to meet others in a similar situation. Once involved with PALS she enjoyed connecting monthly for an evening of relaxation and break away from the stress of caregiving.

Linda began her accounting/tax practice in order to be home with her children after working as a financial planning analyst. This decision ultimately allowed Linda to be able to care for Robert during the twenty years he suffered from neurological disease. Initially diagnosed with cerebellar ataxia in his early forties, Robert suffered from REM sleep disorder, anger and personality changes, and gradual memory and executive function issues that were ascribed to his ataxia disorder. It was not until hallucinations and psychosis began 15 years later, that they finally learned he had Lewy body dementia. The emotional and financial effects of the illness, coupled with a lack of diagnosis, created a tremendous strain on their young children and both Linda and Robert.

Linda recently semi-retired to Florida to obtain physical and psychological healing from the stress of twenty years of living with early onset dementia. She is committed to helping others deal with this dreadful disease and to educate and inform families, as well as the medical community, of the early signs of the illness and of strategies that work best with those who suffer from dementia.

Evie Vander Meer is a founding member and secretary of YES! Inc. She is an advocate for legislation that advances young onset dementia training, education, and support for families. She is a member of the Maryland Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Council that is responsible for Maryland’s dementia strategic plan.

Evie’s drive for Alzheimer’s disease support and research funding began when her beloved husband, Mark was diagnosed with the disease at age 61. A highly regarded pastoral minister, Mark became depressed in his late 50s as his executive functioning skills steadily declined. He resigned his position in 2014, unable to perform his responsibilities, and died in December 2018. He was 65 years old.

The local Frederick Magazine in Maryland captured the heartbreaking but inspiring story of their journey through young onset dementia.

Evie equipped herself for her role as a dementia caregiving wife by immersing herself in educational and support forums of Alzheimer’s disease. She and Mark tapped into the local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and began saying, “Yes!”

Yes, we will be members of a panel. Yes, we will fundraise and walk to end Alzheimer’s. Yes, we will share our story with legislators. Yes, we will participate in a clinical trial. Yes, we will interview with news media. Yes, we will persist in our social life and be open with our journey. Yes, we will seek God and ask others to take the spiritual walk of faith and prayer with us.

Now Evie is shifting her energy and passion to the support and education of others who enter into this unwelcomed space. Evie lives out of an attitude of faith and promise that life and love rises out of the ashes of disease and anticipatory grief as we receive hope and support through our fellow journeyers.

Dawn O’Meally, MSW, LCSW-C is a mental health professional that has been practicing as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker since 1988. Dawn had worked in a variety of outpatient settings, including Sheppard Pratt Hospital, until deciding to go into private practice in 2004. While at Sheppard Pratt, Dawn ran a multidisciplinary Geriatric Services Team which provided in-home psychiatric care to at risk older adults. In recent years, Dawn collaborated with Copper Ridge psychiatrists and received many referrals of patients with early Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. Approximately 6 years ago, Dawn experienced the personal family tragedy of witnessing own her mother-in -law’s demise from Alzheimer’s Disease. Dawn’s professional and personal experiences with Alzheimer’s disease gave birth to her and her husband, Edmund J. O’Meally, hosting The Forget Me Not Gala fundraiser to benefit The Alzheimer’s Association of Central Maryland. This gala was held on May 19, 2019 at Antrim 1844 in Taneytown, MD, and raised $35,000. Those funds were all donated for Alzheimer’s Disease Research. In January 2020, Dawn was asked to join in the groundbreaking development of YES!, and serves as a member of the Board and on the Program Development Committee. Dawn is wholeheartedly committed to the YES! mission in creating much needed resources and programs to help afflicted individuals, their families, and the medical community deal with early onset dementias.

Kathryn received a master’s degree in Education from Towson University with a concentration in Human Growth and Development. She brings three decades of teaching and fifteen years of providing in-home care for elders in the Baltimore community to her role as the Executive Director of Absolute Companion Care. Her personal experience with dementia and her commitment to dementia research with Johns Hopkins and Northwestern Hospitals has given her a level of education in the field which has been instrumental to the care and support of her clients. Kathryn has built an ongoing relationship with the community and directly with her clients which serves her well in her efforts to assist her clients in their quest to age in place.

As an educator, Kathryn has been able to bring many learning opportunities to seniors and care providers in the Baltimore area. Specifically, awareness of aging care choices, holistic dementia perspectives, and availability of community resources, all of which support families in their quest to provide the best care possible to their loved ones. Kathryn also develops ongoing interactive educational sessions that provide caregivers with the tools they need to care for their clients with integrity, compassion, and the dignity they deserve.

Julie Cassaday is the founder of her company, Tanglewood and is trained as a Speaker, Life Coach, and Reiki Master. After more than 30 years working in Sales, Julie left the corporate world in 2017 to focus on caregiving for her parents and serving others through Tanglewood. Last year, Julie published her first book “Dear Sweet Mama: Caregiving for a loved one during the Covid 19 Pandemic,” which tells the story of her Caregiving journey with her mother who was living with dementia as Covid clamped down on our way of living.

Julie is happiest when she is living her purpose in service to others through education and training or providing relief and relaxation through energy healing with Reiki. The loves of her life are her husband Jerry and their shared children, Denny, Megan and Isabella and pets Elphaba and Turk.

Jill Rosner is a Registered Nurse with over 37 years of health care experience. Jill is board certified by the Commission for Case Management and a member of the Aging Life Care Association. She founded Rosner Healthcare Navigation in 2005. She has worked with clients and their families with a variety of health and aging issues and specializes in dementia care. Jill is a speaker for many organizations and the Alzheimer’s Association.

She is dedicated to improving the quality of life of those affected by dementia as well as their families struggling through this difficult disease. Jill works in earnest for her dementia clients and their families. Her deep understanding of healthcare enables her to work with patients, families, and medical professionals to explain complex issues and find the right solutions. With the added complexities of young onset dementia, Jill’s deep understanding of the current medical environment makes her services in high demand. Anyone who has had Jill as a guide on their journey have valued her fierce pursuit of ensuring the best plan for each person’s unique circumstances.

In her rare spare time, Jill enjoys her grandchildren, cooking, and reading.