SHANNON HAMMOND

President

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

Treasurer

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

Secretary and Co-Facilitator, Women’s Group (PALS)

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

Co-Facilitator, Men’s Support Group 

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 ROGERS

Co-Facilitator, Adult Children Support Group

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

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

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.