Lauren is a doctoral occupational therapy student from Thomas Jefferson University who will be working with JFS COMPASS as part of her capstone work. At JFS, she will be working as an extension of Jefferson Elder Care, providing COMPASS patients and caregivers with individualized occupational therapy services and leading Memory Cafe alongside one of her cohort members.

Lauren’s passion for helping individuals with dementia and their caregivers has largely been inspired by her family’s recent experience helping her grandmother. As she has seen their struggle firsthand, she understands the challenges associated with caring for a person with dementia. Lauren’s aim at COMPASS to support the growth of caregiver skills that are essential to the caregiving role and maximize their ability to connect with their loved one. She believes that her previous work experience will serve her well in this role, and she is excited to apply that knowledge through the lens of occupational therapy.

Lauren has held a lifelong passion for serving others, due in large part to her parents, who showed Lauren and her brother the wonders of volunteering with Special Olympics Delaware. She loves helping others pursue their goals, celebrate the wins, and learn from the losses. She leans on her ability to connect with others, and she is excited to meet you all. In her spare time, you can find Lauren exercising, hanging with her cat, baking seasonal bundt cakes, and visiting with family as much as possible.