Speaker and Certified Life Coach

Navigating Aging in Families

With Dad at my wedding in 1999

It Started With My Dad

After years of social work with teens, runaways, and foster care my career took a left turn when my dad was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia.  We lost him in 2006, and after that  I realized I was drawn towards a different population- seniors. In so many ways, his unfortunate decline into dementia changed my life forever. 

On December 3, 2009- exactly three years to the day after my father died- I passed my final exam and became a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, through Coaches Training Institute (CTI). The world of Coaching had knocked on my door and introduced itself to me one day, and we’ve been together since. It was (and is) a fit. There were two undeniable directions pulling me forward-Seniors and Coaching.

For 15 years, I worked in Senior Living, most recently as The Director of Family Services for The Kensington Assisted Living in White Plains, New York from 2011-2023. The experiences I went through working with several hundred  families and family units can’t be taught in a classroom, and definitely seasoned me for the next chapter.

Now, I support families and individuals in all kinds of situations- not just Assisted Living- through coaching. Adult children worried about parents. Spouses who are caregiving at home. Concerned (and maybe disagreeing) siblings. Nieces and nephews finding their place. Lifelong friends with an aging loved one. I love listening to the stories and learning about everyone involved. I love coaching someone and seeing what happens when they feel supported and empowered. I love exploring options and planning next steps with my clients.

Aging impacts the circle of people around a senior, not just the senior. The ripples go outward. I am here for those people in the ripples. I am here to support the supporters.

Coaching. It’s exactly what I’m supposed to do.

Aging is hard on everyone. But it doesn’t have to be divisive.

Whether it's a stubborn uncle who is refusing to accept help,  a move for your mother with dementia, or how to show up for your mom as she cares for your dad, I can support you. It’s not unusual for people to disagree about what to do next. Or to get overwhelmed with making decisions. That's where coaching comes in.

Bringing family members together

To plan next steps

Finding the language

to have difficult conversations

Exploring options

for all types of caregiving scenarios

Putting together a plan

Coaching calls always end with actionable next steps. Sometimes the steps are small- other times they are large. Coaching clients leave the sessions with a plan that we have talked about together. This can feel so much better than being stuck in indecision or paralyzed by guilt.

You can start with a free half hour sample coaching session to see if we are a fit, or jump right into working together.

Professional Guidance Makes All The Difference

You don’t have to do this alone.  Having someone on the outside to help you clarify next steps will give you a plan. Someone with years of professional experience and Coaching certification.

Out of the Mouths of Clients

  • I have found myself overwhelmed with uncertainty and anxiety at times as I adjust to the role of being the primary caregiver for my aging parents. I have felt very alone at times. Susie, with her warmth and compassion and her years of experience supporting families, has helped me find my footing and feel more confident in supporting my parents in this time of transition. Her insights, empathy, ideas, and practical advice have helped me open new bridges of communication with Mom and Dad. I've been able to problem-solve more effectively with them, and be more attuned to savoring the moments of joy that are part of this chapter of our relationship. I wish everyone in this situation had someone like Susie to guide and support them.

    Catherine

  • As a family member of a person suffering from Alzheimer’s, I had been struggling with ALL the ins and outs of Assisted Living, specifically how to determine the appropriate time for dad’s placement. Heartbreaking for sure, but truly necessary to protect him from any harm that could result from being in his own home. We had a meeting scheduled and I was unsure of what questions to ask, as this was our first experience with an Assisted Living & Memory Care Facility. Susie and I met before the meeting, and she helped me to understand that my concerns were valid. Her assistance in phrasing my questions in a manner that allowed everyone to be on the same page and without any ambiguities was particularly valuable. The meeting ended up being a success!​ Susie coached us on how to appropriately talk with our dad, and also, with our mom (who would be staying at home without her husband for the first time.) Susie validated our feelings of sadness, fear, relief and even anger at how things have turned out. My questions ran the gamut. What is included in his care? What do we supply? Is it normal for dad to think he is visiting the facility as opposed to living here now? Knowing that Alzheimer’s and Dementia are progressive diseases and each person is affected differently, Susie gave examples of what was to come. It helped to have those insights before they became a reality.

    Lisa - Danbury, Ct.

  • When I received a call from the friend of my 89 year old uncle expressing concern over his declining health, my sister and I knew we needed to intervene somehow. Because my uncle is private and independent and has always lived alone, we were not sure how to approach him about changing his living situation. My sister and I sought Susie's advice, and she helped us frame the conversation and approach it in a way that worked beautifully. He accepted our help, was moved by our love and concern, and our relationship with our uncle changed that day. Susie's insight and counsel was just what we needed!

    Lynn and Ashley

  • I met Susie when I was about to move my mom into an Assisted Living facility. Her coaching brought a valuable perspective which gave me the confidence to embrace this new chapter What a blessing!

    Mary - Lynchburg, Va.

  • Susie Sarkisian was recommended to me by a mutual friend at a time when I was navigating my mother’s declining health. As her primary caregiver in my home, Susie's insight and expertise helped me through logistical hurdles as well as the emotional challenges and family dynamics that go along with caring for an aging parent in the home. I truly do not know how I could have made it without her caring support. I highly recommend Susie to others that find themselves trying to cope with caring for an aging parent or loved one.

    Kerri Smith

  • Susie is a wonder. I have met with her once a week for the past year since my wife was admitted to The Kensington suffering from dementia. Not only did she help me to successfully communicate with my wife , she also gave me sound advice as to how to manage my own grief .
    Susie is an" UP " lady with a positive attitude . She constantly helps me remember that I have to try to lead a productive life and not drown in sadness and self pity.


    Susie has become a friend I can lean on when the going gets tough . I am sure that you will develop the same relationship with her as I have.

    Herb Tulchin

  • Compassion, experience and guidance are in Susie’s tool box. I needed a navigator as I was caring for my husband at home. Susie kept me moving forward with tidbits of advice and questions to consider as his disease progressed. I always left our sessions feeling hopeful for the next steps. No two cases of Alzheimer’s disease are alike, and she helped our family through ours. She will see you through the journey.

    SB Charleston, SC

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Simply put, therapy tends to look into the past, and see the impact on your life today. Coaching starts at today, and looks forward. Clients come to coaching because what is happening now feels overwhelming. Coaching helps look into what’s next and helps make a plan.

  • Thanks to Covid, people are comfortable with using platforms like Zoom. And thanks to Zoom, I have been able to coach clients in 3 different time zones, without ever having met in person. As long as everyone can agree on a time, we can meet!

  • Absolutely not. Often times, it’s about accepting help, ANY help. That could be in terms of wearing an emergency pendant, or letting someone come set up pill boxes. I have worked in Assisted Living for years, and it’s a great solution for some families, but not for all.

Contact Me

coaching@susiesarkisian.com

508-802-7437

As your coach-
I am here for you.
Period.