Our Team

The Inspire Care of Central New York team consists of compassionate licensed and certified professionals that include nurses, social workers, and allied staff called Care Manager Assistants. We all specialize in serving seniors and the disabled to address their needs to age in place.

We bring expertise to our clients and their families in dementia, medical or functional impairment, complex medical conditions, benefits and entitlements, abuse/neglect, housing, and home care assistance.

A team approach is fostered for each client, allowing us to match individual needs to the best qualified Inspire Care of Central New York team member as well as offering the advice and direction of multiple professionals.

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Our Founder

Rebecca Auyer PT, CMC, CDP, Aging Life Care Professional

Becky is a Licensed Physical Therapist and an Advanced Professional member with the Aging Life Care Association (ALCA). She holds a Care Manager Certification (CMC) through the National Academy of Certified Care Managers and is a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP). With over 40 years of Home Care and Geriatric specialization, she is knowledgeable of the challenges facing the aging population and passionate about assisting them to “Age Well”.

Her personal care management journey involved the care and medical advocacy for her mother who handled 25 years of Parkinson’s Disease with grace and determination. She was the inspiration for Inspire Care of Central New York.

Becky has developed close affiliations with numerous home health agencies, businesses, vendors and service providers and makes sure that she recommends the very best for her clients. She believes that you become “Family” when you enlist the compassionate services provided by the Inspire Care of Central New York Team.

Becky has made a number of community and professional presentations on care management, importance of caregiving, fall prevention, and Parkinson’s Disease care at home. She was a 2019 Excellence in Healthcare Awareness honoree in the category of “Impact Player” among Central New York healthcare professionals. Becky is currently the Syracuse Unit Co-Leader for the Aging Life Care Association New York Chapter, and serves on the Professional Advisory Committee for Hospice of Central New York and the Finger Lakes.

Becky graduated with honors from Ithaca College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy. She is married and has four children and nine grandchildren.

 

 

 

 

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Our Staff

Sharon Caruana, LPN

Sharon is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) with over 40 years of experience. She joined the Inspire Care of Central New York team in 2018. Sharon started her career in the health care field as a Home Health Aide, gradually moving into tele-monitoring as her love for older individuals and their families grew. Since being with Inspire Care of Central New York, she has provided loving and compassionate personal care, medication management and medical advocacy for clients. Her calm and experienced presence is viewed by those she serves as an extension of her faith in God, always going the extra mile to make sure her families and clients are well supported.

Sharon earned her LPN degree from the Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) while working full time, caring for her aging parents and supporting her daughter who has battled multiple sclerosis (MS) for many years. She is the mother of four grown children, grandmother of four, and great-grandmother to five.

 

Deborah Jacques, PT, DPT, CMC, Aging Life Care Clinical Coordinator 

Deborah is responsible for care management compliance, assisting team members in appropriate client care services, staff training, and providing care management and physical therapy duties. She is a Licensed Physical Therapist with experience in Home Care, Sub-Acute Care, and Orthopedic and Neurological Rehabilitation. She holds a Care Manager Certification (CMC) through the National Academy of Certified Care Managers and is an Advanced Professional member with the Aging Life Care Association (ALCA). Deborah has been on the Inspire Care of Central New York team since 2021. She is certified in Selective Functional Movement Assessment and Associative Awareness Technique. Deborah continues to expand her skills and knowledge with ongoing education to help her clients meet their goals. She loves getting to know her clients, their unique strengths, abilities and goals in order to tailor their personal exercise program. Deborah is passionate about helping people live and move their best so they can maintain their independence.

Deborah graduated from Upstate Medical University with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2012.

   

 

Deborah Lynch, RN, BSN, Aging Life Care Manager 

Deb is a Registered Professional Nurse with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. After retiring from Nascentia Health in Syracuse (formerly the Visiting Nurses Association of Central New York) after 35 years of a rewarding career in Home Care, she joined Inspire Care of Central New York in 2018. Deb’s focus has always been to assist and support seniors and their families in managing medical conditions safely in their home. She now enjoys using her extensive home care experience with the Inspire Care of Central New York team while maintaining a focus of helping those she serves to “age in place” with dignity.

 

Cheryl Metz, CMA Coordinator

Cheryl is our CMA (Care Manager Assistant) Coordinator, responsible for day-to-day contact with CMA’s, scheduling and assists in matching CMA’s with clients. She also assists with administrative duties. Cheryl joined Inspire Care of Central New York in 2017 as an Administrative Assistant providing client/customer service duties and office related tasks. In 2019 She was promoted to CMA, assisting clients in their homes with non-medical tasks, transportation, and other companion services. Cheryl has training in caring for clients with Parkinson’s Disease and dementia.

Cheryl has the passion and dedication to help each of her clients achieve their care management goals. Her desire for caring for others began with taking care of her mother with dementia and other medical conditions.

Cheryl has an Associate degree in Paralegal Studies. She is the mother of four beautiful children and grandmother of one. Cheryl has lived in the Central New York area for over 25 years.

 

Joni Mitchell, OTR, Aging Life Care Manager

Joni is a Licensed Occupational Therapist with over 30 years combined experience in the fields of OT, vision rehabilitation, and general health and nutrition. She has worked as an OT in a number of health care facilities and hospitals, in addition to low vision care and neuro-optometric vision rehabilitation. Joni has had personal life experiences with chronic illness and Alzheimer’s disease in her family. Joni joined the Inspire Care of Central New York team in 2020 with a renewed focus on home heath care. She has a love for helping those underserved and those who have no local family support system. She desires to educate and encourage the caregivers of our clients. Her faith in God and love for Him guides her in providing the best care for her clients.

Joni received her Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Michigan University and came to Syracuse for an internship at Upstate University Hospital. In her spare time she very much enjoys spending time with her husband, adult children, family dog, and doing absolutely anything outdoors!

 

Maribeth Morgan, LMSW, Aging Life Care Manager

Maribeth is a Licensed Master Social Worker and holds a certification in gerontology. She has over 25 years experience working in a multitude of health care facilities, hospitals, and other care management companies prior to joining Inspire Care of Central New York in 2019.

Maribeth graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Family and Community Services, and a Master of Social Work.

 

Kristin Reith

Kristin serves as an Administrative Assistant. Her many duties include client/customer service, office related tasks, data information, client record inputting, billing, and assisting our Aging Life Care Managers and therapists. She has many years of administrative/clerical experience working in the medical field prior to joining the Inspire Care of Central New York team in 2021.

Kristin has an Associate degree in Medical Office Assistance Curriculum from Alfred State College, and brings a plethora of experience coupled with a desire to help our staff and clients with what can be challenging from a clerical standpoint. Her pleasant voice often brings a comforting calmness when communicating with others.

Kristin’s hobbies include gardening and paper crafting (personalized greeting cards for many occasions). She and her husband have lived in Central New York for their entire lives.

 

Gwen Sorber, BSN, MSN, Aging Life Care Manager

Gwen is a Registered Professional Nurse and an advanced practice nurse with over 40 years of experience in health care, ranging from acute care to home care to nursing education and now in care management. She has been privileged to work in multiple settings allowing her to develop an extensive network within the medical community in Syracuse.  Gwen has been with Inspire Care of Central New York since 2020.

She holds a BSN from Bloomsburg State University and a MSN/ANP from Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. Gwen is active in her faith community and serves on the Board of Education at a local private school. She enjoys working in a problem solving capacity, especially with seniors, to impact quality of life.

 

 

 

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