A Holistic Approach to Aging
Dedicated to helping seniors, their families and the community.
Woman Owned co-op of caring, educated a compassionate women with years of experience helping better lives of those they touch
MEET OUR TEam
Marla Benton, Founder. Senior Living and Placement Specialist, Advocate, Care Manager 919-923-6015.
With over 25 years of nursing experience, Marla is recognized as one of the first placement specialists in the region, helping to pioneer the field and set the standard for those who followed. She specializes in Family Care Homes, Independent and Assisted Living Communities, Memory Care, and Skilled Nursing Communities. In addition, she is an experienced care manager and patient advocate with a deep commitment to supporting the aging population and their families.
Marla elevates placement services through a uniquely personal and clinical approach, combining her expertise as both a nurse and a placement specialist. She is dedicated to identifying the most appropriate care settings for each individual and works diligently to secure the best possible outcomes, including negotiating favorable rates on behalf of families. As a care manager and advocate, she also assists families in navigating the complexities of hospitalizations, rehabilitation stays, and a wide range of aging-related healthcare needs.
Marla believes that every individual deserves to be treated with dignity, respect, and compassion throughout their life. She is passionate about ensuring that seniors receive the care and support they need while helping families feel informed, supported, and empowered during challenging transitions. She looks forward to standing alongside you and guiding your family through what can often be a complex and emotional journey.
Placement services are provided at no cost to families.
Sheffield Kropp, In-Home-Care Services, Advocate, Support Coordinator 984-464-0966.
Sheffield brings over 20 years of experience in healthcare across a variety of settings, supporting families both privately and through Health and Human Services in roles as a consultant and advocate. She also specializes in assisting seniors living with chronic illnesses, serving as an advocate, case and care manager, and in-home care specialist.
Her organization is a locally founded and operated home care registry, and she takes great pride in being deeply rooted in the communities she serves. Sheffield is committed to referring only the most qualified and experienced caregivers—individuals who undergo thorough background checks, provide excellent references, and demonstrate a genuine passion for compassionate, reliable care.
By offering competitive compensation, she attracts and retains high-quality caregivers, fostering strong, long-term caregiver-client relationships that promote trust, consistency, and continuity of care. Sheffield understands that selecting a home care provider can feel overwhelming, and her dedicated team is committed to guiding families through every step of the process to ensure the best possible match for their loved one’s unique needs.
Nancy Stolfo-Corti, Advisor & End-of-Life Services and Support 919-410-3149.
Nancy brings more than 30 years of experience in care and hospice to her work as an elder advisor and end-of-life guide. She has spent her adult life helping medically fragile populations live the best day possible—every day.
An evangelist for aging in grace, Nancy has dedicated her career to educating older adults and families on the resources needed to preserve dignity, independence, and comfort. As a certified death doula and funeral hospitality advisor, she supports individuals and families through life’s most tender transitions, offering services such as:
- Life enrichment for chronic diagnosis- Guidance and support for all family members after chronic diagnosis for life sustaining goals.
- End-of-Life Planning & Last Wishes – Gentle, personalized guidance to ensure closure, legacy, and peace of mind.
- Eulogy Writing & Delivery – Crafting and presenting heartfelt tributes that honor each unique life.
- Funeral & Hospitality Services – Thoughtful coordination of ceremonies and gatherings with grace and dignity.
- Travel Logistics – Ensuring safe, compassionate arrangements for those with physical limitations or final journeys.
- Companionship & Transition Care – Providing emotional, spiritual, and practical presence at the bedside and beyond.
Nancy’s mission is to serve families with compassion, wisdom, and creativity—helping to honor life while bringing peace and meaning to its closing chapters.
Allison O’Shea, Aging Strategist, and founder of Openly Aging 919-323-7539.
Allison O’Shea is a bestselling author, a nationally recognized speaker, Aging Strategist, and founder of Openly Aging.
With more than 20 years of executive leadership in senior living, Allison has guided thousands of individuals and families through the complexities of aging. Her experience revealed a powerful truth: before services are hired or moves are made, families need clarity.
Allison works with independent adults who want thoughtful direction about their future, as well as families navigating change who need a steady, unbiased strategy before taking their next step. She believes aging is not something to fix — but something to approach with intention.
Through her proprietary Four Pillars framework — Support System, Living Environment, Supportive Services, and Social Connection — Allison helps clients evaluate where they are, understand what is truly needed, and align decisions with long-term independence.
Rather than reacting to crisis, she equips families to think ahead with confidence.
As the bestselling author of Openly Aging - The 4 Pillars to Keep Control of Your Aging Journey, Allison is changing the way we look at aging — shifting the narrative from fear and urgency to clarity and empowerment.
Her mission is simple: help people protect their independence by leading with strategy before service.
Marlene Slieter, Medicare Specialist, REALTOR, Seniors Real Estate Specialist, Downsizing Consultant. 919-417-6663
Marlene brings more than 20 years of experience serving and supporting seniors. She began her career in the early 2000s by launching a professional organizing service, which quickly evolved into helping seniors downsize, prepare for moves, and navigate a variety of life transitions with hands-on support.
In 2014, Marlene earned her insurance license and began specializing in Medicare planning. Her natural talent for organizing soon led to new opportunities — partnering with a client to flip homes, which inspired her to obtain her REALTOR® license in 2017. Committed to deepening her expertise in serving the aging population, she also earned the Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation.
Today, Marlene is the owner of Slieter Solutions, an independent insurance agency, and a real estate professional with the Hillsborough Real Estate Group. While she assists clients of all ages with buying and selling homes, she is especially passionate about guiding seniors through the downsizing process — providing steady support and consultation during what can often be an emotional transition. Helping others isn’t just her profession; it’s her nature.
Bela Gary, Reiki Master 301-412-5915.
Bela is a certified Reiki Master and she is also certified in Soul Link™, a gentle healing method used to help reduce anxiety and support emotional well-being — especially for people experiencing cognitive changes or dementia related challenges. She works with older adults and those navigating the transitions of aging with greater comfort, calm, and dignity.
Her approach is compassionate, respectful, and grounded in training that honors both tradition and safety. Reiki — a hands-on energy method that promotes relaxation and stress relief — is increasingly being included in health and wellness education programs at respected institutions such as Duke, reflecting growing interest in holistic care techniques as part of broader well-being practices.
Bela is also a published author, a creative writing coach and has a law degree. She has published three books with a fourth on the way in 2026.
Valerie J. Jurik - CAPS, Licensed RE Broker, Ageless Living Agent 919-599-6940.
Valerie is a distinguished Entrepreneur, CEO, Educator, Author, and highly sought-after Speaker on Aging in Place. With over 30 years of expertise in housing, healthcare, and senior living innovation, she is recognized as a trusted authority for families seeking the very best in guidance, care, and home solutions.
Valerie’s career spans ownership of a successful medical equipment and respiratory company to leading-edge consulting on ageless living design. She offers an unparalleled ability to curate spaces that allow individuals to remain at home with confidence, comfort, and elegance—whether through renovations, customized accessibility features, or refined design that blends safety with style.
When life transitions call for a move, Valerie’s credentials as a North Carolina Licensed Real Estate Broker provide her clients with a seamless, end-to-end experience. From discreetly managing the sale of a home to orchestrating senior move specialists, packing, relocation, and flawless setup, she ensures every step is handled with precision and care.
For Valerie, aging well is not a challenge to be solved, but a life chapter to be designed with dignity, ease, and beauty.
Sophia Pelton, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Personalized Exercise Programs 919-514-3302.
Sophia has a deep focus on orthopedic rehabilitation, manual therapy, and the power of hands-on healing. Drawing from over 20 years of clinical experience, she specializes in helping people recover from injuries or helping to prevent them, giving them a better quality of life.
She also specializes in helping individuals recover from injury, reduce pain, and return to the activities they love - with strength, precision, and renewed trust in their bodies. Sophia is known for her skillful use of dry needling, joint mobilization, and soft tissue work. She also works with Breast Cancer patients in all stages of their journey, inspiring wellness through evidence-based movement and present-moment awareness.
Sophia approaches each client with both clinical insight and intuitive presence. She believes that true healing goes beyond protocols - it’s personal, rooted in connection, and driven by a deep understanding of the body’s capacity to repair.
Colleen Calleson, Founder of The Energetic Sweep, a professional organizing company. 336-425-6230.
Colleen Calleson is the founder of The Energetic Sweep, a professional organizing company focused on helping the aging population and thier families reclaim energy, agency, and clarity through intentional systems and environments. She approaches organizing as a holistic practice. Colleen applies her background in healthcare operations and ministry to ease the transitions of moving, selling homes, or aging in place safely.
- Systems-Based Decluttering: Uses project management skills to sort household items, categorizing them into keep, donate, or sell piles to significantly reduce overwhelm for busy parents.
- Staging and Flow: Reconfigures furniture and belongings to highlight a home’s square footage and natural light, optimizing the property to sell quickly in the Triangle real estate market.
- Transition Management: Implements customized unpacking systems in the new home, establishing playrooms, kitchens, and offices so families can immediately reclaim their agency and routine.
- Emotionally Sensitive Downsizing: Uses her background in ministry and emotional intelligence to navigate the sensitive process of sorting through lifelong possessions, helping seniors let go of excess without losing their personal histories.
- Real Estate Preparation: Coordinates with local movers and estate sale specialists so the physical burden of clearing a long-time family home is completely lifted from the senior and their adult children.
Angela Lyght, Certified Chair One Fitness Instructor. 919-225-0325
Angela Lyght is a Certified Chair One Fitness Instructor, facilitator, trainer, and community wellness advocate with a passion for helping individuals of all ages and abilities discover the joy of movement. Following a successful career in human resources, employee engagement, leadership development, and training, Angela has dedicated her retirement to promoting health, wellness, and connection throughout her community.
Through Chair One Fitness, Angela creates fun, welcoming, and inclusive fitness experiences that make movement accessible to everyone, regardless of age, fitness level, or physical limitations. Her classes combine music, movement, and motivation to improve strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, and overall well-being—all from the safety and support of a chair.Known for her positive energy and engaging teaching style, Angela incorporates a variety of music genres and movement levels to ensure participants feel comfortable, successful, and empowered. Her philosophy is simple: movement should be enjoyable, judgment-free, and accessible to all.
Angela currently teaches Chair One Fitness classes in community settings, libraries, senior programs, churches, wellness events, and conferences throughout North Carolina. She is passionate about helping older adults stay active, maintain independence, build confidence, and foster meaningful social connections through movement. She is available for group or private sessions.
Sherrill Jacobson, Pet Concierge Specialist. 919-601-0233.
Sherrill Jacobson is the owner of Paws Pet Concierge, Inc. and the Director of Dog Warriors Rescue, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. With 15 years of professional pet industry experience - including 13 years operating a doggie daycare and boarding and grooming facility.
Sherrill brings unmatched expertise to Triangle area pet owners. Today she leads a team of four at Paws Pet Concierge, offering insured, reference-backed home visits l, pet taxi services
and overnights. Service areas include Cary, Raleigh, Holly Springs, Apex, Fuquay Varina, Willow Spring and Angier.
Sherrill is dedicated to serving the aging community so that they are able to keep their beloved companions with them as long as possible. She is an advocate and seamlessly combines top-tier pet care and services with a profound commitment to canine rescue.