About Us

If your family needs help exploring senior care options, our expert Advisors are a wonderful source of information with a wealth of experience. Your local Senior Care Authority office, serving New York City and Southwest Florida, is here to help. Should you need assistance outside of this area, we have franchises located throughout the United States and Canada and would be happy to direct you to services in your area.

Cynthia Perthuis, CSA, CDP, CADDCT Owner, Southwest Florida

Cynthia Perthuis, CDP, CADDCT, CSA is the owner of Senior Care Authority of New York and Southwest Florida. SCANYFL has helped close to 10,000 families with their care needs through placement services, eldercare consulting and advocacy.

Cynthia worked with her parents for seven years to find the right care, both in-home and assisted living. The stress of helping aging loved ones, working full-time, and caring for her own family while living over 1500 miles apart instilled in her the desire to support others going through similar experiences.

Cynthia serves on the board of NAMI and is active in community organizations including New York Junior League, Naples League Club and Alzheimer's Association.

Cynthia splits her time between New York and Southwest Florida and supports families across the US. Cynthia can be contacted directly at 212-913-9963(NY) or 239-330-2133(FL), and via email cynthia@seniorcareauthority.com

Contact Cynthia

Melissa Weigle Southwest Florida

Melissa Weigle has been supporting seniors and their families for over 25 years across all levels of care including skilled nursing, assisted living, memory care, independent living, hospice, in-home care and active community-based programs. As a recent empty nester, Melissa is excited to relocate to Southwest Florida and continue her passion for making a difference in the lives of senior citizens with an empathetic ear and compassionate approach.

Melissa has a BA in Social Work with a Gerontology concentration from Towson University in Maryland. When not spending time with her husband and 2 children, both currently attending the University of Florida, Melissa enjoys the beach, pickleball, kayaking and spoiling her miniature poodle, Maisy.

Melissa lives and works in Southwest Florida, and supports families across the US. Melissa can be contacted directly at mweigle@seniorcareauthority.com.

ANNE ELWELL, RN, MPH Southwest Florida

Anne Elwell, RN, MPH, CDP has over 28 years of experience in healthcare quality improvement for elderly patients. As a Registered Nurse, Anne has an expert understanding of the clinical, emotional and social issues surrounding aging and eldercare.

Anne lives and works in SW Florida and supports families across the US. Anne can be contacted directly at 239-330-2133, or anne@seniorcareauthority.com

Kim Becker SouthWest Florida

Kim Becker followed the path of healthcare after being a voice and advocate for her father. She maintains her license as a certified nursing assistant and Florida Guardian certification. For over the past 10 years she collaborated with a Registered Guardian as a case manager, was privileged to work for HOPE Hospice, as a transition care coordinator, represented the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation across Florida and as well as nine other states and now continues as an advisor with Senior Care Authority.

Kim learned firsthand about the aging process as well as end-of-life solutions and care. Her role as outreach manager gained her expertise in behavioral healthcare as well as supporting those suffering from chemical dependency. Her strong referral sources with medical providers offer her clients and their families trusted resources for their care and placement.

Kim’s first 18 years in SWFL, she spent developing her experiential marketing, public relations, and advertising firm. Those business relationships she built are now resources for her clients. Kim coordinated and planned key branding events. Her success then and today is her, attention to detail and solutions-based approach. Currently she is following her personal mission by joining Senior Care Authority as an advisor to navigate this labyrinth of healthcare. Kim listens, beyond just words, sensing the needs of those families and loved ones and aligning then to provide a care plan or placement plan. The quality and safety of one’s life, no matter what age or stage they are in, is foremost with Kim.

Kim resides in Naples, FL. She enjoys her home, gardening, entertaining, cooking, baking, music and sharing good conversations. Her adventuresome nature takes her on trips to explore new vistas and
walk the neighborhoods of various cultures.

Kim can be contacted at kimbecker@seniorcareauthority.com.

Pamela Senda SouthWest Florida

Pam is a former corporate meetings and events director. For three decades, she planned annual conventions, trade shows and executive meetings for the telecommunications industry, scientific research organizations and business development companies. While working at a non-profit, she also served as director of a $10M grants program that funded basic research in age related and degenerative diseases.

Her attention to detail and strong organizational skills are the foundation that helped her start her own company in 2016, which specializes in daily money management, household operations and personal business. Two years ago, Pam enlisted the services of Senior Care Authority for one of her clients. Through this working relationship, Pam has realized a passion for assisting the needs of senior citizens and their families.

Before moving to Naples in 2019, Pam lived in Bethesda, Maryland, outside of Washington, DC, where she was born and raised. When not working, Pam and her husband enjoy visiting their grandchildren, living a casually awesome lifestyle and playing Pickleball.

Pam can be contacted at (240) 994-8816 or pamelasenda@seniorcareauthority.com.

ROBERT W. ELWELL JR., MD Southwest Florida

Robert W. Elwell Jr., MD spent three decades providing primary care to residents in central Connecticut. Prior to relocating to the Naples area, he pursued his passion and provided medical care to a predominantly geriatric population at Masonicare in Wallingford, CT, a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). His patients lived in various home settings including independent living, assisted living as well as rehabilitation, long-term care and memory care. He worked with his patients and their families when circumstances made it necessary to make alternative living situations to provide the safest and most supportive environment for their physical and emotional well-being. He often states that “he learned as much from his patients as they got from him.” He is an avid listener and problem solver.

Neil Nagraj, Senior Care Authority New York

Neil Nagraj Owner, New York

Neil Nagraj joins Senior Care Authority after a 20-year career in media. He was an editor at the New York Daily News, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Post. Following his roles in journalism he held leadership positions in the marketing departments of Tripadvisor and Coinbase, and also founded his own agency.

During a year spent managing care for his father-in-law, he found immense fulfilment helping his family navigate the eldercare landscape. He's excited to join Senior Care Authority and help others find the best care options for their loved ones.

Neil was educated at the University of Virginia and Georgetown University. He lives in New York with his wife and two young children. In his freetime he is an avid skier, golfer, and fly fisherman.

Neil lives and works in New York and supports families across the US. Neil can be contacted at 212-913-9963 or neil@seniorcareauthority.com.

Ruth Allen Cox, CDP New York

Ruth Cox is an advisor for senior living and care at Senior Care Authority New York & Southwest Florida. SCANYFL has helped 10,000 families with their care needs through placement services, eldercare consulting and advocacy. Ruth is experienced with helping seniors through both planned and unplanned life changing events, and approaches every situation with patience and understanding.

Ruth is a certified dementia practitioner and an advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association as a Community Educator and caregiver support group Facilitator. She is a trusted expert of the clinical, emotional and social issues surrounding aging and eldercare. Ruth lives and works in New York, and supports families across the US. She can be contacted directly at 917-561-1918, or ruth@seniorcareauthority.com.

Judy Sage New York

Judy Sage joins Senior Care Authority after an extensive 30-year background in sales and marketing for esteemed publications like ELLE and Harper's BAZAAR. Judy has spent more than seven years managing her beloved father's Alzheimer's. She also located and transitioned her mother-in-law into a senior living community after 50 years in the same home. Both of these experiences instilled desire, passion, and skill to guide others through similar experiences.

Her deep commitment to advocacy is evident in her 20-year tenure as a Kids In Danger (KID) board member and as a contributor to Let's Talk Menopause advocating for better healthcare and information for women.

Judy was educated at Northwestern University. She lives in New York with her husband and two children who attend the University of Michigan.

Judy lives and works in New York and supports families across the US. Judy can be contacted at (212) 913-9963 or judy@seniorcareauthority.com.

SENIOR CARE AUTHORITY COMPANY HISTORY

Senior Care Authority was founded in 2009 by Frank and Michele Samson of Sonoma, California. They opened a local placement agency and learned everything there was to know about finding the right care situation for older adults who needed help with activities of daily living.

They came to the Senior Care space with successful business development skills in their past, as well as personal family experience finding care solutions. The business took off, primarily due to their diligence, compassion, and commitment to helping families.

In 2014, the model was franchised, and Senior Care Authority is now a national company with offices throughout the US and Canada. As part of their expansion, they partnered with an eldercare consulting practice who brought another set of senior care services and skills to the company, a great differentiator for Senior Care Authority.

Cynthia and her team were helpful, professional and caring. She was a great resource for learning about different options, levels of care, and facilities. And now that my mother has been placed, she has remained high touch and showed concern about how my family settles into its new situation. I highly recommend Senior Care Authority.

F.C., Staten Island, New York