About Us
Our Executive Director
In this video, Dr. Amanda Young, of Wesley SecureCare, discusses the organization’s founding, its mission, and the vital need for a Continuing Care at Home Program that provides seniors with the care they need to thrive in their own home.
What is Continuing Care at Home?
Continuing Care at Home (CCaH), also referred to as a Continuing Care Retirement Community without Walls, is a model that was developed over 30 years ago by Friends Life Care in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to help individuals age in place. CCaH programs allow for individuals to remain at home and receive similar benefits to that of a Continuing Care Retirement Community including financial protection like a “Type A” community or life care contract. CCaH programs focus on keeping people at home and independent for as long as possible through the central service of care coordination or wellness coordination. Care Coordinators are professionals that build a relationship with members of a program to provide advocacy and support along with coordinating any services that may be needed as one ages.
CCaH programs have a one-time entrance fee and then an ongoing monthly fee which covers the benefits of the program and the future cost of long-term care services including home care, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing. Non-refundable fees are often tax deductible as a prepaid medical expense (please consult your tax professional). Long-term care services do not have a waiting or elimination period and last a lifetime. CCaH programs offer a variety of different plans that can stand alone or be paired with an existing long-term care insurance policy.
In Maryland, CCaH programs are regulated by the Department of Aging.
Our Mission
is to bring a continuum of coordinated wellness and long-term care services to older adults in Maryland in their own communities and homes.
Our Values
Our Values are rooted in the mission of The Wesley Inc., which has been dedicated to serving older adults in the Baltimore Metro area since 1867:
Independence – Wesley SecureCare respects and honors the individuality and autonomy of each person. Promoting independence provides members a strong sense of self and helps maintain dignity, identity, and overall well-being.
Peace of Mind – We help to create an environment where people feel secure, confident, and supported.
Quality of Life – We take a holistic approach to health and wellness. We promote happiness, fulfillment, and overall satisfaction.
Thrive – We want everyone to grow and flourish no matter what age. We provide opportunities for personal development through our unique community. Our organization strives to innovate and adapt to the changing needs of those we serve.
Our Vision
is to empower older adults to age in their chosen setting safely while receiving coordinated social, residential, and preventive health benefits and services. We strive to lead in providing high-quality service options and personalized assistance with navigating services to help Members maintain independence and meet their health and wellness goals
Meet Our Team
Amanda Young, PhD, MS, CMC
Executive Director
Amanda Young serves as the Executive Director of Wesley SecureCare. She is an experienced gerontologist and specializes in launching and operating Continuing Care at Home (CCaH) programs. She has extensive nonprofit experience and has earned her PhD in Leadership and Gerontology at Concordia University Chicago. Her dissertation was a qualitative analysis of the wellness coordination model in CCaH programs. She previously served as Executive Director of BeWell@Home, the CCaH program of the Lutheran Homes of South Carolina. During that time, she was also able to serve as Senior Director of Independent Living of Franke at Seaside, one of Lutheran Homes of SC Life Plan Communities. Prior to that experience, she was the Wellness Coordinator for Pathstones by Phoebe a CCaH program of Phoebe Ministries in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Dr. Young is a national leader in the continuing care at home field. She helps to collect data and move forward research to increase awareness and demonstrate the positive impact of these programs. She also presents at several local, state, and national conferences on the model. She is a Certified Case Manager (National Academy of Certified Case Managers). Early in her career, she provided case management to older adults at an Area Agency on Aging in Pennsylvania. In 2023, Dr. Young received the McKnight’s Senior Living Women of Distinction Rising Star award.
Amanda enjoys educating individuals about the benefits of CCaH programs and seeing how valuable this program and its services can be for aging adults. She loves building relationships with clients and being able to make a difference in their lives.
Amanda is a native of Pennsylvania, but was living in Charleston, SC prior to relocating here in Baltimore with her husband, son, three rescue dogs, and cat. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and listening to her favorite stand-up comedians’ podcasts.
Jennerra Harness
Care Coordinator
Jennerra is a board-certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA/L) with more than a decade of dedicated service in providing therapeutic interventions to the geriatric population. She is passionate about educating seniors and their families on safely aging in place. Her experience includes working in skilled nursing facilities, home health, acute, subacute, and transitional care. She received her associate’s degree from the Community College of Baltimore County, her bachelor’s degree in Health Services Management from University of Maryland Global Campus where she was inducted into Alpha Sigma Lambda, and her master’s degree in Aging Studies from Eastern Illinois University.
She resides in Baltimore, Maryland since relocating from her hometown of Brooklyn, New York in 2001.
Her husband and three young children keep her very busy and she spends her free time on outdoor home projects, baking, and sewing.
Board of Directors
Bradley D. Paulis, ASA, MAAA / Board Chair
Bradley Paulis is an actuarial consultant and partner at Continuing Care Actuaries Inc. He has 40+ years of actuarial experience with Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Home Care programs. He is a member of the American Academy of Actuaries and volunteers on the long-term care reform and public programs sub-committees. He has been involved in education and projects spanning from preliminary model designs for insurance and long-term care entities to analysis of financial impacts for insurance and healthcare programs and products in real time within changing markets. to He is the current President of the Wesley Inc. Board.
Jason A. Frank, Esq. / Secretary
Jason Frank is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA Emeritus), retired from private practice, and former legal counsel for the Baltimore County Department of Aging. He has 40+ years of experience as an attorney in Maryland. He has been a part of passing significant legislation to benefit old adults within the State. He has been involved with National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) for over 20 years. He is a published author of the text, Elder Law in Maryland, and is an adjunct professor teaching a variety of interdisciplinary elder law courses. He is a long-term advocate for older adults. Jason has served on the following boards: LifeBridge Planning Committee, Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center, Myerberg Senior Center, and many other legal, cultural, and aging endeavors.
Ashley Lacis, CPA / Treasurer
Ashley Lacis has over 20 years of experience in the senior living industry with a focus on continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). After graduating from University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and a minor in Economics, she began her career as an actuarial consultant for CCRCs and continuing care at home programs. Eight years later, Ashley decided to change career paths and joined the healthcare team at the public accounting firm CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA). During her six years as a consultant at CLA, Ashley worked on audits for CCRCs along with providing strategic financial planning services and other consulting engagements for numerous senior living organizations. While employed at CLA, Ashley continued her education obtaining an accounting certificate, CPA license, and a Master’s degree from UMBC in Management of Aging Services. After a short time serving as Division Chief of Continuing Care for the Maryland Department of Aging, she joined Asbury Communities, who owns and operates 9 CCRCs as well as other related business lines. Over the past seven years at Asbury and in her current role as Director of Financial Planning and Analysis, Ashley oversees financial projections and evaluations, development of forecasted and budgeted financial statements, as well as many other analytical projects.
Debra Wertheimer, MD
Debra Wertheimer is a physician and the prior Medical Director for Veteran Administration’s Hospice Care Program. She has held faculty and/or staff positions for over 40 years in various medical schools and hospitals in Baltimore City and County. She previously worked in a variety of clinical leadership positions such as, Associate Director of clinical services and as a pain and palliative care consultant with Levindale’s Geriatric Center. She is the former Director for University of Maryland Hospital’s Waxter Center Home Care and Geriatric Assessment Program. She also currently serves on the board of Edenwald and General German Aged People’s Home of Baltimore, Inc.
Gordon Fronk, Esq.
Gordon Fronk is a founding principal at the Law Firm Hollis, Cronan, and Fronk, PA and serves as legal counsel to The Wesley Inc. He has been a practicing attorney in Maryland for over 50 years specializing in small business development, financial and estate planning, mature business restructuring, as well as various aspects of business management including organization, capitalization, structuring, taxation, personnel relationships, contracts, and land acquisition. He is an army veteran. He is the former President of the Wesley Inc. Board and has been a past Director for The Wesley. Mr. Fronk is actively involved in church, alumni association, and municipal matters in the local community.
Mickey Miller, AIA
Michael (Mickey) Miller is an architect with extensive experience in design, budget development, and project management. He is University of Maryland’s Capital Projects Manager. He has experience in designing and renovating long term care living facilities for older adults and has been on the Wesley Board and involved in program develop with the Wesley for over 15 years. He has been a board member on community revitalization projects and religious service endeavors for the Methodist Church.
Elizabeth Weglein, MS
Elizabeth Weglein is CEO of Elizabeth Cooney Personnel Agency and Elizabeth Cooney Care Network which provides in-home long-term care services and is the oldest full-service nurse referral agency in the country. She is an expert in the home health care and allied health field, developing, implementing and overseeing Private, State and Federally funded medical programs for over 27 years. She is active in local and national organizations that support individuals and families with resources to assist with health related and daily living needs and has created and helped pass policy that improves Marylander’s health care options. She is also the current President of United Seniors of Maryland. Her past-held board positions include, The Coordinating Center, Maryland National Capital Home Care Association, and Maryland Caregiver’s Support Coordinating Council among many others.
Derek Dunham
Derek brings over 32 years of experience in branding, marketing, and communications to our Board, where we anticipate his insights will greatly enhance our organization. As President of Varsity, he has led strategic initiatives for aging services and major brands targeting the mature market. Passionate about lifelong learning, Derek teaches as an adjunct professor at Penn State University and Messiah University and has presented at various industry conferences. He holds a bachelor’s degree in advertising from the University of North Dakota and an MBA with a marketing concentration from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.
