Meet Our Trusted Senior Living Advisor Team
At Assisted Living Connections, we guide families with care, compassion, and expertise to find the right senior care and living options. We proudly serve Ventura County and Los Angeles County, offering trusted resources and personalized support.
We understand the challenges families face, including Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Parkinson’s, and the many social, emotional, and financial needs that accompany aging. Our team works closely with a network of local experts and care providers, giving families immediate access to a full spectrum of senior care options, including:
- Assisted Living
- Independent Living
- Retirement Homes
- Memory Care / Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care
- Residential Care Homes (Board & Care)
- Assisted Living
- Independent Living
- Retirement Homes
- Memory Care / Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care
- Residential Care Homes (Board & Care)
Whenever possible, we personally accompany families on tours of communities to help them make informed, confident decisions.
Tami Podell
Owner/Founder
Senior Living Advisor
Tami’s passion for helping others was born from personal experience. She watched her father’s painful decline through dementia and found the process of navigating care overwhelming. Realizing many families face similar challenges, she dedicated herself to becoming a trusted resource.
Tami earned her Residential Care for the Elderly administrator’s certification in 2009 and founded Assisted Living Connections. Since then, she and her team have guided thousands of families to find the best care for their loved ones—balancing quality, dignity, and affordability.
A longtime resident of Agoura Hills, Tami has lived there with her husband, Glenn, since 1994. They have three married sons and three grandchildren. Originally from the San Fernando Valley, Tami and her brothers are proud former Bruins.
Kelila Heller
Owner
Senior Living Advisor
RCFE Administrator
Kelila’s journey into senior care began in 2007 when her mother suffered a fractured hip, followed by a stroke and vascular dementia. She helped her mother transition to assisted living and later, to a licensed residential care home. Her maternal aunt and grandmother also battled Alzheimer’s disease.
These deeply personal experiences shaped Kelila’s empathy and compassion for families in crisis. She helps clients navigate the often overwhelming world of senior care, ensuring they receive clear, reliable information and thoughtful guidance.
Kelila grew up in a rural community in the Sierra Nevada mountains. She and her husband, Rob, met at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and have been together for 48 years. They have two sons, two grandchildren, and have lived in Thousand Oaks for more than 35 years.
She is a Certified RCFE Administrator with the State of California Department of Social Services and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from California State University Northridge.
Jan Bearss
Senior Living Advisor
Jan began working with seniors at age 16 as a Certified Nursing Assistant in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan. She later became a primary caregiver for her grandmother during her final days, an experience that reinforced her calling to serve seniors.
After raising three children with her husband and moving out West, Jan returned to senior care as a Marketing Director for an Assisted Living Community in Montana. No matter where life has taken her, Jan’s passion has always been working with families and their loved ones.
She now resides in Ventura County, close to her daughter and granddaughter.
Jennahway Salisbury
Senior Living Specialist
Licensed Administrator for Skilled Nursing
Jennahway brings over a decade of experience supporting seniors and their families. She holds a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration and is a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator with the California Department of Social Services. She also spent more than six years in Community Relations for a large senior living community.
Having personally navigated the challenges of dementia care within her own family, Jennahway understands how overwhelming and emotional this journey can be. She streamlines the search for senior living by recommending only those communities that fit a family’s care needs, social and emotional priorities, budget, and location.
Jennahway lives in Santa Clarita with her husband, Jared, and their two young children. She enjoys family time, Disneyland trips, beach days, and watching sports (Go Dodgers!). She earned her Bachelor’s in Communications (Public Affairs emphasis) and Master’s in Healthcare Administration (Business Development emphasis) from the University of La Verne, where she was a member of Sigma Kappa Sorority.
Lucille Kosmatka
Customer Service Specialist
Lucille earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, with a focus on Sociology, from California State University Northridge. She has lived in Ventura County since 1985 and is deeply committed to supporting her community, including fundraising for children’s causes and counseling grieving families through difficult decisions.
Lucille excels at connecting with clients and helping them find solutions that honor their loved ones’ needs and values.
Mark Stelzer, MSW
Dementia Care Specialist
We want our clients to have the best outcomes whether it is staying at home, getting in-home care or moving to a community. Mark is a Master Social Worker who also specializes in dementia care. He is a member of the ALC team who can help with difficult situations. He can assist our clients in getting the support that will meet whatever best serves the senior and the family.
