About Smerken Consulting
A background of education, experience, skill and kindness.
I have been working to serve the needs of older adults and persons with disabilities since 1975. My primary goal is to assist clients maintain their maximum level of independence and self-sufficiency. I do this through careful and comprehensive assessment of the existing situation and identifying the goals of the client. I then develop, implement and monitor a personalized plan that will make life easier for the older adult and family.
My background as a nurse, case manager, administrator, senior housing developer, long-term care executive and professional fiduciary, offers you an broad and unique set of skills to help you resolve challenging issues that often arise in advanced age and chronic disability.
For information about my educational background, training and experience, please review my curriculum vitae page
Curriculum Vitae
Education
Master of Arts – Social Science, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA –1997
Bachelor of Arts, Human Health and Behavior, The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA –1990
Certificate of Practical Nursing (LPN), John A. Logan College, Carterville, IL – 1984
Post Graduate
Certificate of Special Needs Trust Management – Center for Guardianship Certification- September 2022
Certificate of Professional Fiduciary Management for Conservators- California State, Fullerton – June 2017.
Certificate of Professional Fiduciary Management for Trustees – California State, Fullerton – October 2016.
Accounting and Record Keeping for Positions of Trust – California State, Fullerton – October 2015.
Management of the Investment Portfolio – California State University, Fullerton – April 2015.
Trust Administration and Management – California State University, Fullerton – March 2015.
Professional Mediation Skills Training Program -University of Washington School of Law – January 2012.
Certificate in Paralegal Studies – University of Washington – December 2011
Certified Professional Guardianship Certificate Program – University of Washington – March 2009
Certificate Program in Geriatric Mental Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, June 2008
Certified Care Manager – National Academy of Certified Care Managers, October 2007
Certificate Program in Gerontology, University of Washington Seattle, WA. – 2006 – Gerontology
Graduate Certificate – Geriatric Care Management, University of Florida – Gainesville – 2005
Finance & Accounting for Non-Financial Executives, University of Washington Seattle, WA. – 2002
Employment History
2003 to Present – Owner – Smerken Consulting – Eldercare Services, Olympia, WA
2012 to 2014 – Faculty – University of Washington – Certified Professional Guardian Program. Seattle, WA
1990-2003 – Operations Administrator / System Director for Housing and Long Term Care, Housing Director, Senior Case Manager (multiple positions over 13 years)- Providence Health System, Seattle, WA
Licenses and Certifications
- Special Needs Trust Administration
- Court Visitor/Guardian ad Litem (GAL)
- Licensed Practical Nurse
- Care Manager – Certified (CMC)
- Certified Professional Guardian/Conservator (CPGC)
- National Certified Guardian (NCG)
- Certified Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Test Administrator and Scorer
- Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) (National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners)
- Qualified Dementia Care Provider (Alzheimer’s Foundation of America)
- Qualified Dementia Care Specialist (Alzheimer’s Foundation of America)
- Excellence in Care Specialist (Alzheimer’s Foundation of America); http://www.excellenceincare.org/
Continuing Education
Tacoma Pierce County Bar Association 22nd Annual Guardianship Seminar – Nov 1, 2023
UW School of Nursing Cardiovascular Update – Oct 7, 2022
Guardian Institute Bremerton Conference 2022 – Mar 29-30, 2022
King County Bar Association – Court Visitor / GAL Training RCW 11.130 – December 10, 2021
King County Bar Association – Uniform Guardianship Act: Title 11 Minor Guardianship, RCW 11.130 – April 27, 2021
University of Washington Continuing Nursing Education – Palliative Care – April 9, 2021 – Seattle WA
University of Washington Continuing Nursing Education – The Challenge of Pain Webinar – January 14, 2021
University of Washington Continuing Nursing Education – Wound Care Update – February 7, 2021
2020 King County RCW 11.88.090 Guardianship Guardian ad Litem Training – Recertification – June 4, 2020.
Tacoma/Pierce Bar Association 18th Annual Guardianship Seminar – November 14, 2019 – Tacoma WA
Washington State’s 16th Annual Conference on the Abuse of Elders and Adults with Disabilities – King County/ADS November 13, 2019 Seattle WA
UW Continuing Nursing Education – Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias – November 28. 2019 – Online
UW Continuing Nursing Education –Geriatric Healthcare – September 24, 2019 – Online
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) Certification – July 21, 2021
2019 Kitsap County Title 11 GAL Recertification – May 22, 2019 – Port Orchard WA
2019 King County RCW 11.88.090 Guardianship Guardian ad Litem Training – Re Certification – April 26, 2019. Seattle WA
Elder Law Spring CLE Seminar, Washington State Bar Association, April 10, 2019, Seattle WA.
Suicide Prevention Training, University of Washington School of Nursing, March 12, 2019. Tacoma WA.
National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Online Certification Training, October 23, 2018.
SW Washington Elder Abuse Prevention Knowledge and Resilience Seminar Series 3: Healthcare and Assessment Vancouver WA, September 25, 2018.
University of Washington School of Nursing Workshop 2018| Reducing Disability in Alzheimer’s Disease Program (RDAD) in Primary Care | July 17, 2018
Tacoma/Pierce County Bar Association 16th Annual Guardianship Seminar – Tacoma, WA – November 16, 2017
Washington Association of Professional Guardians- 2017 Spring Training – Seattle WA – May 15, 2017
Pierce County Bar 15th Annual Guardianship Seminar, Tacoma WA November 17, 2016
National Guardianship Association – 2016 NGA Conference on Guardianship- Charleston SC – October 29-November 1, 2016
Washington Association of Professional Guardians- 2016 Fall Training – Seattle WA – November 21, 2016
Washington Association of Professional Guardians- 2016 Spring Training – Seattle WA – May 16 2016
National Guardianship Association – 2015 NGA Conference on Guardianship- Mesa AZ – October 24-27, 2015
Washington Association of Professional Guardians- 2015 Fall Training – Seattle WA – October 12, 2015
Washington Association of Professional Guardians- 2015 Spring Training – Bellevue WA – May 18, 2015
Alzheimer’s Association of Western and Central Washington – 30th annual Regional Conference – Seattle, WA – April 16, 2015
Washington Association of Professional Guardians- 2014 Spring Training – Bellevue WA – May 5, 2014
Alzheimer’s Association of Western and Central Washington – 29th annual Regional Conference – Seattle, WA – May 16, 2014
Pierce County Bar Association -12th Annual Guardianship Seminar- Tacoma, WA – November 7, 2013
Washington Association of Professional Guardians – 2013 Fall Training – Bellevue WA – October 24 2013
National Guardianship Association – 2013 Conference on Guardianship – Tampa,Florida – October 12-15, 2013.
National Guardianship Association – 2012 Conference on Guardianship – Portland Oregon – October 20-23, 2012.
Improving the Quality of Services and Supports Offered to LGBT Older Adults by Aging Providers (Level 1&2) – National Resource Center on LGBT Aging – Seattle WA – February 2012
Professional Medication Skills Training Program -University of Washington School of Law – January 2012.
Certificate in Paralegal Studies – University of Washington – December 2011
Professional Care Manager Fall Prevention Seminar Yale University School of Medicine
Helping Older Adults Cope with Grief and Loss – University of Washington School of Social Work –
Dementia: Diagnosis and Family Support – University of Washington School of Social Work
Mood and Thought Disorders in Older Adults University of Washington School of Social Work
Navigating Multiple Systems in Working with Older Adults, University of Washington School of Social Work
Diagnosing and Treating Older Adults with Mental Illness – University of Washington School of Social Work
Medicaid Boot Camp – King County Bar Association – March 2010
Advanced Guardianship Issues: Navigating Through Troubled Times – King County Bar Association – April 2010
Fundamentals of Legal Practice – University of Washington – January-March 2011
Legal Research and Writing – University of Washington – January-March 2011
RCW 11.88.090 Guardianship Guardian ad Litem Training – King County Bar Association – May 2011
Professional Associations and Memberships
Better Business Bureau
Volunteer
Member – Washington Courts Certified Professional Guardianship Board
Past Board Director – National Guardianship Association – 2015-2017 (Secretary/Treasurer 2017)
Past-President/Vice President/Secretary – Washington Association of Professional Guardians (June 2011-June 2017)
Past Chairman of the Board (2012-2014) Board of Directors- Better Business Bureau of Alaska, Oregon & Western Washington
Testimonials
Dear Dan,
My greatest thanks to you for all you’ve done. Your support throughout this process is greatly appreciated. I can’t imagine anyone with greater professionalism in the way you’ve communicated and fulfilled all your roles. My mother could be demanding and always “suffered fools poorly”. It’s somehow fitting that someone with your high standards was the person who put the final stamp on her affairs.
Always grateful
Dear Dan,
On behalf of myself and my sisters . . .I just wanted to thank you again for all your help in the last few months. Your expertise and calm assurance were invaluable to us during a very stressfull time. And your dedication – including your willingness to be helpful at any time of the day or night, weekdays and weekends – went above and beyond what any client could hope for. Many, many thanks.
Best,
We are very grateful for your services!
Senior Housing Development
Dan Smerken has led or consulted on the financing, development and design of housing for older adults and persons with disabilities.
Here are some of the projects Dan has contributed to:
Consulting Projects
New Tacoma Senior Housing – Inter-community Mercy Housing -Capital Advance : $8.2 Million for 59 units of low income senior housing in Tacoma, WA
Low Income Housing Institute – Cascade Senior Housing – $5.7 Million to develop 50 units of housing for low-income seniors in Seattle’s Cascade/South Lake Union neighborhood.
Development Projects
Vincent House, Seattle Washington
Vincent House serves formerly homeless elders in Seattle’s Downtown Core. We recently completed a $6 Million dollar acquisition and rehab of this 20 year old project.
Emilie House, Portland Oregon
Emilie House is a 40 unit project built in the 1980’s for older adults. We recently completed a $1 Million rehabilitation utilizing the HUD refinance program.
Elizabeth House, Seattle Washington
Elizabeth House provides 75 units of elderly housing in the Highpoint neighborhood of West Seattle and located within the Highpoint HOPE VI neighborhood redevelopment.
Vashon Island Community Care Center
The new Vashon Island Community Care Center provides skilled nursing, assisted living, and adult day care. Financed with tax-exempt bonds at least 50% of its residents are low income with incomes at or below 80% of the area median.
Gamelin House, Seattle, Washington
Gamelin House provides 78 units of elderly housing in a mixed use building which also contains a Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE program) a national model for eldercare and commercial space. Locate in the Rainier Vista HOPE VI Redevelopment in South Seattle.
Peter Claver House, Seattle Washington
This 80 unit Elderly Housing project is part of a the New Holly senior village located in Seattle’s first HOPE VI neighborhood redevelopment. Developed in cooperation with the Seattle Housing Authority.
St. Francis House, Olympia Washington
This 60 unit Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly is located on the Campus of St. Peter Hospital in Olympia Washington.
Blanchet and Rossi House, Centralia Washington
These two elderly housing complexes are located in a lovely rural setting on the Chehalis River near the Centralia Hospital and serves very-low income elders.
Press
Dan receives an award from the Sisters of Providence religious community
©2024 Dan Smerken, All Rights Reserved.