Who We Are
For family care partners aging is a complex process that touches many facets. An Aging Life Care™ Manager brings knowledge, skills and experience to help you navigate the journey, no matter the challenges you may face. LifeCare Solutions assists individuals of all ages who are facing health challenges or need help navigating the care network. Our Aging Life Care™ Managers support the client to optimize independence and quality of life while reducing stress and anxiety for family care partner.
“To our team, it’s personal! While Senior Care has been our specialty, with our various backgrounds, education, professional and personal experience, we want to serve those of all ages, backgrounds and conditions no matter how complicated. Care is our calling, not our job! Our own families and loved ones have endured many of the same hardships and challenges our clients face. That’s why we choose team members with the right educational background, years of expertise in the industry, personal experience and most importantly the heart and passion to serve our clients and their families.”
Christy Baynes, Founder
Leadership Team
Christy Baynes, MSHA, MBA
Founder & C.E.O.
Care Manager
PAC® Certified Trainer
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Christy Baynes is the Founder and Lead Care Manager of LifeCare Solutions, Inc. She has dedicated herself and career to helping seniors and their families. Along with her education and professional experience, Christy has also cared for members of her own family with dementia and other chronic illnesses. Christy holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Alabama as well as a Master's in Business Administration and Master's in Science of Health Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She also holds a Certificate in Gerontology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Christy is a Professional Member of the National Association of Aging Life Care™ Specialists and she is also a Certified Trainer through Teepa Snow's Positive Approach to Care® Program. In addition to her education, Christy's experiences in the field of aging are very diverse including assisted living, specialty care assisted living, in-home care, community councils on aging, Alzheimer's and aging research, long-term care insurance, elder care coordination, geriatric health education and caregiver support groups. Christy has served on the state's Long-term Care Rebalancing Advisory Committee, where she was one of four community individuals appointed by Alabama Governor Bob Riley in 2009. She served on the Executive Board of Alzheimer's of Central Alabama (ACA) from 2006 - 2015, where she received the Mitzi Kronenberg Service Award in 2008. Christy was President of the Board from 2009 - 2012 and also served on the Endowment Board for ACA. In the past, she has served on the planning committee for the Canterbury Beeson Forum on Aging. She is past Leader of the Senior Adult Council and Radical Hospitality Team.
She and her husband, Allen, reside in Birmingham with their two children and fur baby.
Allen Baynes, SRES®
C.F.O.
Senior Real Estate Specialist®
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Allen Baynes joined LifeCare Solutions in the Fall of 2017 to assist with business growth and development. Allen serves as our Director of Business Development and Home Repair Concierge Coordinator. He also works for LAH Real Estate where he is a Senior Real Estate Specialist® and owns Baynes Properties. On Sundays in the fall, you can see Allen as an NFL official on National Football League (NFL) fields throughout the country. He recently completed his tenth year in the League as a Side Judge #56. Allen enjoys speaking at senior programs and churches, where he tells stories from the gridiron. His presentation, "Make That Call” allows participants to review plays from previous weeks' games and give their ruling as if they were an on-field official in an NFL game. This interactive program is both informative and a lot of fun. In 2016, Allen was recognized as Volunteer of the Year by Alzheimer's of Central Alabama (ACA) (www.alzca.org). ACA is an organization he loves to support and has helped raise over $75,000 through contributions such as "A Weekend with a NFL Referee", Super Bowl Ticket Raffles, personal giving and other auction items at their annual spring Garden Art Party. Allen and Christy are blessed to have a wonderful team of Care Managers helping families in Central Alabama.
Nicole Crawford, MA, CMC, SRES®
Certified Care Manager
PAC® Certified Trainer
Senior Real Estate Specialist®
Assisted Living/Memory Care Specialist
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Nicole joined the LifeCare Solutions team in December 2017. Nicole serves as our Assisted Living / Memory Care Specialist and Care Manager. She is also a licensed real estate agent and holds the designation of Senior Real Estate Specialist®. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and Masters of Arts in Gerontology from the University of South Florida.
Nicole is certified through the National Association of Certified Care Managers and she is also a Certified Trainer through Teepa Snow's Positive Approach to Care Program. Nicole has an incredible passion and love for helping seniors and their families. She began her health care career in academia, where she worked for the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Center for Nursing Research. She worked on various nursing grants, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's caregivers' education research. In 2004, Nicole moved to Tampa, Florida and worked full-time as an Assisted Living Director while pursuing her Masters. After completing her graduate work, she returned to Birmingham and worked with the UAB Study of Aging and Mobility. Over the past ten years, Nicole has worked in leadership positions in the community setting: nursing home, assisted living and specialty care assisted living. She became a licensed, Category Il Assisted Living Administrator (ALA) in 2013. Before joining the LifeCare Solutions Team, Nicole served as the Assistant Assisted Living Administrator at St. Martins in the Pines. She is also a licensed real estate agent and specializes in assisting families with downsize and relocation. Nicole is also very active with Alzheimer's of Central Alabama and served on the Board of Directors from 2009 through 2016 and was President of the Board from 2012 through 2016. Nicole and her two young children love hiking, playing with their dog Rosie and their cat Squeaker and eating ice cream sundaes!
Tracey Smith, M.S.CCC-SLP
Auburn Executive Director
Care Manager
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Tracey joined the LifeCare Solutions team in December 2022 as a Care Manager and Rehab & Discharge Specialist. She is originally from south Alabama but has lived in Hoover for 22 years. She has Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Speech Pathology from the University of Montevallo. She has worked with adults for 25 years in acute hospital, outpatient, skilled nursing and home health settings. Tracey was a director of rehab for three years in a skilled nursing setting. While at Montclair Hospital, she helped start and then ran a stroke support group. In her thirteen years in skilled nursing, she helped develop and teach a diabetes program for therapists and nurses. She also started a dementia support group for families of residents and has also served as a Rehab Liaison. Her love of helping people and her medical background led her, in the last three years, to be a rehab liaison for an inpatient rehab hospital helping patients get the rehab they deserved. She has one son who is a college freshman in Orlando at Full Sail University. Tracey enjoys being outdoors and in the water - lake or beach. She enjoys college football, a good fire and making delicious desserts.
Taylor McElmurry
V.P. of Operations
PAC® Certified Consultant
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Taylor serves as our V.P. of Operations. Taylor joined the LifeCare Solutions team as a full-time employee in July of 2021. She has worked part-time with LifeCare Solutions since May 2020. Taylor is a graduate of Samford University where she completed her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. While at Samford University, she double-majored in Marketing and Management. Taylor has gained great experience in Marketing through internships and special projects that assist her in her role at LifeCare Solutions. Taylor specializes in digital marketing, content creation, client relations, operations management and administrative duties for LifeCare Solutions. Taylor is a member of the Birmingham Chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA). She served as the Secretary for the Medical Social Service Organization of Great Birmingham (MSSO) for the Summer and Fall term of 2021. Taylor also serves as the President of the Junior Board of Alzheimer's of Central Alabama (ACA), representing her team at LifeCare Solutions. She is also a Positive Approach to Care® certified Consultant. Taylor loves spending her free time with her family, friends and her cats. She enjoys reading, hiking, going on walks, tennis and playing card games!
Bragan Petry, RN, CRNP
Nurse Care Manager & Assessment Specialist
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Bragan joined LifeCare Solutions in September of 2021 as a Nurse Care Manager and Assessment Specialist. She is originally from Birmingham and loves living in such a wonderful community and beautiful town. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Vanderbilt University in Human and Organizational Development and Special Education. She continued her education at Vanderbilt University and received a Master's Degree in Nursing. Bragan has a great love for people of all ages and a deeply driven desire to help others.
Bragan began her nursing career as an RN in Intensive Care at Children's Hospital. After a few short years in an RN role, she became the first Nurse Practitioner in Pediatric Endocrinology at Children's Hospital of Alabama. She loved working as a nurse practitioner for 15 years in Pediatric Endocrinology. While she has watched the Children's community grow immensely, she is thrilled to now be venturing into the Geriatric field. Over the past 10 years, Bragan has taken a very large role in the Mountain Brook School system. She served as the Mountain Brook Elementary school PTO President and was on the board for 6 years. She went on to be the District PTO President and now serves on the Mountain Brook Foundation Board. She not only serves in leadership roles for the school system, but she also volunteers her time at the school quite often, even substitute teaching on a regular basis. A servant's heart is a wonderful way to describe Bragan. She is actively involved in her church, St. Luke's Episcopal, and served the Junior League of Birmingham for 14 years. Most recently during the Covid-19 Pandemic, she has volunteered her time to several Vaccine Clinics in underserved areas of Alabama. While all of this represents Bragan, God and her family are at the center of it all. She resides in Birmingham with her husband, Banks, their three boys and black lab. Their family enjoys the outdoors, playing games together, good food and fun travels - they are always up for a new adventure.
Care Managers
meet our
Our Care Managers have over 200 years of combined experience working with older adults and persons facing complex care challenges. Our team offers a multidisciplinary approach to meeting our clients’ on-going care needs.
Linda Bottoms, RN
Nurse Care Manager
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Tina joined the LifeCare Solutions team in June 2021 and serves as our Associate Care Manager. She is originally from Meridian, MS and received her Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, MS. Tina has had over 22 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She has worked in various settings such as skilled nursing facilities, acute care and home health care. Her primary emphasis has always been caring for the geriatric population. Tina has had expertise in providing home assessments to ensure that your loved one is safe while living in their own home for as long as possible. Tina and her husband Jeff, have two children and a dog. They enjoy the beach, spending time outdoors and watching their kids play soccer and basketball. They are members of Trinity United Methodist Church where they have taught Sunday School and assisted with vacation bible school.
Tina Gray, OTR/L
Care Manager
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Linda serves as LifeCare Solutions Lead Nurse Care Manager and Clinical Advocate. She joined our team in 2016 with over 20 plus years of nursing experience. Her primary focus has been case management and in-home nursing. Linda also helped care for her grandmother and other family members. Linda received her Nursing degree at Samford University in 1994 and worked two years in the inpatient setting with ICU and medical-surgical patients. After leaving the in-patient setting, she served as a home-health nurse for Gentiva Home Health Services. She worked in home health for over fifteen years, where she provided direct patient care and supervised LPs, home health aides and other ancillary staff. After leaving Gentiva, Linda served as a Nurse Care Manager for an in-home care provider and was responsible for admission and follow-up assessments for Medicaid, Workman's Compensation and private duty clients. She also led staff orientation and training for caregivers and nurses. Linda received her certification as a Care Manager from the National Academy of Certified Care Managers and was a member of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers. Linda and her husband, Steve, live in Birmingham and are very active in their church, Mountaintop Community Church, where they lead various small groups. Steve and Linda volunteer with Raleigh's Place, where they created Katie's Closet in memory of Steve's daughter, Katie. This ministry provides clothes, shoes and various accessories to foster children and families that are in need. Together, Linda and Steve have four children and six grandchildren. Family is very important to them and Linda loves to accompany her grandchildren on field trips and attend sporting events. She's an incredible cook and her Louisiana-roots come through in her amazing Cajun cuisine.
Margaret Holland
Benefits & Legal Specialist
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Marsha joined the LifeCare Solutions team in August 2022 as a Nurse Care Manager. She was raised in the small town of Ashford, Alabama, but has called Birmingham home since 2014. Nursing is her second career in healthcare with the first being in Health Informatics. Marsha received her BS from Auburn University Montgomery in 2007 and her MSN in Family Nurse Practitioner in 2013. Professional and personal experiences have led Marsha to step away from a strictly clinical practice and take a more personal and holistic role in caring for others in need. During her time as an emergency department (ED) nurse, and later as a nurse practitioner, she learned how to recognize, assess and treat the acute and long-term health problems of the elderly and disabled. Her tenure as an ED Case Manager provided the experience and knowledge needed to assist patients and families after discharge from the hospital. All of her nursing knowledge and work experiences were put to personal use in caring and advocating for her physically disabled mother and her father with dementia. In her spare time, Marsha enjoys traveling with her husband, Matthew, or friends, hiking, reading, trying Birmingham's newest restaurants and gardening. She can also be found listening to music or talk radio while embarking on culinary adventures in her dream kitchen.
Elena Leonard, PT
Care Manager
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Margaret joined LifeCare Solutions in June 2022 as a Benefits and Legal Specialist after her tenure in the Birmingham County Conservator's office. Margaret is originally from Huntsville in North Alabama. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Marketing and Business Administration from the University of Alabama. After deciding against law school, Margaret began her career working as a legal assistant to Madison County's Conservator, Doug Martinson, II. After getting married, she moved to the greater Birmingham area in 2014. Once settled, she took a position at Sterne Agee and Leach as their Securities Specialist and Restricted Securities Specialist. Realizing her extreme desire to help others, she then landed her role as Conservatorship Director for Gregory H. Hawley, Birmingham's County Conservator, in early 2015. She is extremely knowledgeable in the Probate world. She's taught several attorneys and their assistants through CLE's (continuing lawyers education) for the Probate Guardianship and Conservatorship sector at the Birmingham Bar association. She has even led a CLE alongside Probate Judge, Sherri Friday. Since then, Margaret has known and worked closely with Life Care's team in developing all their mutual client's healthcare needs, but is now officially part of the team: from successfully applying her clients with their Medicaid approvals to Social Security and VA Pensions being pushed through. She strives to be your best advocate. She has worked on placement of our at need/protected community in appropriate settings or facilities throughout the State of Alabama. Margaret has a committed passion to assist our community with their medical, legal and financial needs. Margaret and her husband, Justin, currently live in the Huntsville, AL area. They love to travel and plan many trips each year. They love to ski, hike, cook, volunteer and explore new cities they've never been to. Margaret is a lover of the arts, binge-watching Netflix, true-crime Podcasts, family and anything interior design related.
Marsha North, RN, CRNP
Nurse Care Manager
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Elena Leonard joined the LifeCare Solutions team in 2021 and serves as an Associate Care Manager. She is originally from Elba, AL. Elena received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nutrition from University of Alabama and then earned a Master's Degree in Physical Therapy from University of Alabama at Birmingham. Elena has 21 years of experience in physical rehabilitation of the aging population. Through these years of experience, Elena brings vast insight and expertise to her on-going work in geriatric care. She has worked in Alabama and Georgia and has spent the majority of her career in geriatric settings including assisted living, memory care, long-term care, home health, acute care and outpatient. Elena loves living in Mountain Brook and enjoys spending time with her husband, Jeff, and their two daughters.
They are involved in Canterbury United Methodist Church. For fun, Elena enjoys traveling, playing tennis and spending time with their two rescue dogs.
Suzanne Kilpatrick, RN
Nurse Care Manager
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Suzanne joined LifeCare Solutions in September of 2023. Suzanne was born and raised in Southern California but has lived in Birmingham for over 25 years. In her early 20’s, after a very close friend became ill and included Suzanne in his transition to end of life, she became inspired and was moved to learn more about End of Life care. She became a massage therapist and specialized in Oncology Massage. Suzanne worked on the Palliative Care Unit at UAB Hospital, working with patients, family members and staff. She was able to provide care and an alternative to medication in managing symptoms as well as give relief to caregivers and the staff who were in extremely stressful situations. Suzanne decided to go to nursing school to become a hospice nurse and work more closely with people in the final stages of their life. While with hospice she provided nursing care and support to pediatric patients and their families.
Suzanne believes end of life can be one of the most meaningful and sacred parts of life. She has guided families as an End of Life Doula, with education and support. She believes that the more patients and families are prepared the more able they are to have the type of experience that they desire. Suzanne continues to be passionate about providing quality care, comfort and compassion especially as people navigate the healthcare system and critical decisions that impact the end of life.
Suzanne is married, has 3 adult daughters and a blended family all of whom she loves spending time with.
meet our
Thoughtful Engagement®
Specialists
Our Thoughtful Engagement® Specialists use their experience and imagination to create unique and personalized activities for our clients during their one-on-one visits. They are great at cultivating a trusting and personalized relationship with each client, becoming a companion to their care.
Leah Doss, LMSW
Thoughtful Engagement® Specialist
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Kathy joined LifeCare Solutions in October 2021 as a Thoughtful Engagement Specialist. She and her husband moved to Birmingham in 2018 after living in Franklin, Tennessee for 25 years. Originally from Huntsville, Kathy graduated with a BS Degree in Consumer Affairs from Auburn University in 1985. Her past professional experience includes pharmaceutical sales with Alcon Ophthalmic, Bristol Labs and SmithKline. After a 20 year period as a stay at home mom, she returned to the sales field working as a Marketing Director for a privately owned Physical Therapy group, Johnson and Hayes, before moving to Birmingham. Kathy's personal experience includes caring for several of her own relatives, helping with their increasing needs as they aged, as well as a dear friend that she cared for for five years until her death at 96. Each experience was unique, yet each senior needed socialization, personal connection and a sense of worth and dignity. Since losing her own mother at the age of 18, and her father years ago, Kathy has found joy in helping others as a tribute to both of her precious parents. She feels it is such a gift and honor to be able to help someone elderly who lacks close family or friends and she also understands the need for respite for live-in caregivers. The TEP program is a perfect fit for Kathy! Kathy and her husband, Monroe, are members of Redeemer Community Church in Avondale and have two grown daughters who both graduated from Samford University. Kathy plays tennis and loves traveling with her family, especially to the beach!
Kathy Jones
Thoughtful Engagement® Specialist
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Leah joined Life Care Solutions in April 2022 as a Thoughtful Engagement Specialist. Originally from Boaz, Alabama she has made Birmingham her home since 1997. Leah graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work and a Master's Degree in Social Work with a concentration in Healthcare. Leah's experience in working with seniors and their families was gained in a variety of settings including assisted living, hospitals, home health and hospice. Personal experience with multiple family members suffering from dementia has provided Leah with compassion and empathy for the unique challenges faced by the aging population and their caregivers. She has a strong desire and dedication to serve her clients by providing positive, meaningful interactions based on their individual needs. Leah is a member at Church on the Highlands, an active participant in the PTF at Briarwood Christian School and has served in various roles and committees throughout the years. She finds her greatest joy spending time with her husband, Logan, and two daughters. She also enjoys cross training, tennis, vacationing at the beach, but can usually be found watching her girls compete on the volleyball court, track and cross country course.
Kathy Pope
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Kathy joined the LifeCare Solutions team in June 2023 and serves as one of our Thoughtful Engagement Specialists®. Kathy grew up in Homewood and graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelors’ Degree in Elementary Education. Kathy has ten plus years of experience teaching and working with children. She has a love for people of all ages and a desire to help others, especially those that do not have close family and/or friends available to help them.
Kathy and her husband, Richard, have been blessed with four fantastic children and two of the best dogs. Their family enjoys all things outdoors. Kathy especially enjoys hiking, running, playing tennis, and time spent together with family and friends.
Thoughtful Engagement® Specialist
meet our
Home Repair
Concierge
Most of our clients want to stay at home. Our Home Repair Concierge team educates our clients and families on serious home safety hazards and help implement an emergency plan and install home safety modifications, such as grab bars. They also provide help with the small things, like changing light bulbs and air filters, decluttering rooms, and preparing your home for a winter storm. Don’t be overwhelmed- our HRC team can handle it!
Adam Fargason
Home Repair Concierge
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Adam Fargason joined the LifeCare Solutions team in the summer of 2022. Adam serves on our Home Repair Concierge Team and as a Thoughtful Engagement Specialist helping clients maintain their home and stay engaged. Adam has undergone Grab Bar Training through Age Safe® America and can assess and install grab bars for our clients. Adam also uses his love and experience with music to provide our clients with enriching activities suited to their interests and abilities.
Adam is an Americorp Alumni, having worked with the California Backcountry Trails Program. He is a CELTA certified teacher and has 14 years of experience working with learners in Thailand, South Korea and Vietnam. In recent years he helped co-produce the Phuong Tam, Magical Nights album released on Sublime Frequencies - a project highlighting the career of Saigon's first rock n' roll singer. Adam has just moved back to the states from Vietmam with his wife Linda and their two cats!