What makes PALM Aging Life Management unique is the diversity of training among our staff. You will have one care manager assigned to you for 24/7 support. But we work as a team. Your care manager may be a nurse, but can draw upon the expertise of our social worker, our occupational therapist, our CORE-trained assisted living specialist… You get the idea. This makes our support holistic so you receive a multifaceted approach to care.
In addition, we are truly committed to client-centered care. This means we get to know the client deeply, what’s important to them, what their goals are as they age. All of our recommendations revolve around this understanding.
Dorene graduated from Cazenovia College in New York, then went on to complete her Nursing degree at Crouse Irving Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. She has worked in the long term care setting for 27 years serving as Director of Nursing, Senior Clinical Risk Manager and as a Regional Nurse.
Dorene is a Certified Care Manager and Certified Dementia Specialist, and has been published in the Florida Health Care Association Pulse. She has also served as a presenter at their annual conference.
Dorene and her husband live in St. Augustine. She enjoys spending time with her seven grandchildren, her dog Jack Frost, baking, and reading.
Thalia is the Chief Operating Officer (COO). She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of North Florida and her Masters in Health Administration from Louisiana State University Shreveport. She is also a Certified Dementia Practitioner. Her passion for helping the aging population began after her father’s first fall. Not understanding her options, Thalia spent countless hours researching on how to get the best care possible for her father. This propelled her into healthcare, wanting not only to help her father but also those facing the same stress and confusion her family experienced.
Thalia started her healthcare career working for hospice where she spent her time in hospitals, acute care hospitals, physicians’ offices, assisted livings, and skilled nursing facilities. Her career progressed to home health and assisted living. She has combined both her professional and personal experiences and is in the process of writing a book to help people navigate our complex healthcare system.
Cindy Flowers and Norma Berger, the two founding members of PALM Aging, began their professional relationship in 2004 while working with the aging population. They became close colleagues, and in 2012, finally seized the opportunity to work together. Over the next five years, they developed their careers in Aging Life Care® Management, with Cindy serving as Norma’s mentor. They both share a deep love and respect for older adults, and a mission to honor independence and choices. It’s with this in mind that they opened PALM Aging Life Management in 2017. We have been advocating faithfully for our clients ever since.
Cindy Flowers, MS, CMC: Cindy received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, and her Masters in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She has worked for more than 30 years in the healthcare field, serving in leadership roles in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities and in home health care. She is a certified Geriatric Care Manager and certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist.
Cindy’s vast knowledge and skills working with older adults allows her to professionally and uniquely serve the needs of seniors and their families. Cindy currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Florida Aging Life Care® Association.
In her free time, you can find Cindy on the water: boating, fishing or kayaking. She was a collegiate golfer so you may also find her on the golf course still trying to catch those birdies.
Norma Berger, MSW, CMC: Norma received her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and her Graduate Certificate in Geriatric Care Management from the University of Florida. She has worked with the aging population in Gainesville, Florida for fifteen years. She is a certified Aging Life Care Manager with extensive knowledge of our community and available services, allowing her to professionally coordinate care to meet the needs of seniors and their family members. She is an advanced professional member of the Aging Life Care Association, and also serves as a facilitator for a local support group for caregivers of people with dementia, sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association.
In her spare time, Norma enjoys performing in local theater productions, singing in Voices Rising Community Chorus, and cooking for friends and family.
During a summer stay in Pennsylvania when Samantha was young, she had the opportunity to assist her great-grandfather who had suffered a stroke. She witnessed first hand the challenges and emotional strain placed on her family, igniting her passion to help the older generation. Samantha earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Sociology from Valdosta State University. She was born and raised in Georgia, but brought her southern charm to Gainesville, FL in 2008. She has worked in multiple capacities within governmental and home health agencies since 2002.
Samantha loves spending time with her husband and three children and jumps at the opportunity to relax at the beach.
Rachel Costa, BSN, RN
Rachel received her ASN and BSN from Santa Fe College in Gainesville Florida and is currently enrolled in the MSN program at Walden University. Home Health Care was Rachel’s specialty for more than seventeen years, where she progressively held the field and administrative positions of Case Manager, Clinical Manager, Associate Director of Clinical Practice and most recently, Associate Director of Quality. Rachel has also served as Nursing Supervisor for an Alzheimer’s daycare program and she volunteers at a local senior center.
Rachel’s personal interests include attending her granddaughter’s soccer games and teaching her to cook, reading old fashioned paper books, crochet projects, and being a pet parent to one bossy little Yorkie!
Gyme Guthe, BS, CDP, CORE Certified
Gyme Guthe received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota. She then spent 15 years working with individuals with intellectual disabilities. Gyme went on to work in a nursing home in Minnesota as the Staff Development and Safety Director. After that she began working in assisted living and memory care for the last 20 years. She is CORE certified in the state of Florida. Gyme is also a Certified Dementia Practitioner.
Gyme is new to Florida. She and her husband live in D`aytona Beach and enjoy walking on the beach and having family and friends visit. She looks forward to finding new and fun things to do in Florida.
Gina Black, OTR/L, CDP
Gina Black is a dedicated and compassionate Aging Life Care Manager with over 15 years of experience as an Occupational Therapist. She earned her BA in Criminal Justice and Psychology from The George Washington University in Washington, DC and later received her MS in Occupational Therapy from Richard Stockton College in Pomona, NJ. She is also a Certified Dementia Practitioner.
Gina has specialized in psychiatric and neurological disorders as an occupational therapist, working in outpatient settings, acute rehabilitation facilities, and home health for nine years. Most recently, she served as a faculty member in an Occupational Therapy Assistant program, where she educated and mentored future healthcare professionals.
Her expertise includes care coordination, home safety assessments, advocacy, and wellness planning, all tailored to help seniors maintain their independence and quality of life. With additional training in yoga, wellness coaching, and pet therapy, she takes a holistic approach to care, addressing both physical and emotional well-being.
Kate Riggs, BA, CDP
Kate graduated from Jacksonville University. She started her career working with individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and after 10 years switched to Elder Care Services. She has worked in Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living acting as the Social Worker, Discharge Planner, Admissions Coordinator, and Sales Director. She is a past president of the Florida Health Care Social Workers’ Association District IX. She has presented at the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program Educational Conference the past two years. She is on the committee for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Jacksonville/Alzheimer’s Association, Central and North Florida Chapter.
She created and runs the Facebook group Seniors Pay it Forward: Equipment Give-and Take, a place where people can pass on gently used equipment that can still help Seniors improve their quality of life, and where those in need can search for equipment they need. Kate has been active with the Shepherd’s Center of Orange Park for 8 years. The Center provides community connection, social opportunities and learning classes to the 55+ set in Clay County. She serves on the Board of Directors as Secretary and is currently teaching a class on Navigating the World of ElderCare.
Maureen Jeffreys, RN
Maureen started her career as an aide in a long term care facility. Her passion for helping inspired her to receive her LPN and then her RN. She has worked as a Director of Nursing for a long term care facility where she ensured her department was in compliance by following the CMS regulations and focusing on patient safety with positive outcomes. Because of her interest in Hospice care she decided to specialize in hospice care and became a hospice care manager moving up the ranks to manager from 2011 to 2025. . Providing the support to her clients to ensure the best quality of life is essential. She believes continued communication with the client and family is a key part of advocating for her clients. By utilizing her experience and knowledge, she is able to advocate for her clients as well as provide essential information as they move through the aging process.
Maureen loves theatre, most sports, and her children and grandchildren. She is a season pass holder for the Jaguars and come rain or shine, she goes to every game she can attend.
Dionne Griffin, M.Ed., COTA/L
Dionne Griffin, M.Ed., COTA/L, has been a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant since 2011. Early in her career, she worked with children on the autism spectrum in a private school setting while also gaining extensive experience in a skilled nursing facility, where she provided care for adults with diverse medical and rehabilitative needs. For the past decade, she has served as an instructor in the Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program at Florida State College at Jacksonville, where she also holds the role of Academic Fieldwork Coordinator/ Professor of Occupational Therapy Assisting. In this capacity, Dionne oversees student fieldwork rotations, develops and maintains contracts, and fosters collaborative partnerships with community sites including skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, and schools.
Her expertise in geriatrics—one of the core courses she teaches—directly complements her work with Palm Aging. She is committed to staying current on new technologies, adaptive equipment, and evidence-based practices, bringing this knowledge to enhance the lives of Palm Aging clients. Most recently, Dionne earned her Master of Education degree from the University of North Florida, further strengthening her ability to blend education, innovation, and compassionate care for older adults.
Dorene is the owner of PALM Aging Life Management, along with her two daughters: Jennifer Akin, an 
Cindy Flowers, MS, CMC: Cindy received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, and her Masters in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She has worked for more than 30 years in the healthcare field, serving in leadership roles in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities and in home health care. She is a certified Geriatric Care Manager and certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist.
Norma Berger, MSW, CMC: Norma received her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and her Graduate Certificate in Geriatric Care Management from the University of Florida. She has worked with the aging population in Gainesville, Florida for fifteen years. She is a certified Aging Life Care Manager with extensive knowledge of our community and available services, allowing her to professionally coordinate care to meet the needs of seniors and their family members. She is an advanced professional member of the Aging Life Care Association, and also serves as a facilitator for a local support group for caregivers of people with dementia, sponsored by the Alzheimer’s Association.
