Melissa Plourde, LSW, CGCM, CDP, CPC

Expert Caregiver Coach & Geriatric Care Manager | Dementia and End-of-Life Care Specialist

A session with me is like…
Having a warm, supportive, trusted partner to focus on your goals, challenges, and strengths. You will gain practical tools and strategies, expert insight, and compassionate guidance to help you feel more confident, balanced, and purposeful in your caregiving and personal journey.

One life experience that helps me relate to my clients is…
Though I have decades of professional experience, I also walk the caregiving path myself. I was a single mother who raised a child with challenges (who is now thriving as an independent adult!), and I also support many loved ones through aging and life’s transitions. I understand firsthand the rewards and the struggles that come with caring for others. Over the years, I’ve learned that self-care is not optional—it’s essential—and that true compassion is born from lived experience as much as from professional expertise.

Three things I want clients to feel post-session are…
Empowered to take next steps, comforted knowing they’re not alone, and encouraged to care for themselves as they care for others.

Past experience that qualifies me for this role is…
I spent the first 12 years of my career in behavioral health, working as a case manager in hospital systems, women’s programs, and dual-diagnosis treatment. In 2005, I shifted my focus to geriatrics and found deep fulfillment in supporting families through the aging, dementia, and end-of-life journeys. Since then, I have had the privilege of educating and training thousands of caregivers and helping them build skills and confidence.

For more than 30 years, I’ve dedicated my life to helping others while embracing personal growth, expanding my knowledge, and nurturing meaningful relationships. This combination of professional expertise and lived experience allows me to live a life of harmony, balance, and joy—and to help other women do the same.

My relevant credentials are…
– Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston
– Licensed Social Worker, Massachusetts Board of Registration of Social Workers
– Certified Geriatric Care Manager, International Commission on Health Care Certification
– Certified Dementia Practitioner, National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners
– Certified Professional Coach, Fowler International Academy
– Trained Facilitator for Direct Care Workers, Massachusetts Home Care Alliance
– Trained Facilitator, Alzheimer's Association
– Dementia Caregiver Support Group Facilitator