A Calling Rooted in Connection
Combining 30 years of clinical expertise with a lifetime of personal insight to guide Maryland families through the journey of dementia.
My Credentials
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Certified Dementia and Montessori Practitioner
Certified Care Manager
Over 6 years at Baltimore VA Medical Center
Experience & Expertise
Founded Eye on Elders
Nearly 30 years clinical experience
My Story | Betsy Kurtz, LCSW-C, CCM, CDP, CMDCP
My first exposure to dementia came long before I understood cognitive impairment. As a young child, I visited my 99-year-old great-grandmother each week in an assisted living community. I remember residents reaching out—curious and eager for connection. While many children might have felt uneasy, I was drawn to them. While my mother spent time with my Nana, I wandered the halls, sharing songs, listening to stories, and even brushing residents’ hair. Those early experiences quietly shaped what would become my life’s work.
Working with individuals living with dementia is not just my profession—it is my calling.
After more than six years at the Baltimore VA Medical Center, where I served as Dementia Care Coordinator for the Maryland Veterans Health Administration, I gained extensive experience guiding families, training staff, and implementing best practices in dementia care. Over time, I recognized a critical limitation: meaningful support cannot happen fully within a clinical setting alone. While I could assess and advise, I could not see the day-to-day realities families were facing.
That realization led me to shift my focus.
By working directly with clients in their home environments, I am able to support care partners in real time—reducing behavioral symptoms, easing caregiver burden, preventing unnecessary hospitalizations, and serving as a consistent liaison between families and medical providers.
With nearly 30 years of clinical experience, I founded Eye on Elders to provide expert, highly personalized guidance to Maryland families and care communities. My work is grounded in the core values of trust, acceptance, authenticity, and honesty.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Certified Dementia and Montessori Practitioner, and a Certified Care Manager. My approach integrates clinical expertise with practical, real-world strategies, including communication techniques, behavioral management, and facilitation of complex care decisions.
In addition to my professional experience, I have personally supported my mother and two grandparents through their dementia journeys. This lived experience informs my work every day, allowing me to meet families with empathy, steadiness, and understanding.
It is this combination of clinical knowledge and personal insight that enables me to navigate even the most complex situations and help families move forward with clarity, confidence, and peace of mind.
