Headshot photo of Lisa CusamanoLisa A. Cusumano is an innovator in the field of Advance Care Planning and Elder Care. She acts as a liaison, facilitating decision making between clients, family members and institutions. Keeping the lines of communication flowing, Lisa ensures that her client’s medical, social and spiritual wishes are recognized and updated as needed. Enthusiastically advocating for her clients, her investigative spirit provides her with unlimited energy to push the standards of acceptable care.  Lisa is cutting edge in her approach and a diligent ally for her clients. Her extensive world-travel has provided her with a cross-cultural and diversified perspective.

Lisa is most passionate about ensuring our clients have thoughtfully planned for their futures including medical care alternatives and end of life care planning.  She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Human Development and has completed graduate level courses in Marriage and Family Therapy, Gerontology, and End of Life Care Planning. Lisa is a First Steps ® ACP Certified Facilitator through Respecting Choices®, a program of Gunderson Lutheran Medical Foundation, Inc. She has completed the Contemplative End of Life Care Professional Certificate program through Naropa University. Lisa has also completed the Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach™ to Care (PAC) philosophy and care partnering techniques using the adult experiential learning cycle, multiple intelligences, and personality traits.

Lisa is a Certified Care Manager by the National Academy of Certified Care Managers (NACCM) and a member of The Aging Life Care Association™ (ALCA), the American Society on Aging, Compassion and Choices, The International Society of Advance Care Planning and End of Life Care.


TESTIMONIAL

Ms. Cusumano,

Thank you for taking time from your schedule to speak with us. Your wealth of information regarding end-of-life care and the decisions associated with it are truly remarkable. Your encouragement to “break the ice and start talking about death” was a profound take away message. You helped us reimagine our approach with those who are chronically ill, realizing dying a good death doesn’t mean we are giving up on them. No one wants to suffer as their life comes to an end, which is why you teaching us about the importance of having an end-of-life plan is so critical. Thank you for helping to open our minds and our hearts.

PSY 349 – Death & Dying Class
at Stony Brook University