ABOUT
— OUR STORY —
Mt. Hood Adult Day Center is a family owned business that has been operating since 2010. We strive to always provide life-enriching care to our senior community, those affected with memory loss, and individuals with special needs while offering much needed respite to dedicated caregivers. Schedule a free trial day, tour our center and meet our friendly staff.
Judith O'Connell
Founder and Owner
At the young age of 21, Judith began working with seniors as a CNA, which further fueled her passion for working with this population. While raising her children, Judith worked to obtain her Bachelor’s in Science from the University of Portland- moving on to complete Master’s level coursework. When the opportunity arose to serve East Multnomah County’s senior population, Judith seized it. Mt. Hood Adult Day Center, operating since 2010, has been a catalyst for Judith’s true passion of serving her community by always providing “Life Enriching Care”. Judith’s main goal has always been to allow seniors to stay in their homes as long as possible, while providing respite and peace of mind to caregivers.
Judith serves on the board of Mt. Hood Community College’s Mental Health and Human Services program and the Alzheimer’s Association (Oregon Chapter). She is a proud mother and grandmother.
— OUR TEAM —
Mt. Hood Adult Day Center’s dedicated team can help guide you no matter where you are in the process.
Lauren Culwell
Director
Lauren Culwell was born and raised deep in the heart of Texas. She holds a BA in Marketing from the University of North Texas. She moved from her home state to Portland shortly after graduating and has since made her home in the Pacific Northwest. Lauren started her career in long-term care as a receptionist in a long-term care facility, working her way through many departments. She easily fell in love with working with seniors. She enjoys telling jokes, hearing stories, making people smile, and can almost always find the sweetness amidst bitter times.
Lauren has spent the last 14 years working in the Senior Housing industry, primarily skilled nursing. Community is important to Lauren, and she has a natural gift for bringing people together and is eager to carry this energy with her to Mt. Hood Adult Day Center as Program Director. She has a comprehensive understanding of skilled nursing and Medicare and continues to be a knowledgeable resource for families or participants who may have questions. Throughout her time working as a social worker, she gained experience supporting residents and their families during crisis situations to work through barriers in order to create a safe, agreed upon, discharge plan for the individual.
Lauren is a problem solver, a mover, and a shaker.
She is on the board for Senior Provider Information Network (SPIN), an organization dedicated to providing quality continuing education and networking opportunities to senior healthcare professionals. Their monthly networking meetings allow her the opportunity to stay connected with others working in the industry. Learning about and utilizing community resources is important to her.
Rebecca Ferté
Case Manager
Rebecca “Becca” Ferte is a Portland area native, and attended Portland State University, earning her Bachelor of Arts in Health Studies: Community Health Education. While attending school, she worked as a caregiver. She started as a Skills Trainer at our sister program, The Courts Fitness & Enrichment, where she demonstrated a dedication to our goals and a passion for the community we serve. We’re so pleased to have her be a part of our extraordinary team, ensuring we’re providing the best possible care and meeting the needs of our program participants. Welcome, Becca!