It started, as many great partnerships do, with a shared vision. Christine and Larisa met as colleagues in the elder care field years ago and quickly realized they had more in common than just their respective professions as a nurse and social worker. They saw eye-to-eye on the importance of compassionate, personalized care that treats each patient as a whole person, not just a medical case file.
As the years went by and their experience deepened, that shared vision kept resurfacing in conversations over coffee. What if they could take the knowledge gained over 40 combined years in nursing and social work and do things their way? No compromising on their principles of dignity, empathy, and treating every patient like family.
Eventually, the dream would no longer be ignored. Christine and Larisa took the leap to found Care Collective – a company built on their unshakable belief about how care should be delivered. With their complementary skills and passion for helping others, they create care management solutions that seek to honor the autonomy of their clients while easing the burden on their loved ones.
Care Collective is more than just a business – it’s the realization of two care professionals’ life’s work. It’s about providing the kind of thoughtful, warm care that they’d want for their own loved ones. Behind every action is years of wisdom, but even more importantly, two whole hearts devoted to their community.
Christine’s passion for working with seniors started when she was a young girl, when at eleven years old she would ride her bike to a nursing home in her home town and volunteer as the social worker’s helper. She recalls the experience vividly to this day.
Years later when pursuing her Master’s Degree in Social Work she asked her parents why they made her volunteer at the nursing home. Their reply was “we didn’t make you go, you decided you wanted to do it and went all on your own!”
Christine began her social work career in 2001. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work from Hunter College School of Social Work with a specialization in Adults, Older Adults, and Families. She is formally trained as a Certified Dementia Practitioner and Dementia Care Trainer and is an active member of the National Aging Life Care Association of Care Managers. Her wide-ranging experience encompasses clinical case management in inpatient sub-acute and long-term care settings, hospice, and community home care. She is dedicated to helping people live with dignity and choice, while helping them navigate the challenges that impact health and independence.
Larisa Kurkova RN, BSN, MS, CCM
As a high school student, Larisa‘s passion for medicine burned brightly. She immersed herself in the school’s medical club, soaking up every scrap of knowledge. When it came time for college and after that for university, there was no question which direction she would take.
Larisa first became a Registered Nurse and then went on to earn her Medical Doctor degree. She sponged up insights from professors who became role models in their own right. She was electrified by how the human body’s complexities intertwined with a person’s psyche, family, and spiritual essence.
Her journey brought her to New York City, where for over two decades she has sharpened her nursing skills working with high-touch, concierge-style home care agencies. She learned firsthand how complex, overwhelming, and emotionally draining coordinating care can be for patients and their loved ones. That’s when her role took on deeper meaning as a care manager. Larisa became a trusted guide helping families navigate the labyrinth of healthcare and rediscover peace of mind and refocus on living life to the fullest.
By combining care management and nursing services under one roof, we provide a level of continuity and coordination that is unmatched in our area. Our multidisciplinary team collaborates closely, sharing insights and leveraging their collective expertise to ensure your loved one’s needs are met holistically – physically, emotionally, and logistically.
At Care Collective we understand that caring for a loved one is a profound responsibility. That’s why we are committed to delivering exceptional care with compassion, expertise, and a truly unique approach that addresses every aspect of your journey.
A care manager is dedicated to helping clients age well while also supporting quality of life for family members. This phase of a family’s journey together is often complicated. There is more to do than there is time. Relatives may live far away. Relations can become strained.
Our professional training and knowledge of best practices can ease the journey.
Every family is unique. As a care manager and nurse, we apply our insights and skills in 8 key areas to provide you with a positive care plan tailored to your family’s individual needs and strengths.
We offer expertise regarding:
Health and disability: Through assessments and experience, we can help you understand what your loved one does well, and in what areas he or she could use additional help.
Finances: A review of the current monetary situation will result in a plan to make resources stretch as efficiently as possibly while maintaining the desired level of comfort, dignity and safety.
Housing: Based on the assessments, recommendations can be made for optimal living situations now, with a view to likely changes in the foreseeable future.
Family: Sibling disagreements and old family history often make the aging journey difficult. Our training provides for skilled facilitation of family meetings and creation of a plan that takes everyone’s needs into account.
Local Resources: There are programs available to help, but it’s difficult to know which one is the most appropriate for your situation. Save time and money by letting us objectively evaluate the situation and connect you to the resources best suited to your needs.
Advocacy: Our comprehensive knowledge of the disjointed health care system allows us to monitor quality and lobby for the care and treatment your family wants.
Legal: Let us help you identify issues and get key paperwork in order.
Crisis Intervention: The unexpected is simply a fact of life in aging. We are experienced with elder emergencies and are ready to jump in at a moment’s notice.
Care Collective Nursing & Care Management is in the business of helping aging adults and their families to live well throughout the aging process. Give us a call at +1-646-600-9862 to discuss the many ways we can help you.
A care manager is dedicated to helping clients age well while also supporting quality of life for family members. This phase of a family’s journey together is often complicated. There is more to do than there is time. Relatives may live far away. Relations can become strained.