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Susan Birenbaum Associates LLC was founded by Susan Birenbaum, a certified Aging Life CareTM Manager. Aging Life Care ProfessionalsTM provide expert assistance in caring for you or a family member. We are partners to help you make the best decisions and deliver the best solutions for you and your loved ones. It’s a holistic approach – with the client and their family at the center – that respects your values, preferences and resources.

Our Services

Co-Op/Condo Board Advisory

Condo/Co-Op Board Advisory

We have developed an expertise in working with residence groups to solve situations so evictions can be avoided and unfortunate incidents do not occur.
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Aging Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy with Older Adults and Their Children

Many aging adults suffer psychological stress and disorders during the final aging years including depression and anxiety, grief from loss of a loved one, among others.
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Meet Susan Birenbaum, LCSW, MBA

Susan Birenbaum is the founder of Susan Birenbaum Associates LLC. She is a New York State Licensed Clinical Social Worker for over 16 years.

Susan has been appointed Court Evaluator and Guardian Cases by the Supreme Court of the State of New York. Susan has published articles:

“Neighbor to Neighbor: Dealing with Aging Residents” and “Aging Shareholder Situations in Co-ops”, The Cooperator.

“Dealing with the infirm: Older Residents and Geriatric Care”, Habitat Magazine

“Suicide Among Older Adults”, The Clinician.

“How to Care for Your Aging Parents”, New York Magazine.

She is frequently quoted as an expert and has appeared on numerous panels.

Susan has taught at the Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging and Longevity, Hunter College, CUNY. She designed a Certificate in Geriatric Care Management for Medgar Evers College, CUNY. She also worked on developing a Geriatric Care Management Program for NYU Silver School of Social Work. She has served on Board of Director, New York Chapter, Aging Life Care Association.

She has served on the Board of Directors of her Co-op Association. She holds an MSW from New York University Silver School of Social Work, an MBA from New York University Stern School of Business Administration, and a BA from the University of Connecticut.

She was former Coordinator at the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health. Prior to entering the field of Social Work, she was a Vice President, Private Banking Citibank N.A. In her practice, Susan works closely with Attorneys, Physicians, Wealth Managers, Financial Advisors and Trustees. She also works with Member of the Board of Co-ops and Managing Agents.

Stories

Read how these older adults and their families found help, hope and comfort through the support of Susan Birenbaum
Robert and Ann
Robert and Ann
John
John
Marie and Joseph
Marie and Joseph
Brigette
Brigette

Testimonials

I have always had confidence in Susan’s skill as a psychotherapist to be able to engage patients and gain their trust, provide needed support and use excellent judgment. We work in close contact and Susan will immediately notify me about changes that she believes need my attention

Phil,
Geriatric Psychiatrist

2015-11-05T00:42:54-05:00

Phil,
Geriatric Psychiatrist

I have always had confidence in Susan’s skill as a psychotherapist to be able to engage patients and gain their trust, provide needed support and use excellent judgment. We work in close contact and Susan will immediately notify me about changes that she believes need my attention

We owe it to Susan that we were able to remain UK-based (coming monthly to New York for a week to visit and make sure that everything was ok ) during my mother’s last years, safe in the knowledge that she was well-looked after and her needs attended to.

Dan, United Kingdom

2015-11-04T02:24:17-05:00

Dan, United Kingdom

We owe it to Susan that we were able to remain UK-based (coming monthly to New York for a week to visit and make sure that everything was ok ) during my mother’s last years, safe in the knowledge that she was well-looked after and her needs attended to.

I live in Oxford, UK and my mother lives in New York. It was due to Susan that I could continue to work and live in Oxford. It was especially difficult during the Pandemic. My mother was historically a hoarder and it had gotten worse in her later years. It was so bad that the Co-op Board had given her a letter that she had a month to resolve the situation, or her lease would be taken away. Susan was able to engage her and bring in a company that did a major cleaning and she was able to avoid losing her apartment.

Mike,
Family member

2015-11-05T00:42:06-05:00

Mike,
Family member

I live in Oxford, UK and my mother lives in New York. It was due to Susan that I could continue to work and live in Oxford. It was especially difficult during the Pandemic. My mother was historically a hoarder and it had gotten worse in her later years. It was so bad that the Co-op Board had given her a letter that she had a month to resolve the situation, or her lease would be taken away. Susan was able to engage her and bring in a company that did a major cleaning and she was able to avoid losing her apartment.

There was a shareholder in the building who had bought her apartment in the 1980’s. She had no family or friends. She was very difficult and at this point, she would not let anyone into her apartment. She had dementia and many illnesses. She had not been out of her apartment in a long time. She had caused 12-14 fires because she had turned on the gas and forgot it was on. Susan was brought in as an Advisor by the Co-op. She was eventually able to recommend an excellent Elder Care Attorney who got the Court to appoint a Guardian and she is now safely in a Nursing Home.

Kathleen,
Vice President, Co-op board

2015-11-05T00:42:06-05:00

Kathleen,
Vice President, Board of Director

There was a shareholder in the building who had bought her apartment in the 1980’s. She had no family or friends. She was very difficult and at this point, she would not let anyone into her apartment. She had dementia and many illnesses. She had not been out of her apartment in a long time. She had caused 12-14 fires because she had turned on the gas and forgot it was on. Susan was brought in as an Advisor by the Co-op. She was eventually able to recommend an excellent Elder Care Attorney who got the Court to appoint a Guardian and she is now safely in a Nursing Home.

Susan is by far the best advisor to clients who are in difficult situations and need legal assistance and Guardianship.

Jim,
Elder Law Attorney

2015-11-05T00:42:06-05:00

Jim,
Elder Law Attorney

Susan is by far the best advisor to clients who are in difficult situations and need legal assistance and Guardianship.

FAQS

My mother has early-stage Alzheimer’s and relies on my father as a caregiver. My father is not well and becoming frailer. He refuses to allow help in the apartment. What can be done?

I work with the family to engage his father and help to arrange for an Home Health Care Aide to work with his parents.

I am my mother’s caregiver and I am facing the decision of whether she can stay in her apartment or should she move to assisted living. I do not understand the options, what can I do?

I work with the family to discuss the options that would be appropriate for their mother after an evaluation.

My mother’s doctor says she is depressed and should see a therapist. Isn’t she too old?

It is not uncommon for an older adult to suffer depression. She has experienced loss of people, illnesses and potentially mobility. As a psychotherapist, I specialize in working with Geriatric individuals.

What are some danger signals to look for indicating a person needs attention and possible intervention for her safety and that of the building.

Some of the more serious indicators of an individual needs an intervention: leaving the gas on, forgetting, wandering the halls, hoarders and neighbors recognizing changes in the individual.

My father is a hoarder and has numerous magazines, newspapers in his apartment and the building is threating eviction. What can be done?

In conjunction with the family, I arrange to have a company which specializes in cleaning apartments for hoarders brought in.

My mother has dementia, and she has turned on the gas numerous times and caused fires in her apartment. What can the Co-op do?

I have worked with family members, Co-op Boarder Members and Supers to arrange to have the gas turned off. At times, there are convection stove tops which allow cooking without the danger of fires.

My mother has lived in her Co-op for many years and her neighbors like her, however she is now wandering in the building and they are concerned.

I work with the family to do an evaluation and suggest the best alternatives for the mother to potentially continue to live in her Co-op.

There is a shareholder who has lived in her apartment for many years, however she is no longer capable of caring for herself and has no family. What can the Co-op do?

I have worked with Co-ops to suggest an Elder Law Attorney to arrange for Guardianship through the court.

Our Service Area

We serve clients in all of Manhattan and selectively in the outer boroughs of New York City. We also work with Caregivers who live all over the United States and Internationally. Please contact us to discuss the details of your specific situation, and we will respond within 24 hours.
Susan Birenbaum Associates, LLC

917.743.6764
susanbirenbaumllc@gmail.com
 
 

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