A doctor is always within reach
It's like having a doctor in the family
Who We Are
Doctors, nurse practitioners, social workers, and therapists
Experts in geriatric medicine with board certifications
A doctor’s office that does house calls in Tucson and surrounding areas
"We believe that seeing our patients in their own homes makes a huge difference in memory care."
Membership benefits
At ElderHealth, we come to your home in Tucson, Arizona.
No more frustrating trips to the doctor’s office. No more transportation problems. Just wait at home for us.
- Avoid lengthy waits. No more waiting rooms in stuffy offices.
- No need to travel. Use travel time for fun opportunities instead, like family visits or walks in nature.
- Better assessments. Home visits allow us to make better assessments of clients’ homes and cognitive abilities.
Telehealth visits for older adults in Arizona
ElderHealth also offers online medical visits in the form of phone and video calls.
- Avoid contagions. Telemedicine adds another layer of protection for older patients against COVID-19 and influenza.
- Make it simple. Telemedicine makes it even easier to get care when—and where—it’s convenient for you.
Cultural Competency y Hablamos Español
We are dedicated to providing culturally competent care to ElderHealth members. We’ve completed cultural competency trainings for medical professionals. And we continue to learn from our community and patients.
We understand the value of providing care in native languages. We strive to provide our Spanish-speaking patients with a Spanish-speaking provider. Please inquire for more information.
Meet Our Team
Corinne Self, MD
Founder
Corinne Self, MD, is a geriatric physician trained at the University of Arizona and at Stanford University. Dr. Self is passionate about ensuring that all Tucson families have access to advanced care planning and appropriate geriatric treatments. She places high value on open communication and positive patient relationships.
Dr. Self enjoys being outside, gardening, and spending time with her three small children.
Melissa Koon, NP
Co-Founder
Melissa Koon, NP, is a family nurse practitioner and excels at communicating with patients no matter who they are: young or old, urban or rural, Melissa can connect. She has experience with both traditional and alternative palliative therapies, and believes that collaborating with other experts—from social workers to music therapists—is key.
Melissa is the mother of four children with whom she enjoys a range of hobbies, from woodworking to playing Nintendo.
Peggy Schmidt, NP
Co-Founder
Peggy Schmidt, NP, is an adult nurse practitioner and VA Geriatric Scholar. With 40 years of experience in medicine, she is committed to helping families and caregivers maintain their own health while navigating with the challenges of caring for a loved one with memory loss.
Peggy finds strength and joy through nature, music, and the magic of cactus flowers.
Laura Aylmer, LCSW
Social Worker
Laura Aylmer, LCSW, is a clinical social worker certified in Palliative and Hospice Social Work at the advanced practice level. Laura earned her degree at Bryn Mawr College School of Social Work and Social Research with a focus on geriatrics. With 20 years of experience in senior and behavioral health and memory care, Laura brings an empathetic and holistic approach to supporting patients, families, and caregivers as they journey through various stages of chronic and progressive illness.
Laura values time with her family, and enjoys walks in nature, journal writing, and music as paths to peace and well-being.
Marc Goodman, RN
Geropsych Nurse
Before becoming a registered nurse at age 50, Marc was a stay-at-home dad, brand producer for an educational software company, co-owner of a record store, a bookstore clerk, and a restaurant worker. Since graduating, he’s worked as a psychiatric nurse in different settings and as a hospice nurse at Casa de la Luz for five years.
Mike Hieber
Music Therapist
Teresa Miller
Music Therapist
As a music therapist, I have discovered that the answer lies in the smallest of moments. When I play music for my patients, they often seem unaware of my presence initially. Then there is a shift. It is as though they are back in the body again, instead of lost in the mind.
Katie Purdy
Art Guide
I lead our offering of art expression with ElderHealth. I am an artist and art teacher. I love working with all ages to help people from all walks of life become more expressive and joyful through the use of many varieties of art. I love people and truly believe that everyone has the ability to express themselves through art.
Brittany Wagner
Operations Manager, Notary
I have 7 years of experience in the medical field in various roles and areas. I started out in a behavioral health setting, then hospice and palliative medicine which is where I found my passion supporting families during such a critical time in their lives. I am so grateful for the opportunity to work for ElderHealth. Everything we do is patient centered. We all have special relationships with our patients and their family members. There is nothing I would rather do than support older adults and families keep their loved ones home with the support they need.
Steps to membership
Step 1
Schedule a 10-minute introduction
This is a telemedicine “getting to know you” doctor’s visit. It’s covered by traditional Medicare
Step 2
We’ll match you with the best fit services
From advanced care planning to memory care at home, we’ll establish a customized plan for your specific needs.
Step 3
Decide to become a member
Once you sign up for the annual membership, you will gain access to all of our services, including:
- Comprehensive Primary Care
- Medical Assessments and Prognoses
- Advanced Care Planning
- Guidance on Living Wills
- Cognitive Maintenance Planning
- Behavioral Interventions
- Home Safety Evaluations
- Evidence-Based Alternative Therapies
- Nutrition Consultations
- Community Referrals
- Ongoing Check-Ins and Follow-Up Care
- Memory Care Resources
- Mobile Notary Service
- ... and more
Disclaimer: While many of the above services are included in the cost of membership, some optional services will require an additional fee.
Our Words Matter
Dementia vs. Neurocognitive Disorders
At ElderHealth, we believe that every person deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. We choose the best terminology possible to demonstrate these values.
Goodbye, dementia. The term dementia has traditionally been used to denote cognitive deficits. It has taken on a stigmatizing tone in recent years.
Hello, neurocognitive care. Doctors now use the term neurocognitive disorders to describe the group of conditions that cause memory loss and behavioral changes as we age. At ElderHealth, we focus on these neurocognitive and memory disorders, but we choose to view them as part of a holistic cognitive care journey.
The four most common neurocognitive disorders
Alzheimer’s disease is multifactorial and is associated with abnormal protein fragments in the brain.
Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include:
- progressive loss of memory
- difficult caring for oneself
- loss of language ability
Lewy body disorder and Parkinson’s disease is associated with a buildup of alpha-synuclein proteins in the brain.
Symptoms of Lewy body disorder and Parkinson’s disease include:
- memory loss and thinking problems
- sleep disturbances and movement issues
- well-formed visual hallucinations
Vascular / stroke cognitive disorder is generally related to stroke or blood vessel problems in the brain.
Symptoms of vascular/stroke cognitive disorder include:
- impaired judgment
- difficulty with decision-making or planning
- inability to organize thoughts
Frontotemporal disorder is multifactorial and is associated with abnormal protein fragments in the brain.
Symptoms of frontotemporal disorder include:
- personality and behavioral changes
- progressive difficulty with language skills
- problems with movement
FAQs
Common questions regarding new patient inquiries and ElderHealth services.
What's the difference between Primary Care Membership and Advanced Care Planning services?
We currently only offer our breadth of primary care and cognitive services to our Primary Care Members. However, Advanced Care Planning services are available to members and non-members.
Do you offer telemedicine?
Yes. We are happy to offer initial consultations, advanced care planning visits and follow up visits via telemedicine based on patient and family preference.
What insurances do you take? And what if I don’t have coverage or insurance?
We currently participate with Original/Standard Medicare, United Commercial/Medicare Advantage/AARP, Aetna HMO/non-HMO, and Cigna Commercial plans. We are working towards participating with many local plans. Many of our services are covered by Medicare, including home visits and advanced care planning visits.
If you do not have coverage or insurance, you will be offered a discounted rate for our services.
Can I keep my Primary Care doctor / provider?
What is membership medicine?
In addition to billing medical insurance, patient’s pay an annual membership fee. The membership fee allows us to maintain a smaller patient panel, so that we may dedicate more time to our patients. This arrangement allows us the flexibility to provide excellent primary care for you and your loved ones in the comfort of your own home and to be available after hours when you need help most.
Do I have to be a member to have an advanced care planning session?
No, in addition to our Primary Care Membership, we are delighted to offer Advanced Care Planning services to any Arizona resident. You do not have to be a member in order to receive Advanced Care Planning. Note: Advanced Care Planning is a covered benefit under Medicare.