The event will be held at Hessler Heights Gracious Retirement Living in Leesburg, VA.

We’d love to see you there! But don’t worry, if you can’t make it, you can always register on Zoom.

About Our Speaker

Sydney Palinkas is a licensed graduate social worker with a focus on improving the lives of older adults. Since November 2022, Sydney has been the RAFT Dementia Education and Outreach Coordinator at the Regional Older Adult Facilities Mental Health Support Team, where she supports older adults living with dementia and their families remain at home. 

Sydney also serves as the Board Secretary for the Virginia Coalition for the Prevention of Elder Abuse. She has experience volunteering with hospice, nursing homes, and senior centers. She currently volunteers with Meals on Wheels.

From 2018 to 2022, Sydney worked as the Community Outreach and Education Manager and then Associate Director for the ElderSAFE Center at Charles E. Smith Life Communities, which provides temporary, safe shelter for older adults who have experienced abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. Previously, Sydney worked at the National Network to End Domestic Violence on the Transitional Housing and Positively Safe Teams, training domestic violence, housing, and HIV programs across the country on best practices for serving survivors of violence. 

Sydney received her B.A. in Human Services and Sociology from Northeastern University and her Master’s in Social Work from Boston University.