Peggy Rubenstein, LCPC
Hi, I’m Peggy.
I provide clinical expertise and practical support to individuals and families facing dementia.
After years of working in geriatric care and mental health counseling, I realized how few options exist for structured, individualized logistical dementia care support. Receiving an Alzheimer’s or other dementia diagnosis is life-changing, bringing with it stress, overwhelm, grief, and a sense that all control has been lost.
In the immediate aftermath of a diagnosis, families are hit with a flood of urgent questions:
What is going to happen next?
How will we manage this?
How will our daily lives change?
What resources do we actually have for support?
I launched Talk Dementia Care with a simple philosophy: “When you know better, you do better.” My goal is to empower you with clinical knowledge and provide a clear, actionable plan forward.
Proactive Guidance Backed by Decades of Expertise
My practice focuses entirely on Geriatric Care Management, Dementia Consulting and Caregiver Support because my experience has taught me that most families don’t need traditional therapy—they need resources, localized direction, and answers to complex logistical questions now.
My professional experience includes 12 years of dedicated service with the Alzheimer’s Association. During this time, I spent three years working onsite at the University of Illinois Memory and Aging Clinic, collaborating within a multidisciplinary team of medical experts to support individuals, couples, and families facing the unique challenges of dementia.
Specialized Expertise:
Clinical Liaison & Care Consultant within a university-level memory and aging clinic
Care Navigator
Early Stage Support Group Facilitator for those living with the diagnosis and their care partner
Community Speaker, Presenter, & Panel Expert
Advanced Training & Credentials:
Master’s Degree in Gerontology Counseling
Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) Designation
Certificate in Dementia Care, University of Michigan
Certificate in Ambiguous Loss, University of Minnesota
Today, I use this precise training and my clinical background to consult with and guide families so that living with a dementia diagnosis feels manageable, organized, and deeply supported from day one.
My Family’s Story: Honoring Grandma Peg
My commitment to this work isn't just professional—it's deeply personal. I am named for my grandmother, Peg, the matriarch of our family who helped raise me. In the 1990s, she received an Alzheimer’s diagnosis and lived with every stage of the disease.
In the early stages, our family assumed her changing behaviors were just a normal part of aging. But once I noticed her becoming acutely disoriented and forgetting plans we had just discussed, I knew something was fundamentally wrong.
We navigated her illness through stressful trial and error, experiencing firsthand the heavy toll it takes on a family. At one point, a physician even suggested we simply place her in a facility and walk away. But we refused. We loved my grandmother and worked tirelessly to ensure she lived out her days with comfort, independence, and dignity.
The work I do today is entirely dedicated to her memory—ensuring no other family has to guess their way through this disease alone.
“It is in the spaces where things no longer make sense that love speaks the loudest.” — Unknown
Beyond the Work
I love hanging out with family and friends, going to concerts, and hitting the golf course (even if my game is still a work in progress!). My three young grandsons are the absolute joys of my life, and I catch myself thinking of my own Grandma Peg when we spend time together.
As an LCPC, my mental health background heavily informs my expertise. However, my practice through this website is strictly limited to geriatric care management, dementia consulting and caregiver support, not clinical psychotherapy.
Reclaim Your Peace of Mind
If you or a loved one has received a dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis, you do not have to figure this out alone. Let's chart an actionable path forward together.
Have a question or would like to schedule a consultation? Reach out today!
Specialties
Looking for guidance and support to help your loved one age with dignity and confidence?
Looking for guidance as you navigate memory changes, dementia care, and important decisions for your loved one?
Feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of caregiving and wondering how therapy can help you regain calm and balance?