ABOUT US
Bess Lindahl started Care and Keeping to connect seniors with communities and provide the resources they need to easily transition into their new homes. Bess has been a Senior Placement Advisor for over five years, and helping seniors has been her lifelong mission. She has helped many clients and their families find the support and resources they need during the transition of moving.
Bess serves as President of two local non-profit organizations geared toward helping seniors in our area and has built a large network of communities, providers, and resources to help guide clients to the care they need.
Care and Keeping services are completely free to our clients. Whether you're looking for Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, or an Adult Family Home, we have the team and resources to help you choose your next home!
OUR VALUES
At Care and Keeping, we are committed to providing compassionate and personalized care. Our core values of creativity, empathy, integrity, kindness, generosity, thoroughness, and diplomacy guide us in every interaction. We strive to build trust and foster strong relationships with our clients, ensuring a warm and supportive experience.
MEET THE TEAM
How to Reach Me
Bess Lindahl
Owner, Housing & Care Advisor
Bess has dedicated her life to supporting and caring for older adults. With nearly eight years of experience as a senior placement advisor, she finds deep fulfillment in helping individuals and families navigate the often-overwhelming transition to senior living. Her goal is to ensure each person feels informed, empowered, and confident in the choices they make—knowing they’ve found the right fit for this important chapter of life.
Beyond her professional role, Bess is deeply involved in her community. She serves as President of the Portland Elder Care Council, an Oregon based non-profit organization. Care and Keeping is a member agency of the Oregon Senior Referral Agency Association (OSRAA) and Bess served on the board for the past 5 years, acting as the board President from 2022-2025. Through her leadership and volunteer efforts, she works to elevate the standard of care and expand access to trusted resources for seniors and their families across the region.
Mary Shanafelt
Housing & Care Advisor
Mary has been helping older adults and their families navigate senior living options for over four years. She enjoys getting to know each person and family, understanding what matters most to them, and helping them find care and living options that fit their individual needs and preferences.
With a warm, thoughtful approach, Mary helps make what can be an overwhelming process feel more manageable. She provides personalized guidance throughout the search, from identifying appropriate options and arranging tours to helping families understand levels of care, costs, and what questions to ask along the way.
Mary is actively involved in the local senior care community and has developed strong relationships with senior living communities, adult care homes, healthcare professionals, and other trusted resources throughout the Portland area. She values being a knowledgeable and dependable resource for families as they make important decisions for themselves or someone they love.
How to Reach Me
How to Reach Me
Emily McNulty
Housing & Care Advisor
Emily has spent more than two years helping older adults and their families navigate senior living and long-term care decisions. Known for her compassion, patience, and ability to truly listen, she takes the time to understand each person’s unique needs, preferences, and circumstances.
Emily recognizes how overwhelming these decisions can feel and strives to make the process easier by providing knowledgeable guidance, thoughtful recommendations, and a steady source of support from the first conversation through the transition to a new home. Her goal is never simply to find an available placement, but to help each person find a place that truly feels like the right fit.
Outside of work, Emily is deeply involved in volunteering and assisting her community. She also enjoys traveling and finding time to explore the NW's natural beauty.
Skylar Lindahl
Business Manager
Registered Nurse
Consultant
Available for assessment of medically complex and behavioral health concerns as needed.
TESTIMONIAL
" My wife and I were gifted when we were referred by the discharge coordinator at a local SNF to Mary. All of the candidate care homes that she chose for us were acceptable--we picked one that was superior and have been happy with that choice. Mary did a remarkable job of understanding the specific needs or our step-mother while remaining ever pleasant in her mood. She deserves the 5 stars we've given her."