Our Founder
Yolanda Lawler, MASM RCFE
Gerontologist
My Journey
Serving California & North Texas Learn More
I fell in love with Gerontology and the elderly population while attending Cal State University, Fullerton (CSUF). At the time I was experiencing many challenges with my aging mother; It was not easy navigating the difficult role reversal that many of us experience with our aging parents, as well as being the sandwich generation (caring for my child and my mom). I was starting to resent being my mom’s caregiver.
Thankfully during my studies of Gerontology, I had the opportunity to understand the challenges my mother and I were experiencing. I put into practice what I was learning and helped my mother and my siblings with our journey. We were able to have a dialogue about difficult topics such as; finances, physical changes, decline, spiritual beliefs, the stigma of aging, and end of life wishes. This led my family to have a better experience helping our mother embrace aging and feel understood and supported through her journey.
I then decided to further my knowledge, experience, and education in Gerontology. After graduating from CSUF with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Gerontology, I pursued a Masters of Aging Services Management (MASM) from the University of Southern California (USC). I’ve been blessed to work with the elderly population as Case Manager in a special program for isolated older adults to support community reintegration.
I specialize in working with individuals with different types of Dementia; Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Vascular, Lewy Body, Frontotemporal, and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). I have an extensive background in working with the geriatric population in senior living facilities, home care, and memory care settings as well as end of life (Hospice). As a Gerontologist, I understand the importance of treating older adults as the whole person by assessing the psychological, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual aspects of aging in order to determine the best approach to create a personalized care plan and enhance the person’s life.
I am passionate about helping the elderly and their families navigate the complicated journey of aging by providing resources and services that will help the elderly age in place successfully and with dignity. I understand aging is a journey not only for the elderly but for the entire family, and not every journey looks the same. Call Me Today 🙂 949-278-6181
Education
- Masters of Aging Services Management from the University of Southern California (USC).
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Gerontology from Cal State, University of Fullerton (CSUF).
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Screened and cleared by the Department of Social Services to work with the elderly – Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE) #6041115740.
- Member of California Council on Gerontology and Geriatric.
- Honor recipient of Sigma Phi Omega, Gamma Kappa and Psi-Chi International Honor Society.
Gerontologist | Founder & CEO, The Way to Aging
Yolanda Lawler, MASM, RCFE, is a gerontologist and the Founder and CEO of The Way to Aging, helping older adults and their families navigate senior living, dementia care, geriatric care management, assisted living, memory care, residential care and the complex decisions associated with aging.
Her professional and educational background combines formal training in gerontology and psychology with hands-on leadership experience in senior living, memory care, home care, hospice-related care coordination and services for older adults.
Senior Living & Executive Leadership Experience
Before founding The Way to Aging, Yolanda gained extensive experience working directly with older adults and within the senior-care industry.
Yolanda’s professional background includes serving as an Executive Director/Administrator at two large national senior living communities as well as serving as an Executive Director for a caregiving company. Yolanda has lead a staff of more than 100 employees.
As a Gerontologist Yolanda experience encompasses assisted living, memory care, senior living communities, home care and hospice/end-of-life environments.
Yolanda’s combination of gerontology education and hands-on senior-living leadership gives her a perspective that goes far beyond simply locating a community. She understands the day-to-day realities of resident care, staffing, family communication, dementia support, senior-living operations, and the challenges families face as a loved one’s care needs change. This experience allows her to help families evaluate not only where a senior can live today, but also whether a community can provide the right support as their needs evolve.
Areas of Expertise
Yolanda’s professional focus includes assisted living and senior placement, memory care, geriatric care management, dementia care and family guidance, residential care/board-and-care homes, aging-in-place planning, care transitions, senior-care crisis management, caregiver and family support, and hospice/end-of-life care coordination.
She has particular experience supporting individuals and families affected by Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Founder of The Way to Aging
Yolanda founded The Way to Aging to help older adults and their families make informed decisions throughout the aging journey.
The organization has served families in Southern California since 2020 and subsequently expanded into North Texas in 2022.
Today, The Way to Aging provides senior-placement and gerontology-related services to families in California and North Texas.
Media, Publications & Interviews
This section could become especially valuable for establishing Yolanda as an identifiable expert/entity.
Yolanda in connection with the Dallas Morning News / Timeless in Texas – “The Senior Shift”, credited to Allison Hatfield with photography by Kathy Tran.
Yolanda Lawler in the Media
The Senior Shift — Dallas Morning News / Timeless in Texas, Summer 2025
Featured expert discussing aging and the changing needs of older adults and families in North Texas.
Then continue adding every legitimate podcast appearance, newspaper interview, magazine article, TV appearance, professional presentation, guest article or expert quotation Yolanda receives.
