Advisors

melonieMelonie Pratt,
Senior Housing Advisor

Melonie Pratt is a Senior Housing Advisor and co-owner of Choice Connections. She has been helping families find senior housing since she founded Choice Connections in 2008. Since then she has worked with hundreds of sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, neighbors and friends who needed to find a safe home for their loved one or friend. She understands that moving is very stressful and works hard to make the transition as smooth as possible. She does this by sharing her extensive knowledge of senior housing with her clients and after taking a Needs Assessment makes appropriate recommendations. She qualifies clients based on financial appropriateness and medical necessity and offers them viable options.  Melonie has developed an expertise with regards to dementia and memory care facilities and knows firsthand how challenging those issues are. She believes integrity, compassion and a strong code of ethics are her strongest assets.

Melonie lives in Schenectady with her husband Robert and her dog Mali. She has three grown children.

Renee Birnbaum,
Senior Housing Advisor

Renee Birnbaum is a Certified Senior Advisor(CSA) and is co-owner of Choice Connections NY.  It was her personal journey caring for her own parents who had both been diagnosed with dementia that inspired her to work in the field of geriatrics.

Renee founded Senior Care Solutions of NY, a Long Island based geriatric care management practice in 2009.  She spent many years working with families helping them make a plan and access services for their loved ones.  Since 2013, Renee worked in the homecare industry assisting families to bring care in the home, allowing them to remain as independent as possible.  In 2016 Renee joined Melonie Pratt as Co-owner of Choice Connections NY.

Renee’s expertise in case management, homecare, and housing allows her to work with families, assess their needs, and help them navigate the myriad of options available in the senior housing market.

Renee serves on the Leadership Council of the Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern NY.   She is SAGE Care certified (Advocacy and Services for LGBT Elders) and is certified in Mental Health First Aid for Seniors by Mental Health Association NY State (MHANYS).

Renee lives in Saratoga Springs with her husband Eliot and has two grown children.  She enjoys hiking and staying active and volunteers for various community organizations.