Our Staff
Our staff consists of trained volunteers and student interns from Siuslaw High School. These students are hand selected from the Health Occupations and Alternative Education programs. Participants receive a multi-generational approach to socialization and memory care during Coffee Club. Our diverse board, ranging in age from 31 to 71, is made up of working people from the community as well as retirees. We even have a yoga instructor who provides monthly TLC for care givers through our guided relaxation event!
Juels Larson
Executive Director
Upon hearing that the Memory Care Respite Center of Florence might close, Juels made it her mission to save and revitalize this organization for our community. Knowing firsthand what a difference this service had made in her mother's life, she was determined not to let it fall to the wayside. "Attending Coffee Club is the highlight of my mother's week." After just a few weeks of attending Coffee Club, Juels noticed significant cognitive gains with her mother who had been diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer's. She knew it was vital to provide this service to other families in need.
Juels, a former public school teacher, is a language and literacy specialist with a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership. Juels currently works as a yoga teacher using yoga as a tool to heal the body. She volunteers as our Board President, Executive Director, Community Liason, Grant Writer and Volunteer Coordinator. Juels has lived in Florence since 2016 with her partner and multiple four legged loved ones. She spends her free time in the woods or training her GSDs; one of which works as a therapy dog in our Adult Day Program.
Deann Hawkins
Vice President
DeAnn has 30 years of healthcare experience working as a physical therapist in various clinical settings. She feels her physical therapy background Is truly a blessing for her job at Spruce Point, as it has given her a greater perspective and understanding of the unique challenges seniors often face.
DeAnn has a heart for community service. She has been involved in local theater and community chorus, volunteers at Florence Foodshare and is a member of Florence Rotary. A Pennsylvania native, DeAnn moved to Florence with her husband, Jason, in 2017. She has worked at Spruce Point Assisted Living and Memory Care as their Community Relations Director since 2020. Upon moving to Florence, her transition career between physical
therapy and community relations was a two-year stint owning and operating her
own bakery.
Most evenings and weekends, DeAnn and her husband can be found exploring new hikes and scenic locations in the greater Pacific Northwest or kayaking the beautiful lakes of Florence. They have three grown children and two orange tabby cats.
Molly Schroder
Program Development Coordinator
Molly Schroder has been on the board of the Memory Care Respite of Florence since 2021. She is originally from Illinois, and grew up next to the Mississippi River. She attended St. Ambrose University in Davenport, IA and majored in Psychology, then got her Master’s in Occupational Therapy, also from St. Ambrose.
Molly works in a local hospital as an Occupational Therapist, and she uses her OT insight to help
us plan activities at the Memory Care Program. She has lived in Florence since 2018, and puts up with a home full of boys including her husband and 2 dogs. She enjoys gardening, hiking, reading, spending time outdoors, and relaxing with her family.