Marcus O’Toole-Gelo, Esq. is a partner with Kurre Schneps LLP. He is an experienced attorney who assists families and seniors with a wide range of elder law and trusts and estates matters.
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Elder law is helping seniors plan for their future. That includes classic estate planning such as wills, powers of attorney, health care proxies, and living wills, as well as asset protection. With the escalating cost of healthcare, it is more important than ever for seniors to protect the assets they worked their lives to build up from a sudden healthcare crisis.
Stuart B. Almer is President and CEO of Gurwin Healthcare System, a comprehensive senior care network located on a 36-acre campus in Commack, Long Island. The System includes Fountaingate Gardens Independent Living Community, Gurwin Jewish ~ Fay J. Lindner Residences Assisted Living Community, Gurwin Jewish Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Island Nursing and Rehab Center (Holtsville), Gurwin Home Care programs, and Gurwin Adult Day Care programs..
Since joining Gurwin in 2015, Mr. Almer has led transformative initiatives that have expanded the System’s reach geographically and through the addition of programs and services. Most notably, he brought to fruition the vision of a Life Plan Community on the Commack campus with the opening of Fountaingate Gardens independent living community, and secured nearly $12 million in NY State funding to acquire Island Nursing and Rehab Center, saving a local non-profit skilled nursing facility.
Mr. Almer has spearheaded successful grant acquisition efforts, obtaining significant funding for education and training programs. Other notable accomplishments include championing the creation of a secure Memory Care Unit at Gurwin Center, the addition of studio apartments to the offerings at Gurwin’s Assisted Living community, and opening a Social Adult Day Care Program.
Under Mr. Almer’s leadership, Gurwin Center maintains a CMS 5-star quality measure rating and has earned national recognition from Fortune, U.S. News & World Report, and Newsweek, as well as many Best of Long Island designations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he headed crisis response efforts and became a trusted resource for policymakers and media.
Mr. Almer holds membership and leadership roles in many health and education organizations and is a member of the advisory boards of a number of local universities. He was recently appointed to the American Health Care Association’s Not-For-Profit Council and sits on the Board of Governors for the Greater New York Hospital Association.
Mr. Almer is Immediate Past Chair of the Board of LeadingAge New York; a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Jewish Aging Services; and was invited to sit on the New York State Master Plan for Aging’s Long-term Services and Supports subcommittee.
Over the years, Mr. Almer has been recognized for his leadership and many contributions to the long-term care industry and local Long Island community, and most recently has been selected as the 2026 Administrator of the Year by the American College of Health Care Administrators.
Jamie Rosen is a Partner and Chair of the Mental Health Law Group at Meister Seelig & Schuster PLLC, dedicated to representing individuals and families in crisis situations specific to mental health issues and/or alcohol/substance use disorders. Jamie’s knowledge extends to inpatient hospitalization matters, discharge planning, confidentiality and HIPAA, applications for Assisted Outpatient Treatment (Kendra’s Law), adult guardianship proceedings, Family Court Order of Protection matters, housing rights, criminal defense, estate planning, and so much more. Jamie received her J.D. from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University with a Concentration in Child and Family Advocacy.
