Lauri Cohen is exactly the type of person you want on the other end of a difficult phone call. As an Information & Referral Concierge for AgeWell Atlanta, she’s helped countless people make sense of the plethora of options for aging services in the Atlanta area. She’s something of a field guide to the confusing, overwhelming world of aging care, and while she’s not a counselor in the official capacity, she’s a compassionate ear to many. It’s a world she didn’t set out to find, but that she now calls home.
Lauri’s Story: from National Policy to Local Impact
Originally from St. Louis, Lauri got her undergraduate degree in special education at the University of Iowa, and “decided like most 20somethings that I wanted to change the world!” she smiles. She completed her master’s degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis, with a specialty in gerontology, which is the scientific study of old age and the process of aging.
“I was so fascinated by this growing population, and their unmet needs,” says Lauri. Two weeks after graduation, she showed up in D.C. with a suitcase and a desire to make a difference. And she did: she became a lobbyist for what is now Jewish Federations of North America (formerly United Jewish Communities) and lobbied on Medicare and Medicaid issues.
Notably, she was part of the federal legislative team that helped create Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs), a groundbreaking concept later adopted in Atlanta and now known as AgeWell Atlanta Neighborhoods.
While in D.C., Lauri met her husband, and the couple relocated to Atlanta in 2003. After taking time off to raise their children, she eventually discovered a new opportunity that felt like destiny.
“When the position of AgeWell Atlanta Concierge came up, I jumped at it,” she says. “I can’t think of a more perfect job—it’s full circle for me.”
The AgeWell Atlanta Process
Lauri’s eyes well with tears when she talks about the people she helps through AgeWell Atlanta. “I can fully relate to the people who call,” she says, noting that she, too, has aging parents and in-laws.
Her passion is evident as she describes the situations she’s guided families through: a young dad torn between caring for his small children and his aging parents; spouses calling through tears as they face a loved one’s new memory issues; families trying to navigate senior care alone—only to end up frustrated and overwhelmed.
Lauri is there for all of it. “Sometimes, people just need to vent, and I’m here for that, too,” she says.
AgeWell Atlanta is a collaborative partnership between Aviv Older Adult Services of Jewish Family & Career Services, Jewish HomeLife, the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. AgeWell Atlanta offers expert guidance, compassionate advice, and unmatched experience. Through its centralized concierge platform, AgeWell Atlanta simplifies care — making life easier, less stressful, and ultimately healthier and happier for the people we love.
Whether it’s providing referrals to home care services or transportation, identifying social engagement opportunities to prevent isolation, or educating callers about care options, AgeWell Atlanta serves everyone, helping older adults “age well” through improved independence, quality of life, and meaningful social connection.
If you or your loved one needs help getting connected to Atlanta’s aging care services, call Agewell Atlanta today at 1.866.AGEWELL or visit the website.