Meet Stefany: Natural Disaster and Crisis Specialist

With our Care Expert Spotlight series, we’re taking a peek into the lives of Wellthy’s amazing care professionals. 

This month, we spoke to Care Manager, Stefany, a natural disaster and crisis specialist with deep experience in healthcare and a powerful personal caregiving journey of her own. At Wellthy she leads a dedicated team of Care Coordinators and Care Advisers, guiding families through the complex and often overwhelming challenges of healthcare in the wake of crises and natural disasters—offering real-time help, planning ahead, and making sure no one feels alone in a crisis. Wellthy’s team of Care Coordinators and Advisers work directly with families to understand their care needs, create a care plan, prioritize tasks, and get things done on their behalf.

What is your personal caregiving story and what drew you to Wellthy?

The time I had the ‘aha’ moment and realized that I am a caregiver, was when I was living in California, and a single mom going through a messy divorce, and my mother, who was living across the country in upstate New York, had stage 4 lung cancer. In upstate New York, resources were extremely limited and the nearest hospital was an hour away. I desperately wanted to be there for her and I just could not because I couldn’t leave work and I had to be at home with my kids. 

I just felt so emotionally torn and managing everything was so hard. It was really the first time I felt the weight of being a caregiver. Even though I have worked in the healthcare field for my entire professional career, this was personal and the first time I truly understood how hard it is to be a caregiver.

I found Wellthy through a friend who sent me the link to the job application and it felt like the perfect cumulation of everything I have done and I was so excited. I remember joking at the time that Wellthy was going to be my retirement plan—because it was the kind of work I could see myself doing for the long haul, with purpose and heart. I applied immediately. That was five years ago. Since then, I’ve grown so much, both professionally and personally.

What is your role here? What do you specialize in?

I currently serve as the Manager of the Crisis Team. Our team supports members through some of the most difficult and unexpected moments in life—whether it’s the sudden loss of a loved one, a terminal illness diagnosis, or navigating the aftermath of a natural disaster.

Our role is to meet families exactly where they are. We make sure they feel supported and seen, that they know they’re not alone, and that they have access to the right resources and connections. We walk alongside them through life’s toughest challenges, offering guidance, compassion, and stability when it’s needed most.

How have you been able to use your background to enhance your work at Wellthy.

So many aspects of my background have shaped the way I show up in my role at Wellthy. As an occupational therapist, I’ve developed a keen ability to pick up on subtle cues and truly understand what someone might need, even if they’re not saying it directly. But more than anything, it’s the practice of empathetic listening and being fully present that has made the biggest impact.

At the heart of what I do is making sure people feel genuinely seen, heard, and cared for. It goes beyond simply being a partner—my goal is to make every member feel like a VIP. I want them to feel supported in every way possible, like I’m rolling out the red carpet and doing everything I can to ease their burden.

That mindset of high-touch, compassionate care carries through everything, from emotional support to thinking ahead. For example, in crisis situations like natural disasters, it’s not just about reacting—it’s about proactively anticipating what’s next and preparing families before the next challenge even arrives. That kind of foresight, paired with empathy and service, is what I strive to bring into every interaction.

Can you walk me through the ways Wellthy can support families before, during, and after natural disaster strikes?

Absolutely. Wellthy plays a critical role in helping families navigate every stage of a natural disaster—before, during, and after—with proactive planning, real-time support, and recovery resources.

Before a disaster strikes, we help families prepare—way before it becomes urgent. For example, as hurricane season approaches, we work with families to talk through scenarios:

Who will pick up Grandma if an evacuation is needed? Where will she go? Are there accessible shelters nearby? Do we have emergency supplies ready?

If it's winter, we help ensure there’s enough propane, that backup heat sources are available, and that power outage plans are in place.

Our team researches and compiles local evacuation routes, open shelters, fuel stations, and other critical resources before a storm makes landfall, so our members already have that information at their fingertips. If a specific county is in the storm's path, we tailor our support with hyperlocal resources and real-time updates.

During the disaster, our role is to offer families peace of mind. We help ensure loved ones are safe—whether they’re sheltering in place or have been relocated—and we stay connected to provide reassurance and updates. Our goal is to minimize panic by helping members feel confident that plans are in place and that someone is looking out for them.

Afterward, we shift into recovery mode. We assist families in contacting FEMA, filing insurance claims, replacing lost documents, finding emergency housing, and accessing food, water, and charging stations. We stay with them through the recovery, providing guidance and resources every step of the way.

At every stage, it’s about being proactive, responsive, and compassionate, so families aren’t facing these moments alone.

What have you seen or what have been some learnings for you as your team has worked closely with families in need of natural disaster support?

Two moments really stand out to me. The first was during the 2024 floods. A nurse from one of the hospital systems we work with had just finished a double shift. Her home had been evacuated, and she was completely exhausted—physically, emotionally, everything. She told her Care Coordinator, “I can’t sleep in my car another night. I’m just done.” In real time, her Coordinator was able to find and book a hotel room about 12 miles away. It might sound simple, but in that moment, giving her a safe, warm place to rest meant the world to her. She felt seen and supported when she needed it most.

The second moment happened around the same time, right after the flooding. A mother lost all the breast milk she had stored in the freezer due to a power outage—and she had just run out of her remaining supply. Within hours, her Care Coordinator located a breast milk bank and helped source formula and diapers. Everything came together so quickly, and it made a huge difference for that family.

What I’ve learned through these moments is that while the support we provide may not always seem extraordinary on the surface, it can be life-changing in a crisis. It’s a reminder that timely, compassionate help—especially when someone is feeling overwhelmed or alone—can create a lasting impact.

How do we help families who lack  resources in their area?

For families in remote or under-resourced areas, proactive planning is absolutely essential. When we know someone is in a location where support may be limited, we work closely with them to make sure there's a clear plan in place, well before a crisis hits.

That might mean helping them and their family think through evacuation routes, gathering essential supplies in advance, or just making sure they’re fully stocked and ready to ride it out safely if that’s their choice. It all comes back to being proactive and making sure they’re not left without options when it matters most.

We're about to head into what is often several months of a hurricane season, as well as a summer storm season. For those caring for loved ones right now, what's one thing you'd recommend them doing or planning just to get ahead of any potential emergencies?

One of the most important things caregivers can do right now is plan ahead—don’t wait until a storm is already on the radar. For example, in Florida, there's a registry where individuals with medical or transportation needs can sign up in advance to receive help evacuating. But here’s the key: you have to register well before the storm hits, not the week of.

I also recommend taking time now to locate your nearest shelters (these can shift depending on the storm path), bookmark your local emergency management website, and save any important non-emergency phone numbers—because those lines often get overwhelmed once a storm is underway.

And of course, make sure you have the basics: backup power sources, flashlights, extra batteries, shelf-stable food, water, and any necessary medical supplies. It’s all about preparation and thinking a few steps ahead so you’re not scrambling when time is short.

Do you have any final tips or advice for caregivers?

Yes! Be present and be gentle with yourself. Caregiving is incredibly hard, and it’s okay to acknowledge that. One of the most important things you can do is reach out for help. That might mean connecting with your Wellthy Care Coordinator, joining a conversation in the Wellthy Community to hear from other caregivers, or simply reaching out to a family member and letting them know how they can support you.

So many loved ones want to help, but they often don’t know how—so don’t be afraid to give them permission or be specific about what you need.

There are also great online support groups and local community resources out there—but it starts with that first step: admitting you need help. Sometimes, just having someone to talk to can make all the difference.

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