Through her own experience of caring for family elders, Elaine developed a passion for helping others find hope and humor in aging, illness, and long-term caregiving. She delivers keynotes and workshops around the country on getting prepared to care for family elders and surviving the emotional stress of caregiving.

Elaine grew up on a Kansas dairy farm. She earned her living as a sales manager for network television affiliates in Colorado and New Mexico. She left the broadcast industry in 1998 to pursue a career in writing and speaking.

She has published four books, numerous newspaper and magazine articles, and is on the board of directors for the Oregon Chapter of the National Speakers Association. She lives in Salem, Oregon with her husband Alex, a professor at Oregon State University. Together they have eight children and eight grandchildren.