Whitewater · Waukesha · Madison, WI
You don't have to figure this out alone.
We're a couple who've been where you are — sitting at a kitchen table, overwhelmed by forms, phone calls, and impossible decisions. Cookie & Kin exists to be the wise, experienced neighbor you wish you had.
We hear this all the time
Real words from real families
"I didn't know what questions to ask — I didn't even know what I didn't know."
— Overwhelmed adult daughter, Madison WI
"The facility looked beautiful on the tour. We didn't find out about the staffing problems until mom was already there."
— Son navigating memory care
"My siblings and I couldn't agree on anything. It nearly tore our family apart."
— Caregiver managing sibling conflict
"Dad had VA benefits he never knew about. We left thousands on the table for years."
— Veteran's family, Waukesha County
Not nurses. Not social workers.
Just people who've been there — and know the way.
Between the two of us, we've navigated memory care facilities, emergency room advocacy, sibling disagreements, Medicaid paperwork, and the heartbreak of watching a parent lose their independence. We didn't have a guide. You do.
One of us spent years inside senior living communities — knowing what the tours don't show you. The other brings a photographer's eye and a human resources background — the art of listening, documenting, and honoring a life.
We are fee-only. We take no commissions from facilities. Our only loyalty is to your family.
Kettle Moraine, Wisconsin
What we do
How Cookie & Kin helps
We meet families wherever they are — in crisis or planning ahead — and walk alongside them through every step.
Care Navigation
Feeling lost in a maze of options, acronyms, and phone trees? We walk alongside you — translating the system into plain English and helping you find the right path forward.
Facility Placement
We know the difference between a glossy brochure and what daily life actually looks like inside a facility. We tour with you, ask the hard questions, and help you choose with confidence.
Legacy Photography & Storytelling
Every life is a story worth preserving. We capture portraits, record video interviews, and help create lasting memory books — gifts that outlive us all.
Family Support Groups
You are not alone. Our small, intimate gatherings bring together families navigating similar journeys — a space to breathe, share, and feel understood.
Document Prep Coaching
POA, healthcare proxy, advance directives — we help you understand what each document actually means in real life, so you walk into the attorney's office prepared.
Doctor & Provider Advocacy
We help you prepare for appointments, understand diagnoses, ask the right questions, and make sure your loved one's voice is heard in every room.
Scheduling & Coordination
Managing a parent's calendar of appointments, medications, and care providers is a part-time job. We help you build systems that actually work.
Technology for Independence
The right tablet, app, or smart device can add years of independence. We find, set up, and teach technology that fits your loved one — not the other way around.
Resource & Benefits Navigation
Veterans benefits, Medicaid, Area Agency on Aging programs — billions in assistance go unclaimed every year. We help families find and access what they've already earned.
Family Dynamics Coaching
Siblings who disagree. Parents who resist help. Spouses stretched thin. We facilitate honest, productive conversations that move families from conflict to clarity.
Our Story
We've sat at that kitchen table too.
The Navigator
Senior Living Experience · Lived Caregiver
Years spent working inside senior living communities gave her an insider's view of what families don't see on tours — the staffing patterns, the culture, the questions that actually matter. When her own parents needed care, that knowledge became personal. She became the guide she wished her family had.
The Storyteller
Photographer · HR Professional · Lived Caregiver
A career in human resources taught him how to listen — really listen — and how to navigate complex, emotional situations with grace. His photography is an act of love: honoring the dignity and depth of every person he meets. When his own parents needed care, he learned firsthand how hard it is to advocate in a system that wasn't built for families.
"We don't replace your doctor, your attorney, or your financial planner. We help you get the most out of every one of them."
— Cookie & Kin
No Commissions
We take zero referral fees from facilities. Our recommendations are based entirely on what's right for your family.
Complete Confidentiality
Everything you share with us stays with us. We operate with the discretion of a trusted family friend.
Sliding Scale Available
We believe every family deserves guidance. We offer flexible pricing so cost is never a barrier to getting help.
Resources
Helpful starting points
A few trusted resources we point families to regularly. These are starting points — we help you know what to do with them.
Waukesha County
Area Agency on Aging
Local services, caregiver support, and benefits navigation for seniors in the greater Waukesha area.
Visit →
Statewide
Wisconsin Aging Network
Wisconsin's official resource for elder services, Medicaid, and caregiver programs across all 72 counties.
Visit →
Veterans & Spouses
VA Aid & Attendance
Up to $2,795/month for qualifying veterans needing help with daily activities. Many families don't know this exists.
Visit →
24/7 Helpline
Alzheimer's Association
The most comprehensive resource for dementia caregivers — from diagnosis through end of life.
Visit →
National
AARP Caregiving Hub
Practical tools, guides, and a caregiver community from the nation's largest senior advocacy organization.
Visit →
Find a Professional
Aging Life Care Association
The professional organization for geriatric care managers — useful if you need clinical-level care coordination.
Visit →
Get in Touch
Start with a free conversation.
No pressure. No sales pitch. Just a genuine conversation about where you are and whether we can help. Most families tell us they leave the first call feeling lighter than they have in months.
We serve families in Whitewater, Waukesha, Madison, and the surrounding communities of southeastern Wisconsin.