Emily Propst has worked in the field of aging since 2006. With a Master’s degree in Gerontology, her credentials also include training as a Certified Senior Advisor, Dementia Care Specialist, and Certified Caregiver. Her company, Genuine Services, LLC, serves Gallatin and Park Counties in Montana.

Emily has experience in activity facilitation, marketing, scheduling, grant writing, program development, and travel assistance; as well as coordinating and providing one-on-one care. Her past employment settings include adult day care, in-home care, assisted living, and a senior center. Currently, she offers private services and incorporates the Creative Care Model and Quilting Method into the home care setting.

“ uniquely prepared … ”

Emily worked with me at Coltrane LIFE Center, an adult day health care center.  She is an energetic, caring, intelligent person. She interacts with our older adults so well!  She has a heart of gold.  She’s a natural with seniors and cares greatly about them and their family members.  I’d hire her back in a heartbeat if she was [still] in North Carolina.  Her wisdom and experience will be an asset to you as you care for your older loved one.

— Susan Caudle, Executive Director, Coltrane LIFE Center adult day health care center 

Emily is a friend of mine, and while I have always known she is passionate about her work, I hadn’t seen her in action until recently. I ran into her at the farmers market as she was browsing and eating frozen yogurt with one of her clients. I could tell from his words and demeanor that he felt perfectly safe and comfortable with her, not to mention happy and light-hearted. Emily has that effect on everyone she comes in contact with. As someone with aging family members myself I know how difficult end-of-life transitions can be, particularly when dementia is involved. The families she works with are superbly lucky to have her care and expertise, and if my family were in Montana, I would hire her in a heartbeat.

— Joe Sheehan, friend

Emily has been very intentional in her schooling, volunteer work and employment settings, which have led her to where she is now ... uniquely prepared for her caregiving career, her lifelong passion. Her education in gerontology provided her with the foundation for understanding the complexities and challenges of aging. However, her real gift to our family is her honor and respect for the older generation and a sincere desire to validate their lives, past and present … which is evident in everything she does for, and with, my husband. She is trustworthy, dependable, a good communicator and a beautifully uplifting presence. She was meant to do this invaluable work ... and does it so well.

— Lee Micken, client

I’m thrilled that Emily is offering her skills to help people living with dementia to live contented, fulfilling lives and assisting family members to support them. I first knew her as her faculty supervisor during the MA in Gerontology Program. I got to experience her in action when she worked as Activities Assistant in the dementia care community where my father was living. Emily has both knowledge and people skills that are incredibly effective in working with people journeying with dementia.

— Dr. Dena Shenk, former Gerontology Program Director and

Professor Emerita, UNC Charlotte

Brief CV

2006 BA in Psychology with a concentration in Human Development

2009 MA in Gerontology

2010 Associate Director, Bozeman Senior Center

2016 Director, Bozeman Senior Center

2016 Resident Care Coordinator, Highgate Senior Living

2022 Complete Certified Senior Advisor program

2023 Complete Certified Caregiver program

Emily’s Story

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but

… people will never forget how you made them feel.” (Maya Angelou)

This quote came to me in my early twenties while working in an assisted living community built solely for people with dementia. As Activities Assistant, I served ice cream every day around 3 pm. Everyone loved it. I would walk around each of the three units with the various bowls, cones, sprinkles, and other toppings. Each resident got to choose their flavor, cone shape, and extra toppings. It wasn’t long before people would follow me around, looking for ice cream.

I will always remember one woman who lived in the third unit. She was beautiful. Softspoken, with the voice of an angel. Sometimes, instead of speaking, she sang the few words she used. She would also follow me around –– like a magnet, she was drawn to me. We would walk together, singing words to each other. I had no idea what we were saying, and it didn’t matter. She was happy. I can see it plain as day, all these years later. It still makes me smile.

I left there eventually for a full-time position elsewhere, but returned to visit a year later. I was astounded at how many residents still recognized me. They didn’t know my name but pointed at me, asking for ice cream.

When I entered the third unit, that same beautiful, softspoken woman approached me, holding out her hands for me and smiling. The care team was shocked, as was I: even after a year, she still made the connection. She and I walked around for a while, “catching up.” Few words were needed. We just walked. I can still see her sweet smile.

I learned from that experience that, although none of those residents remembered me in the usual sense of that word, they did recognize how they’d felt around me-- like a whole person.

The Montana Journey

I moved from North Carolina to Montana in 2010. After eight years in residential and social support service settings, I decided to go out on my own. Why?

My experience with the visiting families of residents and aging individuals in the community revealed, again and again, their ongoing level of confusion and frustration in trying to find their way around the maze of services and resources –– or in locating them at all. It was heartbreaking to see that needs were simply not being met. I began envisioning a business that would provide education, navigation, and supportive services to the families trying their best to cope with a loved one facing dementia. I started to develop materials, soon moved into offering private services and fortifying community connections, and finally was ready with a website for this business: Genuine Services.

Mine is a person-centered care approach, for both caregivers and their loved ones. As a person’s abilities decline, I use “yes-and” communication and the “quilting method,” a way of communicating that works within the limitations of a person’s memory to help them piece together a sense of self with their life’s most cherished memories or fragments of memory.

My promise to families is that all of it happens on a foundation of creativity and genuine regard. My hope is to help others discover that joy and meaning can coexist with difficult times.

Emily Propst, Owner