ABOUT YOUR ADVISORS IN Southwest Chicago
Julianne M. Rizzo
Certified Senior Advisor®
Thank you for your interest in Oasis Senior Advisors Southwest Chicago.
I have been a registered nurse since 1996. The majority of my nursing experiences were in caring for cancer patients and as an operating room RN, helping patients and their families through some of life’s difficult moments. After completing my MBA from Western Governors University in 2006, I shifted my focus to more administrative duties and service line development, where I received multiple “Center of Excellence” recognitions for programs I developed. I am a lifelong resident of Illinois and a loyal Cubs fan.
After experiencing firsthand the stress that health issues can place on a family in caring for a loved one, I decided to change careers. I looked for an opportunity that would utilize my nursing skills and business background, and was introduced to Oasis. I consider it a privilege to be a part of your journey and to walk with you and your loved ones in navigating through making what is undoubtedly one of the most important decisions of your lives.
Proud member of Aging Care Solutions.
Proud member of National Aging in Place Council, Chicagoland Chapter - View my profile
Virginia Cheng
Certified Senior Advisor
I reside with my husband in the western suburbs where we have lived for over 20 years. We became empty nesters right before the pandemic and made the best of the situation by finally tackling the never ending To Do list around our home. We finished our basement to create a separate living area for my aging parents who were living out of state at the time. My parents, as well as other seniors were impacted greatly by the pandemic. As the feeling of isolation set in, we began the conversation of moving them in with us. Watching your parents decline can be a soul crushing experience.
I was shifting gears from a 20-year career as a Global Travel Manager and perhaps by life coincidence, I ended up working part time in Activities in a memory care community. I looked at each resident as if I were looking into my own parents’ eyes and wanted the best for them. The experience left an indelible mark on me, so I stayed with that community and took on another role at the front desk. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting families and listening to their stories and at the same time learned about the senior industry. I accepted a full-time position as Business Office Manager working at two other memory care communities and learned even more about the senior industry.
I witnessed first-hand the vulnerability of that population and what families endured. It fueled my desire to embark on the endeavor of becoming a Senior Living Advisor to help families navigate through the process of finding the best living options where their loved ones can continue to thrive in a safe environment.