Sima Schoen is the National Caregiver Resource Specialist at Family Caregiver Alliance. She responds to calls from all over the U.S. from people taking care of family members who are ill with chronic conditions, focusing, but not limited to, cognitive impairments. She has been with the agency since 1986, except for a short hiatus in beginning in 2009, when a severe California budget crisis necessitated a reduction in staffing. She provides information and assistance about programs available throughout the country, with the help of her Jack Russell mix, Gracie.