Dianne O'Donnell McNamara

Dianne O’Donnell McNamara is an attorney and consultant with over twenty years of professional experience in law, management, administration, and policy relating to aging services, long-term care, government benefits, and private employer retirement and health programs.  She founded The Ironwood Law Firm PLLC to serve individuals, families and businesses with elder law matters, probate, and long-term care advocacy. Because Dianne is licensed to practice law in Arizona and Georgia, The Ironwood Law Firm PLLC serves clients in both states.

Dianne’s background is unique: few professionals in the U.S combine knowledge of employer-provided benefits, insurance, and public benefits (such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and VA benefits) to serve the entire life cycle of a consumer client – from active employment, to retirement, to post-retirement, to old age.

As a frequent speaker to community groups, professional organizations and businesses, Dianne advocates for a shift in thinking from “estate planning” (focused on death, inheritances and taxes) to a unique approach to elderhood and old age which Dianne has termed "lonvevity planning." This holistic, person-centered practice encourages clients to maintain the highest quality of life for as long as possible through purposeful engagement as well as appropriate health care and long-term care support services.

Dianne is also an independent consultant to the Eden Alternative® as a Certified Eden Educator. She is the only individual in Arizona to hold this certification as of January 2013. 

Dianne graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Furman University in Greenville, S.C. with a  degree in Mathematics. She earned her law degree in 1988 from the University of Georgia School of Law in Athens, Georgia.  In 2005 she returned to graduate school for a Master's degree in Gerontology from Georgia State University and focused her research efforts on memory complaints, dementia and aging services.