Meet The Team | Senior Helpers of Berkeley
Skip main navigation
Serving El Cerrito and surrounding areas.
Type Size
Serving El Cerrito and surrounding areas.
Past main navigation Contact Us

Meet the East Bay office

More than 90% of seniors want to age in their own home with dignity but getting the right type of care can seem daunting.  At Senior Helpers of the East Bay we believe  getting the best care for your loved ones should not be complicated.  Susan Grant and Bruce Ingraham opened the Senior Helpers of the East Bay office in 2008 because of their passion for helping others and their interest in the growing need for in-home care services.  Susan and Bruce  are committed to delivering the best possible in-home care to seniors in the East Bay community.

We take in-home care very seriously and make it a priority to provide the highest level of client service possible.  Over the past 10 years we have built an exceptional team of care professionals, each committed to remaining at the forefront of the in-home care industry through our proprietary ongoing training and education programs.

Our History

Our History

Senior Helpers was founded in 2002 by Tony Bonacuse with the help of Peter Ross after their firsthand experience in caring for their respective family members. Tony and Peter identified a need that was not being filled properly by the other companies.  They realized that most seniors would prefer to age in their own home rather than move into an unfamiliar institution.  Unfortunately, the options available to most seniors were very limited.  Most seniors did not have access to well-trained, dependable and affordable in-home care. This was the mission-driven spark that started Senior Helpers.

The first office opened in Baltimore, and quickly developed a reputation for delivering excellent in-home senior care with their well-trained staff of professional caregivers. Based on the success of the Baltimore location, the company began to expand.  Over the past 13 years, the Senior Helpers family has grown to include a network of more than 300 locally owned and operated franchises across the United States.

Senior Helpers of the East Bay was proud to join the system in 2008.  Like every other owner, we too are fully-committed to the original goal of providing dependable and affordable in-home care with well-trained caregivers. Nothing is more important to us than being the best available resource for seniors and families in our community.  

Meet the East Bay team

Susan Grant

President and Co-Founder

In the course of researching in-home service for her husband Bruce’s 90 year old mother in Maine, Susan realized that many families need help in order to enable their loved ones to age in place. She and Bruce decided to provide service to the rapidly aging segment of the population. She is proud of the reputation of this office for good service, and of the number of families whose cares have been relieved.

Prior to this, Susan was the principal of an executive search firm based in San Francisco. She began her career in executive search in 1987 when she joined a large firm, and in 1989 she established her own practice. Prior to entering the search world, Susan was an account manager for a high-tech startup in Silicon Valley and assisted with earth science research projects at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. In addition, early in her career, she taught high school math and chemistry classes in San Francisco. For over 20 years, Susan has been an active member and leader in the San Francisco chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners.

Bruce Ingraham

Vice President and Co-Founder

Bruce’s mother was the inspiration for starting this office. A very independent woman, she wanted to stay in her own home as long as she could. Realizing that there could be in-home help for her if she should need it, Bruce could see that other families would have the same needs that his did.

Bruce has a master degree in mathematics from UC Berkeley and a doctor of education degree from Saint Mary’s College of California. He worked for over 20 years as a marketing science consultant in the San Francisco Bay Area. At Senior Helpers, Bruce has worked in community relations and fall prevention. His current focus is on strategy, finance, and marketing.

Our process

Our process

The first step in the process is a complimentary, initial in-home care assessment with a Senior Helpers consultant.  This assessment can help you understand the true needs of your loved one, and your options. Together we can discuss their needs, our senior care services and determine what’s best for your entire family.

We will cover:

  • Your family's specific goals
  • Your loved one's daily plan design and schedule
  • Pricing and payment methods
  •  Implementation process
  • Ongoing communication and follow-up plan

Areas We Serve

Senior Helpers of the East Bay provides a full range of senior home care services for you or your loved one—from companionship and housework help, to more complex care services, including disease management, Live-In and 24-hour care services.

Senior Helpers of the East Bay serves the cities and towns of:

  • Vallejo
  • Rodeo
  • Hercules
  • Pinole
  • San Pablo
  • El Sobrante
  • Richmond
  • Kensington
  • El Cerrito
  • Berkeley
  • Emeryville
  • and Oakland