Meet The Team | Senior Helpers of Santa Barbara
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Serving Santa Barbara and surrounding areas.
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Serving Santa Barbara and surrounding areas.
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Meet the Santa Barbara office

At Senior Helpers Santa Barbara we believe that getting the best care for your loved ones should not be complicated. Our philosophy states “Our primary objective is to take care of our clients and the families that we work with.” We live by this philosophy every day and use it as our guiding principle. We constantly ask ourselves, “What is best for the client?”  

We take in-home care 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 Philosophy

Our primary objective is to take care of our clients and the families that we work with. We are proud of our ability to serve them in a timely and helpful manner, and to provide high quality service at an affordable price. We develop long term relationships that promote health, safety, and well-being. We trust and care for each other and treat everyone with respect.

Our caregivers are the foundation of our success. We consider ourselves part of the Senior Helpers Family. We value dependability, integrity, and loyalty, and we encourage independent thinking and teamwork. We openly communicate our accomplishments and mistakes so that we can learn from each other. We strive to live balanced lives in work, love, and play. We are confident in our future and point with pride to the way we run our business, care for the environment, and treat each other.

Our History

Our History

Mike Fasth opened Senior Helpers of Santa Barbara in 2008.  Mike is a former Kinko's executive and founding partner who used to help college seniors print and bind great looking papers.  During that part of his business career he was especially fond of helping senior adults in the very busy Kinko's stores.

After a career with Kinko's Mike attended Antioch University where he gained additional insights about the challenges of aging in the United States. Then, after attending Antioch he bought a local landmark bicycle store, Open Air Bicycles. He saw many vibrant seniors in their 70s, 80s, and 90s riding bikes and staying active. That inspired him to open Senior Helpers of Santa Barbara in 2008 as he found that Senior Helpers had many of the same characteristics of Kinko's - most importantly a focus on the customer.

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

Meet the Santa Barbara Team

One of the major benefits of using a licensed Home Care Agency is access to the agency’s office staff. Our office staff is responsible for overseeing the care that our caregivers provide to your loved one. We can offer recommendations, resources, and emotional support. Our tight-knit office team has years of experience and is ready to be your partner in this journey.

Shannon Workman

Shannon Workman

Director of Operations

Shannon’s role is to oversee our organization and make sure we are delivering on our mission statement - To take care of our clients by providing high quality service. Shannon has been with the company since 2012 and has worn every hat in the office, from scheduling to client assessments. As Director of Operations she focuses on developing best practices, training, and coaching the best possible caregivers and staff in Santa Barbara. She is a Certified Senior Gems Dementia coach and trainer through Teepa Snow’s Senior Gems program.

Shannon has a BA in Business Economics and Psychology from UC Santa Barbara and a Human Resource Management certification through UCSB Extension. She and her husband welcomed their first child in January 2021.

 

Liah Ramirez

Liah Ramirez

Director of Client Services

As Director of Client Services, Liah’s responsibility is to manage and develop all client services. She has a regular communication process for new and existing clients including: first day of service calls, assessments, routine client visits, developing care plans and going with clients to medical appointments as needed or requested. Liah joined Senior Helpers of Santa Barbara in 2015. She says there is no bigger reward then enriching the lives of senior and bringing peace of mind to their families.

Before arriving to Senior Helpers, Liah worked for a healthcare insurance company specializing in Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement Plans. Her goal is to continue serving seniors and spend quality time with her two children, family and friends.

 

Emalee Kourani

Emalee Kourani

Care Team Director

Emalee oversees our excellent team of caregivers. She conducts interviews, selects candidates who share our values, and coaches them throughout their employment. She makes sure our caregivers feel valued and supported at all stages of their career.

Emalee has a BA in Psychology from UC Santa Barbara. Before joining the Senior Helpers team, she worked as a Behavioral Instructor for kids and adults with Autism. She loves going to the beach, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.

Marilyn Marchbanks

Scheduling Coordinator

Marilyn serves as liaison between clients and caregivers regarding the schedule. She is empathetic on both sides, having been a caregiver herself and a family member who manages care for a loved one.

Marilyn worked for Santa Barbara County for over 30 years, retiring as the Business and Operations Manager. She has a BA in Business Management and Human Resources. In her free time, she loves spending time with her family, including three grandchildren, baking, or taking a Pilates class.

Mike Fasth

Mike Fasth

President

As President and Owner of Senior Helpers Santa Barbara, Mike’s goal is to help customers live in their own homes when they desire to do so.  He is always improving the services that we offer, and keeps abreast of health breakthroughs and consumer trends that will benefit Senior Helpers’ clients and their families.

To further his commitment to healthy living for all ages, Mike recently became a National Association of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer with a specialization in Senior Fitness. Mike has a BA in Liberal Studies and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Antioch University. 

Areas We Serve

Senior Helpers Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara serves the cities and towns of:

  • Santa Barbara
  • Goleta
  • Lompoc
  • Santa Ynez
  • Carpinteria
  • California
  • Ojai
  • Summerland
  • Montecito
  • Goleta
  • Buellton
  • Los Olivos
  • and Orcutt