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Meet the Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville we believe getting the best care for your loved ones should not be complicated. David and Sherry Emery opened the Senior Helpers Jacksonville office in 2009 because of their passion for helping others and their interest in the growing need for in-home care services. The Emerys are committed to delivering the best possible in-home care to seniors in the Jacksonville 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 15+ 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. For more than 20 years, the Senior Helpers family has grown to include a network of more than 300 locally owned and operated franchises across the United States.

David and Sherry were proud to join the Senior Helper’s system in 2009. 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. Since our inception over ten years ago, our team has grown to seven team members, and 90 caregivers. We have been lucky to serve hundreds of seniors in our community over the years, and we are committed to continuing to provide uncompromising levels of care to all our families.

 

 

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 Jacksonville Team

David and Sherry Emery

David and Sherry Emery

Owners

David and Sherry opened the doors of their business in January 2009. Since then they have enjoyed making a positive impact in the greater North Florida area and growing a strong team to support our Seniors and their families. Prior to opening their office, David has many years of experience as an Insurance Executive for several national insurance companies. He also served in the United States Navy as a Corpsman. Sherry previously worked for an insurance company as well and spent many years raising their two children. She also spends much of her time volunteering with her church. They are passionate about the quality care provided to our aging population and creating positive and open relationships with family members.

Melissa Aguirre

Melissa Aguirre

Operations Director

Melissa joined our team in August 2015 and has nearly a decade of experience serving seniors and their families. As Senior Director of Operations, she works closely with the office staff to support daily operations, develop team members, and ensure our clients receive exceptional care.
Known for her strong problem-solving skills and collaborative approach, Melissa enjoys working alongside office staff, caregivers, clients, and families to find solutions that help seniors remain safe and independent at home. She also oversees payroll, billing, and key operational processes that keep the agency running smoothly.
Outside of work, Melissa enjoys spending time with her children, Tiago and Camila, her significant other, and making lasting memories with her family.

Nick Heron

Nick Heron

Client Services Advisor

Nicholas "Nick" Heron is a dedicated Client Services Advisor with Senior Helpers of Jacksonville, bringing nearly a decade of experience in the senior care industry. Born and raised in Jamaica, Nick is known for his warm, relationship-focused approach and his commitment to putting clients and their families first.
He takes pride in becoming a trusted resource for families as they navigate the aging journey, offering guidance, support, and personalized care solutions with professionalism and compassion. By taking the time to understand each family's unique needs, Nick helps create meaningful care experiences while building lasting relationships based on trust and respect.

Mel Riely

Mel Riely

Registered Nurse and VA Benefits Specialist

Melissa “Mel” Riely is the newest addition to the Senior Helpers team as our Registered Nurse and VA Benefits Specialist. Her family recently moved to the Jacksonville area upon her husband's retirement from the US Army after 28 years of dedicated service. Through her 25 years as a military spouse, Mel has served in advisory volunteer roles at all levels of family readiness. She is also a Co-Founder of the national non-profit organization, Operation Deploy Your Dress, which has saved military families over 2 million dollars by providing free formal gowns to military spouses for military balls and functions.

Mel has been a nurse for over 27 years in a variety of positions serving the civilian, military and veteran healthcare community. She received her Bachelors’ Degree in Nursing from Rutgers University and her Masters Degree in Nursing Administration and Management from the University of Texas, El Paso. Mel is thrilled to join Senior Helpers in this capacity with a team dedicated to providing quality and compassionate care to both the Senior and Veteran community, both of which are so close to her heart.

Lisa Kirkland

Lisa Kirkland

Human Resource Manager

Lisa is our Human Resource Manager she joined our team in October 2021. Lisa focuses on seeking and recruiting the best of North Florida’s CNA’s and HHA’s. Lisa goes out to Nursing Schools, CNA classes and CPR classes to help extend our efforts to find premium caregivers. She helps and directs our caregivers to remain in compliance with the State of Florida regulations. She is friendly and outgoing. Lisa enjoys learning about others and offers a great opportunity to work at the best Home Care Agency in Jacksonville, FL. She is a Georgia Native, Go Dawgs! Lisa enjoys going to concerts, the beach, and spending time with her two daughters and three grandkids.

Hailey Taylor

Hailey Taylor

Care Quality Specialist

Hailey joined our team in February 2023. She brings 6 years of experience caring for Seniors. Prior to coming to Senior Helpers, Hailey worked in Hospice care. Her role includes going into our client’s home and oversees the care of our clients, helping to reduce client fall risk, and completes a propriety Life Profile on every client which is a tool that helps reduce risk of hospital readmission and improves quality of life. Client’s family members benefit greatly from Hailey’s role as she always communicates concerns and helps families find solutions for their loved ones daily challenges. Hailey is passionate about Senior Care; her values align with Senior Helpers’ mission to help seniors remain at home safely with proper care. She loves going to the beach to unwind and values her time with her husband “Eli” along with their two dogs and one cat.

Jasmine Taylor

Jasmine Taylor

ADL Specialist

Jasmine Taylor is originally from San Diego, California. She relocated to Miami in 2005 before making Jacksonville her home in 2020. She joined Senior Helpers in November 2022 as a caregiver, where her dedication, compassion, and commitment to quality care quickly stood out. In January 2025, she was promoted to ADL Specialist, transitioning into an office-based role.
Drawing on her hands-on caregiving experience, Jasmine conducts in-home visits with clients to assess their needs, gather valuable feedback from both clients and caregivers, and help ensure the highest level of care. Her work plays an important role in supporting continuous improvement, operational growth, and service excellence.
Known for her positive attitude, warm personality, and genuine passion for helping others, Jasmine builds strong relationships with clients, families, and team members alike. Outside of work, she is the proud mother of two daughters, ages 22 and 13. She enjoys caring for plants, trying new restaurants, and considers herself a true food enthusiast.

Kathy McKissick

Kathy McKissick

Care Team Coordinator

Katiria “Kathy” McKissick joined our team 03/24 as our Lead Care Team Coordinator. Kathy brings years of scheduling with Nursing professionals. Kathy is attentive listening to our client’s needs. She has a big heart and loves taking care of others. Kathy is an avid cook and baker. Kathy and her husband have four children and several furry babies, Kathy lives a very busy life on a farm. We are glad that she has chosen to be a part of Senior Helpers helping our clients remain safe at home.

Love the flexibility, and management is always there to work side by side with you. The company has a great respect and appreciation for their employees and they are very ethical. In my experience they always go above and beyond to accommodate their customers, as well as their customers immediate family. When I joined Senior Helpers, I was leaving a company where I didn’t have such a great experience. Seeing a loving and respectful environment such as the one Senior Helpers has developed, makes me love more what I do.

Maria C. | Jacksonville, FL

Maria C. | Jacksonville, FL

Areas We Serve

Senior Helpers Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville serves the cities and towns of: