Meet The Team | Senior Helpers of Central Iowa

Meet the Central Iowa office

Welcome to your local Senior Helpers team website, with our office located in Urbandale, IA. One of 300 Senior Helpers offices nationwide, our office serves the entire Central Iowa area, including but not limited to Adel, Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Carlisle, Clive, Dallas Center, Des Moines, Grimes, Indianola, Johnston, Mitchellville, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Urbandale, Van Meter, Waukee, West Des Moines and Windsor Heights.

Senior Helpers of Central Iowa was opened in 2008 and is locally owned. Senior Helpers has been trusted as the premier reliable partner to assist with senior care needs. Expanding our in-home care and senior services across Central Iowa, we are able to accommodate the increasing need for higher quality home care. The safety of our clients is of primary concern to us. We provide security, comfort and professionalism to our clients and their families, with our goal to lift the burden and provide peace of mind for both the client and the family.

We pride ourselves on having the best and most compassionate caregivers in our area. We work hard to match up your loved one with the most appropriate caregiver(s). We have extensive training programs for our caregivers to prepare them for whatever circumstance they may find in the home. Our Alzheimer’s and Dementia training program is considered the best in the industry. Our Parkinson’s training is also second to none. However, we do not just train our staff. We also offer training to family caregivers and other family members of our clients. It’s important that you know what to expect, as well. We take our responsibility of informing our families and community very seriously.

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 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 Central Iowa 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.

We have been lucky to serve thousands 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

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

Senior Helpers of Central Iowa is Age-Friendly Care Certified

Senior Helpers of Central Iowa is proud to be Age-Friendly Care at Home certified by Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP). The first-of-its-kind certification was created to help meet the demand for high-quality care for older adults and showcases companies that use all-encompassing, person-centered care to address the unique needs of every individual. The focus is on the 4Ms (What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility), a research-backed and evidence-based approach to care.

Learn More About Age-Friendly Care

Meet the Senior Helpers Central Iowa Team

Jeff

Owner

Jeff’s passion for senior care developed when he was the primary caregiver for his mother after she had a stroke. She moved into his home, and he experienced the joys and frustrations of being a family caregiver. He knows the difficulties of finding the right caregiver, and uses his experience as a basis for hiring the best people and managing Senior Helpers. He especially enjoys working with families to ensure their loved one receives the best possible care. He enjoys spending time with his family, his church family, helping in the community, and being outdoors doing almost anything. Jeff served as the President of the Board of Directors of the Iowa Chapter of the American Parkinson’s Disease Association and continues to serve on the board.

Madison

Director of Operations

Madison began her career in a nursing home where she fell in love with senior care. She has been in healthcare for just over 12 years and has lots of experience in all aspects of senior living. She also has many years of experience in HR, scheduling, payroll, staff engagement and many other skills. Madison has a big heart for helping people be the best form of themselves, including our staff, our clients, and their families. Madisons passion is helping make a positive impact for clients at the end of life. She loves planning and organizing events and finds it a great opportunity to keep our staff engaged. She creates a fun and friendly environment for clients, staff and families. Madison and her husband have 2 boys and a very active goldendoodle. Outside of work she enjoys anything Disney, any Zoo and Aquariums and spending time with her nephews and family.

Sheri

Sales Manager

Sheri is a dynamic and compassionate professional with over 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, and client care coordination within the home care and wellness industries. In her role as Sales Manager, Sheri combines her strong business development background with a genuine passion for helping families find the support and care they need.

Throughout her career, Sheri has built trusted relationships with healthcare providers, assisted living communities, and local organizations to connect clients with personalized care solutions. Her approach blends strategic marketing insight with heartfelt community engagement—ensuring every client and referral partner feels valued and supported.

Sheri’s expertise in relationship building, strategic outreach, and compassionate service allows her to make a meaningful impact in the community—helping families access quality care while growing lasting partnerships.

When she’s not working, Sheri enjoys wellness coaching, community events, and spending time with family.

Rachel

Marketing Coordinator

Rachel cultivated her expertise in media production, visual storytelling, and digital marketing at the University of Iowa. She has grown up surrounded by passion for senior care, as her mother and sibling both work in the industry as well. Rachel previously worked as a communications coordinator for a domestic violence shelter, and she is thrilled to transition her communications and advocacy skills to advocating for senior independence in the home. Outside of work, Rachel volunteers for Gender Freedom Society, crochets, and spends time with her partner and her cat.

Jerzie

Administrative Assistant

I have always been passionate about supporting others, whether caring for seniors or nurturing young children. I take great pride in creating a warm, welcoming environment and strive to brighten the day of everyone I meet. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our puppy, watching movies, and going on motorcycle rides during the summer. I’m excited to be a part of the Senior Helpers team and look forward to being a friendly and dependable presence, whether in person or over the phone. I am committed to offering compassionate assistance and meaningful support to those in need.

Sierra

Scheduler

Sierra grew up in Madrid Iowa and has been pursuing her career in geriatrics for the past three years, working both in memory care and assisted living. She is passionate about providing compassionate and reliable support to older adults. Sierra is also enrolled at DMACC, where she is advancing her education as an EMT. In her free time, she enjoys playing softball, crocheting and spending time with her cats, Stewart and Stella.

Cristel

Cristel lives in Bondurant with her husband, two kids, and two goldendoodles. She has worked in healthcare for 18 years. She started as a nursing assistant and worked while she finished nursing school. Cristel has worked in clinics, hospitals settings and home care, doing everything from delivering babies to preparing patients for hospice. She loves working with people to help them find wellness, happiness and peace. In her spare time, she volunteers at their church and enjoys attending events with her family.

Alex

Accounting

Alex is a West Coaster who works remotely in Oregon and has a strong passion for helping others. Growing up he was surrounded by family who took care of one another, and knew he needed to continue the path they led by working in the home care industry to enrich other peoples’ lives. Alex’s pride and joy is his beautiful daughter who he spends a great length chauffeuring around to numerous events and activities. In his free time Alex enjoys taking his dog for walks in the mountains or the beach which are nearby his home. He enjoys traveling and meeting new people, and is looking forward to traveling with his daughter to as many places as possible and exploring the world together.

Meet the Central Iowa office

Our History

Our process

Senior Helpers of Central Iowa is Age-Friendly Care Certified

Meet the Senior Helpers Central Iowa Team

Areas We Serve