Meet The Team | Senior Helpers of Central Iowa
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Serving Urbandale and surrounding areas.
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Serving Urbandale and surrounding areas.
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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

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

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 Senior Helpers Central Iowa Team

Jeff

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 serves as the President of the Board of Directors of the Iowa Chapter of the American Parkinson’s Disease Association.

Shea

Shea

Scheduling Coordinator/Client Care

Shea has been in the healthcare field since 2014 when she graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a major in Therapeutic Recreation and minor in Family Studies. She started her career at a nursing home right after graduating as the Activity Director, where she planned activities and events for her residents, as well as events and social gathering for staff. Shea enjoys getting to know the families and clients she is serving and creating a therapeutic environment for them to excel in. She loves planning and organizing events, and finds it a great opportunity to meet others and create a fun and friendly environment for staff, clients, and the community. Shea moved to Des Moines in 2015 and worked in HR for a short period to time before she began working in a hospital setting as a Recreational Therapist, which she did for 4 years. Outside of work Shea enjoys spending time with my family and friends. She has a rescue dog who loves to go on walks and be outside! Shea loves to paint and refurbishing furniture, as well as traveling to new places. Shea is deeply passionate for every population she serves and wants to help in any way she can.

Lisa, RN

Lisa, RN

Director of Nursing

Lisa is married with 2 children, 3 stepchildren, and has a beautiful 2.5-year-old granddaughter, Quinn. She has been an RN for 15 years. She has experience as the Director of Nursing in an assisted living facility, but most of her experience is working in home care as a nurse case manager. Lisa loves being out in the community visiting with her clients and enjoys taking time to really listen to them. This allows them to communicate any emotional or physical needs they may have that she may be able to help with. She likes to walk 2-3 miles each day, and loves spending time with her kitty, Minnie, and her pup, Tater Tot. When she has downtime, you’ll always catch her on her sofa, covered with a blanket, both pets in her lap, reading a good book.

Kayla

Kayla

Caregiver, HR & Training Coordinator

Kayla has a big heart for the senior community that started at a young age when her family cared for her grandfather in their home who had suffered from a stroke and lung cancer. The spark was her becoming a CNA that led her to the healthcare industry. Prior to Senior Helpers she worked for a Senior Living community where she also held an Administrative role in the office. Her favorite thing about working with seniors is hearing their stories and their words of wisdom. She recently moved to Iowa and has settled with her husband, their two kids and two bonus kids in Ankeny. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and all things crafting.

Alex

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.

Jenni

Jenni

Recruiter

Jenni has been in the healthcare field since 2011. Her passion for healthcare began when her son was hospitalized and needed subsequent respiratory cares following. She graduated from Vatterott College with a degree in Medical Assisting and X-Ray, then attended University of Iowa for her certification in Occupational Hearing Conservation. She is currently working on her second degree in Healthcare Administration. Jenni started her career in an Urgent Care clinic and became interested in the administration side after spending much time with Workers Compensation and Occupational Medicine clientele. She is a mother of four and currently lives with her family in Urbandale. Outside of work she enjoys painting, watching comedies, and spending time outdoors with her family and pets.
 

Areas We Serve

Senior Helpers Central Iowa 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 Central Iowa serves cities and towns, 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
  • Windsor Heights