Meet The Team | Senior Helpers of Grand Rapids

Meet the Grand Rapids office

More than 90% of seniors want to be able to age in their own home with dignity but getting the right type of care can seem daunting. At Senior Helpers of Grand Rapids we believe that getting the best care for your loved ones should not be complicated. We recognize the growing need for in-home care services, and with our passion for helping others, we are committed to delivering the best possible care to seniors in the Grand Rapids community.

We take the opportunity to provide care in your home seriously and make it a priority to provide the highest level of client service possible. 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. You can feel confident that your loved one is in good hands with Senior Helpers.

Our History

Senior Helpers of Grand Rapids was founded with a clear purpose: to provide seniors with more than basic care. Our story begins with owner Joe Gugino, a Doctor of Physical Therapy who spent his career helping people regain their independence, often in the comfort of their own homes. Through this work, Joe saw how much older adults value not only professional, dependable care but also the trust, connection, and compassion that come with it.

Guided by this experience, Joe and his wife, Emily, an occupational therapist, set out to bring a new level of care to the Grand Rapids community. They wanted to create a place where families could turn for support, knowing their loved ones would be treated with dignity and respect while remaining in the place they love most, home.

From the beginning, Senior Helpers of Grand Rapids has been about more than starting a business. It was built on the belief that small changes can make a big impact, whether it is creating care plans that reflect each client’s unique story or building systems that allow caregivers to focus on what matters most: caring for people.

Today, our office continues to grow with that same purpose. We are proud to be part of the Grand Rapids community, building meaningful relationships with families and raising the standard of care so seniors can live safely, comfortably, and independently.

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 Grand Rapids Team

Joe Gugino, PT, DPT, MBA

Owner

For Joe, opening Senior Helpers of Grand Rapids is about more than running a business. It is about purpose, connection, and making a lasting difference in people’s lives. A Doctor of Physical Therapy, Joe has spent his career helping individuals regain their independence, often in the comfort of their own homes. Those experiences showed him how deeply older adults value not just quality care but also the relationships and trust that come with it.

Joe is passionate about making care personal. He believes every client’s story is unique, and the best care plans begin with listening and understanding what matters most to each individual. With a commitment to building strong systems and operations, he ensures caregivers can focus fully on what they do best: providing compassionate care. Joe takes pride in building a team that treats clients like family and in creating a trusted resource for seniors and their loved ones.

Family is at the heart of Joe’s life as well. He and his wife, Emily, an occupational therapist, share a love for helping people live fuller and more independent lives. Together with their young son, James, and their two dogs, Charlie and Ollie, they enjoy an active lifestyle, skiing in the winter, hiking and rock climbing in the summer, and spending as much time outdoors as possible.

Giving back to the community is also important to Joe. He has supported autism-focused organizations such as Autism Speaks and the Autism Society, as well as No Barriers USA, where he has helped plan and guide adaptive hikes for individuals living with neurological conditions. These experiences continue to shape his belief in inclusion, accessibility, and meeting people where they are.

At Senior Helpers of Grand Rapids, Joe is committed to raising the standard of care in the community. His vision is clear: seniors deserve more than basic care. They deserve connection, respect, and a team that goes above and beyond to strengthen the community one home at a time.

Emily Gugino, OTR/L

Co-Owner

Emily has always had a passion for helping people live their best lives. She started her career as an occupational therapist in home health care, where she worked one-on-one with seniors and their families to make daily life safer, easier, and more enjoyable. Those years gave her a true appreciation for the importance of advocacy, compassion, and meeting people where they are.

Her career then took her into leadership as a Clinical Director at a large home health company. In that role, she guided close to one hundred clinicians, balancing the art of supporting caregivers while ensuring patients received the very best care. That experience allowed her to see the bigger picture of what it takes to deliver quality at every level of care.

At Senior Helpers of Grand Rapids, Emily is excited to bring together her background in clinical care and leadership to create a positive impact on clients, families, and employees. She believes that care is not just about services but about relationships, trust, and helping people feel valued.

When Emily is not working, you can usually find her spending time with her family, staying active with a good workout, or curled up with a book she cannot put down.

Kayla Crater

Administrative Care Coordinator

Kayla serves as the Administrative Care Coordinator at Senior Helpers of Grand Rapids, where her passion for helping others shines through every day. She is deeply committed to making a positive difference in the lives of seniors and their families, and she takes pride in being a trusted source of support, compassion, and encouragement. For Kayla, helping people isn’t just part of her job, it’s something that motivates and inspires her on a personal level.

She is proud of the opportunities she has had to coach volleyball and mentor young athletes, where she was able to encourage growth, confidence, and teamwork in the same way she now supports clients and their families. Balancing work and school while continuing to grow personally and professionally has also been an accomplishment she values, as it reflects her dedication to learning and perseverance.

Outside of work, Kayla enjoys gardening, baking, hiking, and traveling. She also stays active in her community by participating in local events and lending a hand wherever she can.

Kayla is excited to be part of Senior Helpers of Grand Rapids and looks forward to building meaningful relationships with the team and the families they serve.

Meet the Grand Rapids office

Our History

Our process

Meet the Grand Rapids Team

Images From the Grand Rapids Office

Areas We Serve