Meet The Team | Senior Helpers of Lake Minnetonka and Surrounding Areas

Meet the Lake Minnetonka and Surrounding Areas 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 Lake Minnetonka and Surrounding Areas 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 Plymouth 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.

Meet the Lake Minnetonka and Surrounding Areas Team

Kaitlin McDaniel

Owner

Kaitlin has dedicated her entire career to healthcare, first as a Speech-Language Pathologist, forming meaningful relationships with patients and their families during critical times by educating, advocating, and caring for the whole person and their support system. In recent years, she found that changes in the traditional healthcare system made it increasingly difficult to provide the “above and beyond” care that she values.

Seeking a way to deliver the highest quality care, Kaitlin opened Senior Helpers of the Lake Minnetonka Region. She believes that in-home senior care offers the personalized, comprehensive support often missing from traditional healthcare. She views home care as both preventative and rehabilitative, enhancing independence and quality of life. Kaitlin’s guiding principle has always been to “maximize potential at every stage through compensation and skill building,” a philosophy she continues to uphold as a home care provider.

At Senior Helpers of Lake Minnetonka, we invest in high-quality education and training for caregivers. They utilize a proprietary assessment tool, LIFE Profile, developed from 15 years of research to reduce hospitalization risks and create better care plans and outcomes. Regular re-assessments ensure that care remains aligned with each client’s goals and needs—a process Kaitlin strongly supports as a medical professional.

Kaitlin and her husband, Casey, have three children: Mallory, Connor, and Logan. While life with three young children is busy, Kaitlin enjoys spending time outdoors with family and friends. In the summer, you’ll often find them on bike trails with a lively mix of bikes, tag-a-longs, and trailers, or out on the water. Throughout the year, they stay active with hockey, dance, soccer, t-ball, piano, and swimming.

Cassie

Client Services Manager

Cassie holds a bachelor’s degrees in Health Services Administration and Gerontology and brings eight years of diverse healthcare experience. She has had the privilege of working with the aging population in senior communities and home care settings, where she is deeply committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of seniors, their families, and caregivers. Throughout her career, Cassie has gained expertise in sales, business office operations, client care, human resources, and administrative roles, and she readily steps in wherever support is needed. Her enduring passion for this field is fueled by a dedication to continuously improving care standards and ensuring every individual receives compassionate, high-quality service.

She brings this energy to her role as Client Service Manager, supporting all of our clients to optimize their care and experience.

Cassie lives with her husband and their seven-year-old Golden Retriever, Dwight. Having recently relocated back to the Midwest from Oregon, they are excited to be closer to family. An avid outdoor enthusiast, Cassie enjoys hiking, camping, tennis, cross-country skiing, and biking. During the summer months, she loves spending time at the lakes and finds joy whenever surrounded by plants.

Cyndi

Care Team Lead

Cyndi brings a lifetime of caregiving experience and heartfelt compassion to her role as Care Team Lead at Senior Helpers of Lake Minnetonka. Her journey began at a young age as the primary caretaker for her sister, and she has since dedicated her career to supporting others in home health care, hospice, and long-term care environments. Known for her friendly demeanor and commitment to going above and beyond, Cyndi is passionate about training, mentoring, and orienting caregivers while supporting clients and their families in every way possible. Her extensive caregiving background and dedication to client well-being make her a valued member of our team.

Cyndi lives in Plymouth with her four children and enjoys spending winter days at the hockey arena cheering them on. In the summer, she and her family love camping and exploring local parks. Traveling with her family is also a favorite, most often heading to Florida to visit her mother.

Toree

Recruitment Manager

Toree brings over 15 years of experience in both senior care and childcare, which has shaped her patient, empathetic, and adaptable approach to working with others. After years of direct caregiving, she transitioned to the administrative side of Senior Helpers, where her calm demeanor and sense of humor continue to be invaluable assets. Her background also includes emergency medical training, which has proven beneficial in both professional and personal settings, especially given her enthusiasm for animals, adventure, and the outdoors.

Toree resides in the countryside with her fiancé, Ryan, along with their rescue dog and cat. They are currently planning their wedding for fall 2026. Outside of work, Toree enjoys camping, ice fishing, cooking, and planning future travel adventures, particularly cruises. She values family deeply and spends as much time with loved ones as possible.

A unique aspect of Toree’s journey is that she worked as the McDaniel family nanny for three years, during which she developed a lasting bond with their three children. This full-circle experience highlights her commitment to building meaningful relationships and her passion for compassionate service

Kathryn

Registered Nurse

Kathryn brings over 37 years of diverse nursing experience, having provided compassionate and skilled care across various healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, and home care. Her extensive background has given her a deep understanding of client needs and the complexities involved in delivering personalized care. Kathryn’s dedication to home care became especially meaningful through her personal experience caring for her mother, who is living with Alzheimer’s disease. This journey has enriched her perspective, highlighting the importance of empathy, patience, human connection, and occasionally, a touch of humor.

Kathryn has been married for over 30 years and is the proud mother of three adult daughters. She recently embraced the role of grandparent. In her free time, Kathryn enjoys staying active by walking, paddleboarding, and traveling, and she values spending quality time with her family.

Laura

Scheduler

Laura brings over four years of diverse experience in healthcare, having excelled as a scheduling coordinator, administrative assistant, and team leader. Currently studying psychology, she recognizes the importance of supporting both clients and their families to find balance between wellness and daily responsibilities. At Senior Helpers, Laura consistently strives to deliver the highest standard of care, ensuring each individual’s needs are met with compassion and professionalism. Her ability to remain calm in stressful situations is impressive, and has earned her the nickname of "Yoda" in the office.

Outside of work, Laura is an avid adventurer and lifelong learner. She enjoys hiking, riding her motorcycle, running marathons, lifting weights, and mastering new languages. She's a native Spanish speaker, so you can say "hola" to her anytime!

Stella

After Hours Scheduler

Stella values working with seniors and contributing to a purpose-driven mission. Although she is not directly involved in hands-on caregiving, she takes pride in knowing that every call she handles and every schedule she organizes positively impacts someone’s comfort, safety, and well-being. Stella thrives in the fast-paced environment of her role and finds fulfillment in quickly resolving challenges as they arise.

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Stella enjoys traveling, discovering new places, and spending quality time with loved ones. She is also passionate about self-improvement and is committed to bringing a positive mindset to all areas of her life.

Ashley

After Hours Scheduler

Ashley brings a strong background in customer service and administrative support to her role as AfterHours Scheduler. She takes genuine enjoyment in bringing order to busy schedules and ensuring operations run smoothly behind the scenes. Her experience with Senior Helpers has highlighted the importance of slowing down, listening deeply, and approaching each situation with kindness. Ashley finds great meaning in supporting individuals during this stage of life, viewing her work as a heartfelt way of giving back.

Outside of her professional role, Ashley is an inquisitive individual who loves reading, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, and discovering new places—particularly those that offer good food or a cozy view. She treasures the simple joys that life has to offer.

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 accessible in-home care. This was the mission-driven spark that started Senior Helpers.

The first office opened in Baltimore, Maryland, 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 Lake Minnetonka and Surrounding Areas was proud to join the system in 2023. Like every other owner, we too are fully-committed to the original goal of providing dependable and accessible 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 are lucky to serve hundreds of seniors in our community, 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.