Meet The Team | Senior Helpers of Asheville

Meet the Asheville office

More than 90% of seniors want to age in their own home with dignity, but getting the right type of care can feel overwhelming. At Senior Helpers of Asheville, we believe that finding the best care for your loved ones should be simple and supportive. We recognize the growing need for in‑home care services, and with our passion for helping others, we are committed to delivering the highest quality care to seniors in the Asheville community.

We take the opportunity to provide care in your home seriously and make it a priority to deliver exceptional client service. Our team of care professionals is dedicated to staying at the forefront of the in‑home care industry through ongoing training and education. You can feel confident that your loved one is in good hands with Senior Helpers.

Our History

Senior Helpers was founded in 2002 by Tony Bonacuse with the help of Peter Ross after their firsthand experiences caring for aging family members. They recognized that most seniors prefer to remain at home rather than move into an unfamiliar facility — yet dependable, well‑trained in‑home care was difficult to find. That need became the mission‑driven spark that launched Senior Helpers.

The first office opened in Baltimore, Maryland, and quickly earned a reputation for delivering excellent in‑home care with a highly trained team of professional caregivers. Based on that success, the company expanded nationwide. Today, Senior Helpers includes more than 300 locally owned and operated franchises across the United States.

Senior Helpers of Asheville joined the system in 2022. Like every other owner, we are fully committed to the original goal: providing dependable, accessible in‑home care with well‑trained caregivers. Nothing is more important to us than being the best possible resource for seniors and families in our community. We are honored to serve hundreds of seniors across Western North Carolina and remain committed to delivering uncompromising levels of care.

Our process

Getting started with in‑home care should feel clear and manageable. Our process begins with an RN assessment, where a Registered Nurse meets with you and your loved one to understand daily routines, safety considerations, medical needs, and personal preferences. Using this information, we develop a personalized care plan that outlines goals, schedules, and the specific support your loved one will receive. Once the care plan is reviewed together, we finalize the service agreement to ensure transparency around services, pricing, and expectations. From there, we match your loved one with a trained caregiver whose skills and personality fit their needs, and once staffing is confirmed, care begins with ongoing communication and support from our team.

Our Commitment to the Asheville Community

Dementia Partners AVL

Senior Helpers Asheville is an active partner with Dementia Partners AVL, a nonprofit that operates 15 caregiver support groups across Western North Carolina. Our team contributes through committee leadership, volunteer support, and program development to help ensure each group is welcoming, well‑organized, and grounded in dementia‑capable communication. This partnership reflects our commitment to strengthening the community’s ability to support individuals living with dementia and the families who care for them.

Alzheimer’s Association — Walk to End Alzheimer’s

We play a meaningful leadership role in the Asheville/Hendersonville Walk to End Alzheimer’s, supporting planning efforts, community engagement, and day‑of coordination. Our involvement helps expand awareness, encourage participation, and strengthen the region’s collective response to Alzheimer’s and related dementias. This work aligns with our mission to support families and advance dementia education throughout Western North Carolina. For more information visit:

The Autumn Players (TAP) — Asheville Community Theatre

We proudly support The Autumn Players (TAP), a senior acting troupe within Asheville Community Theatre that brings live theatre and creative engagement to older adults across the region. TAP’s performances offer meaningful social connection, cognitive stimulation, and joy — especially for seniors in residential communities. Supporting their work reflects our belief that creative expression and community engagement are essential to wellbeing at every age.

Meet the Asheville Team

Daniel Pickus

Owner

Daniel opened Senior Helpers of Asheville with a clear purpose: to give back to the Asheville–Hendersonville community and ensure seniors have access to dependable, high‑quality support that allows them to remain independent at home. After witnessing the challenges his own grandparents faced toward the end of their lives, he recognized the need for compassionate, reliable in‑home care in Western North Carolina.

For Daniel, Senior Helpers of Asheville is more than a business — it is a mission. He is dedicated to improving the quality of life for seniors and families in the region and ensuring that every client receives care rooted in dignity, respect, and genuine compassion.

Candace Carter, RN

Care Manager

Candace brings deep clinical experience and a passion for service to Senior Helpers of Asheville. She loves her role because it allows her to combine her nursing expertise with her commitment to supporting the Asheville and Hendersonville communities. Candace is dedicated to improving the quality of life for both the clients we serve and the caregivers who support them.

Her background spans large and small hospitals, multi‑physician clinics, home health agencies, and long‑term care facilities. She has earned national certifications in Medical‑Surgical Nursing, Progressive Care Nursing, Rehabilitation Nursing, and Gerontological Nursing — experience that strengthens our team and enhances the care we provide.

Outside of work, Candace enjoys spending time in the mountains of Western North Carolina — hiking, backpacking, and camping with her Dalmatian, Lady. She also loves time with her son and two granddaughters.