Meet The Team | Senior Helpers of Chattanooga
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Serving Chattanooga and surrounding areas.
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Serving Chattanooga and surrounding areas.
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Meet the Chattanooga Office

More than 90% of seniors want to age in their own home with dignity but getting the right type of care can seem daunting.  At Senior Helpers Chattanooga we believe getting the best care for your loved ones should not be complicated.  We are committed to delivering the best possible in-home care to seniors in the Chattanooga community.

We take in-home care very seriously and make it a priority to provide the highest level of client service possible.  Over the past years 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.

The Senior Helpers Guarantee is what sets us apart from other Home Care Agencies

Our process and what we cover at the complimentary assessment includes discussing your loved one’s needs, our services, and determining what is best for your entire family – TOGETHER.

The first step in the process is a complimentary, initial in-home care assessment. The assessment helps you identify the true needs of your loved one and understand your options. We will discuss your family’s goals, your loved one’s specific daily plan and schedule, pricing and payment methods, implementation process, on-going communication, and follow-up plan.

Our commitment of never having a stranger at your door ensures a proper introduction and review of the care plan will always be made by one of our office staff.

In our experience, one of the most difficult aspects of being the client of a home care agency is having caregivers show up at your home without being properly introduced or prepared, or in the case of having a substitute, not getting advance notification of a change – then dealing with a poorly prepared fill-in that can’t provide appropriate care.

Our caregivers are supervised employees, not independent contractors which means Senior Helpers is professional, safe, and reliable home care services for your loved ones.

Senior Helpers pays our caregivers taxes, provides unemployment insurance and workers compensation; performs full background and reference checks and ensures the caregivers are bonded and insured. Senior Helpers also test caregiving skills, verify credentials, and reviews driver license history for safety.

Senior Helpers also provides the BEST Benefits program in the industry to our caregivers!

Senior Helpers of Chattanooga also offers all our caregivers the opportunity to attend Gateway Achievement, our Certified Nursing Assistant School. Through this program we are preparing students to take the Certified Nursing Assistant Exam with the state of Tennessee. Our programs include residential one on one training and a blended program which allows you to do your classroom learning remotely. 

Our Nurse on staff provides oversight and skilled knowledge that ensures quality care by a fully trained caregiver.

Senior Helpers of Greater Chattanooga employs Registered Nurse oversight training to ensure that all caregivers that join our team are fully equipped to provide the best quality care available.

Affordable options with local partnerships offer your family financial support to get care when care is needed.

As you start to explore the full continuum of care options for your loved one, it becomes obvious that elder care can be costly. We have the experience, certification, knowledge, and local partners to assist you in Veterans Administration benefits as well as assistance in navigating your Long-Term Care policies.

Meet the Chattanooga & Cleveland TN Team

Laura & Tim Palenkas

Laura & Tim Palenkas

Owners

Prior to working in the senior care industry, Laura was in marketing and merchandising for 21 years in Knoxville, TN. She also served on the boards of the Salvation Army and Children’s Hospital of East TN. Tim was self-employed as a general contractor building homes in Maryville, Alcoa, Kingston, and Knoxville, TN. They have two married daughters and have been blessed with two granddaughters. The experience they bring from their former careers along with their passion to help seniors get the support, dignity, and respect they deserve, led them to Senior Helpers. They have experienced first-hand the stress and burden a family experience when having to care for elderly parents who are no longer completely independent, while facing the challenges of everyday life.

Cody Stone

Cody Stone

Managing Director

Cody is a lifelong resident of East TN.  He attended Tusculum University in Greeneville, TN where he graduated with a Degree in Business Administration and played Basketball for 4 years.  He met his wife there in 2003 and they went on to get married in 2008.  They have since been blessed with two wonderful daughters, Ella and Harper.  Cody spent 14 years in Corporate America but decided in 2023 it was time to chart a new career course that could provide more purpose and create a stronger impact in the community.  It has been a wonderful decision and providing quality care for Seniors and their families continues to be our mission!

Beth Ford, RN, MS

Beth Ford, RN, MS

Director of Education & VA Liaison

Beth moved from East Pointe, MI to Maryville TN 30 years ago, and has never looked back.  She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and Masters in Counseling from the University of Tennessee.  She has been a certified case manager since 2016 and has also worked in hospitals, surgery, home health and renal care.  Beth joined the team because she loves working with seniors.  Beth is responsible for both CNA schools and training at Senior Helpers, along with being the VA specialist in the group.  She enjoys spending time with her husband Keith and their son Nathan.

Susan Vieira

Susan Vieira

Human Resource & Senior Advocacy Specialist

Susan is a middle Tennessee native, having grown up in Nashville. She attended the University of Tennessee where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation. Susan has worked in the senior industry for 20 years. Susan serves on the boards of the Senior Information and Referral Service, and CADES Adult Day Program. She has been an active volunteer for Alzheimer’s Tennessee, Caring Hearts, and the Office on Aging. Susan is a Certified Dementia Practitioner. In 2020 Susan was named the Snowflake Ball Queen setting a record for the most money raised in the 12-year history benefiting the Senior Companion Program. Susan is married to Scott and has a son Harrison. In her spare time, she enjoys her two labradoodles Knox and Ribbie. She also enjoys watching her son play baseball and working out.

Kya Groves, CEAC, CAPS

Kya Groves, CEAC, CAPS

Business Development Director

Kya has been in the senior care industry since 2012 and is experienced in home health, senior living, home mobility solutions, and home care. She has her CEAC and CAPS certifications, which are respected designations for assisting seniors with their home accessibility and mobility needs. Kya has extensive training in dementia care and enjoys working with seniors at all levels to support them living life to the fullest. Kya attends Silverdale Baptist Church in Chattanooga and has a daughter in Franklin. She loves meeting up with friends and exploring the area.   

Mia Pompey

Mia Pompey

Care Team/Client Services & Scheduling Manager

Mia was raised in Upstate New York. She moved to Bradenton FL in 2008 with her family. Mia recently had to move to TN in May of 2022 to help care for her mother who suffers from MS, and that started her journey in the world of caregiving. Mia has 3 children Jalen, Brianna, and Sidney, along with 2 grandsons. She has worked serving people in the community for over 20yrs. Mia has always had a passion for helping people and has finally been blessed with a position that she can finally not just work in her purpose, but now in a way that brings joy to the seniors she’s come to love so much!

Ireland Davis

Ireland Davis

Office Administrator & Care Team Support

Ireland grew up in Pulaski, TN but ventured out to attend the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (GO MOCS). She graduated in 2022 with a BS in Criminal Justice and a Sociology minor; she has stayed in Chattanooga due to her love for the hidden gems of the city and the memories of meeting her husband. Ever since she was a little girl, she has always loved seniors. She appreciates their views and their presence, and she knows how important it is to serve a vulnerable population. In her spare time, you’ll either find her listening to a true crime podcast, coloring, or watching scary/horror movies!

Melissa Miller, RN

Melissa Miller, RN

Quality Care Coordinator

Melissa Miller, RN is a lifelong Chattanooga resident currently residing in East Ridge, Tennessee, with her husband and her 3 dogs. She has been working in healthcare for the last 25 years. She began her career as a CNA, after graduating from Hixson high school & Sequoyah Vocational with a concentration in health occupations. She worked as a CNA for six years, while continuing her education in healthcare. She graduated from Chattanooga State Technical Community College with her Licensed Practical Nursing certification in 2005, serving as the 2005 Class President. In 2008, she completed the LPN to RN Transition Program at Chattanooga State, earning her Associates of Science in Nursing Degree. She began her Registered Nursing career at Erlanger Hospital in downtown Chattanooga, where she later became a pioneer of the dedicated education unit in partnership with UTC Bachelorette Nursing Program. She was awarded the Care Champion Award, for her exemplary care of one of her patients. After serving 5 years in the acute hospital setting, she decided to pursue other avenues of Nursing. She has nursing and management experience in geriatric nursing, long term care, nursing education, assisted living management, hospice care and administration, and home health care and management. 

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

Areas We Serve

Senior Helpers Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga serves the cities and towns of:

  • Chattanooga
  • Hixson
  • Cleveland
  • Red Bank
  • Signal Mountain
  • Ooltewah
  • Collegedale
  • Athens