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Meet the Hampton Roads 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 Hampton Roads 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 Chesapeake 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 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.  For more than 20 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 Hampton Roads was proud to join the system in 2026.  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

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 Hampton Roads Team

Alvin (Al) Newman

Alvin (Al) Newman

Co-Owner

Alvin (Al) Newman is the co-owner of Senior Helpers of Hampton Roads, a veteran-owned business operated by A New Man Enterprise Inc. He opened the agency with his wife, Shimane, driven by their shared commitment to service, leadership, and giving back to the community.

Born and raised in Roanoke, Virginia, Al earned his bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems from Old Dominion University. He is passionate about servant leadership and leading by example, values that guide how he supports seniors, families, caregivers, and the Hampton Roads community.

Through Senior Helpers, Al is dedicated to helping seniors age with dignity, independence, and respect while ensuring families receive compassionate, high-quality care they can trust.

Outside of work, Al enjoys staying active, following sports, training Great Danes, and reading leadership and personal development books. He and Shimane are also actively involved in community initiatives supporting military families, food banks, and arts programs for children.

Shimane Newman

Shimane Newman

Co-Owner

Born in New York City, Shimane Newman is a United States Navy Veteran who deployed from Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. Her military service instilled the values of integrity, discipline, accountability, and service that continue to guide her today.

Following her military service, Shimane pursued a career in corporate leadership, serving as a Senior Vice President with Bank of America. Guided by the principles of servant leadership, she has remained committed to developing people, empowering others, and giving back to her community through volunteer initiatives supporting schools, food banks, and local organizations.

As Owner and Director of Operations of Senior Helpers of Hampton Roads, Shimane is dedicated to helping seniors age with dignity, independence, and respect while delivering compassionate, quality care.

For Shimane, Senior Helpers is more than a business. It is an opportunity to continue a lifetime of service by making a meaningful difference for seniors, veterans, military families, and the broader Hampton Roads community.

I want to take this opportunity to express our thanks for the superb work Diane did for Dad while he was in the hospital. She was punctual, personable, and dedicated. She helped my Dad immensely during a difficult time for him. Her calm manner and brilliant smile worked magic. My Dad’s attitude changed completely for the better after her first visit. Thank you so much for giving us Diane. She really is a remarkable person and very caring.
 

Areas We Serve

Senior Helpers of Hampton Roads provides a full range of senior home care services for you or your loved one—from companionship and light housework help, to more complex care services, including disease management,  and 24-hour care services.

  • Chesapeake
  • Virginia Beach
  • Norfolk
  • Portsmouth