Meet The Team | Senior Helpers of South Tacoma

Meet the South Tacoma 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 South Tacoma 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 South Tacoma 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. 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 South Tacoma 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.

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 South Tacoma Team

Melissa Brown

Owner

Melissa Brown brings both personal experience and professional passion to her role as Owner of Senior Helpers – South Tacoma. Her journey into senior care began long before she entered the industry—it started in her own family. As a young adult, Melissa stepped in to help care for her beloved grandmother, Shirley, through challenging medical events including bypass surgery and a hip replacement. That experience sparked a lifelong dedication to caregiving, further deepened years later as she lovingly supported her mother through a serious illness that ultimately required hospice care.

These defining moments didn’t just inspire Melissa—they ignited a mission. Today, she channels that personal history into her professional purpose: building a senior care agency grounded in compassion, respect, and excellence. Her goal is simple but powerful—to ensure every senior feels seen, valued, and supported.

Based in the South Tacoma area, Melissa operates her agency near the fifth largest military base in the country. With deep respect for those who have served, she is especially committed to meeting the unique needs of elderly veterans. She understands the complexities many families face when seeking care, and works tirelessly to make the process easier, more dignified, and more human.

Melissa’s caregiving story continues even now, as she helps care for her grandfather, who lives with dementia. That ongoing experience keeps her grounded in the realities that families face every day and reminds her why quality care matters so deeply. Under her leadership, Senior Helpers – South Tacoma has grown into a trusted provider known for its reliability, responsiveness, and heartfelt service.

Driven by personal experience and a heart for service, Melissa is proud to lead a team that’s making a real difference in the lives of seniors and the families who love them.

Tara Forest

Care Director

Tara Forest serves as the Care Director of Senior Helpers – South Tacoma, bringing compassion, dedication, and a deep understanding of individualized care to every client and caregiver she supports. Tara lives in Puyallup with her husband and their two sons, both of whom are on the autism spectrum. As a devoted mother and professional, Tara is a passionate advocate for individuals with special needs and a strong supporter of neurodiversity in all aspects of life.

Her personal and professional experiences fuel her commitment to delivering thoughtful, customized care solutions for seniors and individuals with disabilities. Tara believes that everyone—regardless of age or ability—deserves to be treated with dignity, empathy, and respect. Under her leadership, Senior Helpers – South Tacoma continues to grow as a trusted and compassionate care provider in the community.

Jessica Schiefelbein

Scheduler

Jessica Schiefelbein is the Scheduler at Senior Helpers – South Tacoma, where she plays a vital role in coordinating care and ensuring our clients receive the reliable support they need. Jessica lives in Graham with her husband and two children. With over 10 years of experience as a certified Home Care Aide (HCA), she has dedicated her career to serving seniors in various settings, including home care, memory care, and assisted living communities.

Jessica began her journey with Senior Helpers as a caregiver, where her compassion and reliability quickly stood out. Her deep understanding of the caregiver experience makes her a thoughtful and effective scheduler, always striving to match the right caregiver with each client’s unique needs.

Outside of work, Jessica enjoys listening to heavy metal music and exploring the outdoors with her family. Her blend of professional dedication and personal passion makes her an invaluable member of our team.

Meet the South Tacoma office

Our History

Our process

Meet the South Tacoma Team

Photos from the South Tacoma Office!

Areas We Serve