Meet the Poway Team | Senior Helpers

Meet the Poway office

More than 90% percent of Seniors want to age in their own home with dignity but getting the right type of care can seem daunting. At Senior Helpers Poway, we believe that getting the best care for your loved ones should not be complicated. We recognize the need for in-home caregiving and are committed to delivering the best possible care to our Poway Seniors.

We take the opportunity to provide care in your home seriously and make it a priority to provide the highest level of care possible. We have an exceptional team of highly trained care professionals. You will feel confident that your loved one is in good hands with Senior Helpers.

Our History

Senior Helpers Poway proudly joined the exceptional team of Senior Helpers owners in early 2020. It is locally owned and operated by Cassia Yi APRN CNS, Jesse Yi MD and Maureen Mostella.

Cassia and Jesse Yi, together, have over 26 years of medical experience in San Diego. They see first-hand the challenges Seniors face when being discharged from the hospital. Although most older adults value returning to their homes, not all have structures in place to support them.

Jesse attributes much of his strength and his Faith to his grandparents who helped raise him from a young age. He lived in a household that deeply respected Elders. Now as a father himself, he sees the precious value of his Senior parent’s presence in his own life as well as his family’s.

Cassia’s hero is her fiercely independent grandmother who chose to live alone in her home well into her 90s. Up until her passing, she was an active member of her community; she regularly attended church, visited friends, and took cross-country road trips! Her lifestyle and spirit defied her age – a quality Cassia believes all Seniors can achieve.

Maureen is blessed to have three of her Grandparents live into their 90s! Although affected by dementia and Parkinson’s Disease, her Grandparents were able to remain in their homes – with help from family and amazing Caregivers! So many wonderful memories with her Grandparents in their home –from evening talks to sharing chocolate. She believes the value of a Caregiver is immeasurable and is forever grateful to all Caregivers out there, making lasting family memories possible.

Jesse, Cassia and Maureen started Senior Helpers Poway because Seniors deserve the right to high quality care in the comfort of their home. This is their commitment to the community:

WE MENTOR OUR HIGHLY TRAINED CAREGIVERS. We are first and foremost, Caregiver Mentors! Caring for Seniors starts with a Heart to Serve and we cherish that. As mentors, our job is to empower their Caregiver Heart with knowledge, experience and confidence. This happens before a Caregiver ever enters a home. Our Caregivers are not independent contractors. And once in the home, we continue to mentor and supervise our Caregivers to maintain accountability and quality.

We are not a referral service, where workers are assigned to cases, leaving families to sort through the more arduous points of employment — like payroll taxes, background checks, or whether they’re bonded and insured. We do all these things in advance, along with testing skills, verifying credentials, and speaking with families they’ve worked with before.

WE NEVER SEND A STRANGER. We recognize that one of the most difficult aspects of being the client of a home care agency is having an unfamiliar Caregiver show up. With Senior Helpers, a proper introduction will be made from Caregiver to Client, in person, every time.

Nurse support is available 24/7. Most private-duty home care companies offer little or no nurse support. Our ownership includes an Advanced Practice Nurse as well as well as a Board-Certified Physician.

Our process

The first step is a complimentary in-home care assessment with the Senior and their Family. During the visit, we utilize our LIFE Profile (Life Independence Function Evaluation) tool to gauge the Senior’s capability and ability across six key categories: Daily living activities, Home safety, Medical condition management, Family dynamic, Aging in place, and Quality of life.

LIFE Profile is a research-driven assessment tool that provides a holistic view of the risks and factors that influence a loved one’s ability to age in their own home. This will help you understand the true needs of your loved one, and your options. Together we can discuss their needs, our 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 Our Team

Cassia Yi, APRN, CNS, MSN, CCRN

Caregiver Mentor/Owner

Cassia received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2005 from Hawaii Pacific University in Oahu, where she became close friends with co-owner Maureen. She moved to San Diego in 2009 to work as an ICU nurse at UC San Diego Health. In 2013, she received her Master of Science in Nursing at Point Loma Nazarene University, becoming a board-certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) soon after.

Her CNS credentials highlight an expertise in Nursing mentorship, research, education, and consultation. Some of Cassia’s proudest accomplishments at UC San Diego Health include: Founding or Chairing the Palliative Care Committee, Advanced Care Planning Committee, Pain Management Committee, being a Bio-Medical Ethics Consultant, and receiving the 2019 Advanced Practice Nurse of the Year award.

Cassia and Jesse have two beautiful children whom they enjoy raising in the San Diego Sun!

Jung (Jesse) Yi MD

Caregiver Mentor/Owner

Jesse received his Medical Degree in 2004 from the University to Maryland Baltimore. He completed his Surgery Internship at UC San Francisco and Anesthesiology Residency at Rutgers University Newark in 2008. He then completed a Fellowship in Cardiac Anesthesia at UC San Diego Health, where he met and fell in love with Cassia, who was an ICU Nurse at the time.

Jesse considers himself blessed to have roots in East San Diego, being a Physician there since 2009.

Maureen (Mo) Mostella

Caregiver Mentor/Owner

Mo graduated from University of Maryland Smith School of Business in 2004 with a degree in Marketing. Since 2010, she has worked as a trusted Education Technology Advisor for large school systems throughout the US, enabling educators to better reach their students with up-to-date technology standards. As a Senior Helpers Owner, Mo loves being a Quality-of-Life Advocate and a trusted advisor for Seniors and their Families!

When Mo isn’t juggling being a business owner, wife, and mother, she can often be seen paddling an Outrigger boat across the San Diego bay.

Star Abrencillo

Director of Operations

Star’s passion for Senior Care began in 2017 at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services where she implemented and managed their Senior educational resource forum. Her role included managing live and virtual events aimed at helping Seniors navigate through retirement, downsizing, and real estate decisions. Thus began her love of working with Seniors!

Deeply rooted in her values of caring for those who came before us, Star serves as an advocate for Seniors and their families in finding the best solutions and resources to ensure safely aging in place at home. Star is an avid reader, loves nature, and leads her church's children's choir.

Charles Pana

Client Services Manager

Charles began caring for seniors at a young age helping at the many New Horizon Independent Living Facilities. Thus began his passion for working with seniors. He then received his CNA license early 2021, and a few months after began working as a Caregiver for Senior Helpers East San Diego. Charles is an inspiring nursing student and would someday like to become a surgical nurse. During his free times, Charles loves to surf up and down the coast of San Diego, specifically Pacific Beach and Imperial Beach.

Lorie Mcilwain

Office Manager

Lorie has served in the healthcare industry for over 25 years. Lorie's contribution to Senior Care began as a Caregiver. She then progressed to be a Home Care Office Manager and Caregiver Manager. Lorie finds her true calling in helping others and making a difference for everyone she meets. After working in multiple different industries, Lorie's heart remained in providing care to those in need. In her free time, Lorie loves to coupon and even donates to her local Humane Societies.

Saige Serrano

Human Resources and Compliance Manager

Saige is an seasoned Human Resources Manager and Recruiter with a decade of hands-on experience in the field. Over the past ten years, has dedicated herself to fostering positive work environments, streamlining recruitment processes, and helping organizations build strong, cohesive teams.

She believes that the success of any organization lies in its people. Her approach is people-centric, focusing on understanding the unique needs of both the company and its employees.

Amy Duell

Caregiver Services Manager

With years of experience in the caregiving industry, Amy has committed herself to ensuring that every client receives compassionate, personalized care. Amy's in caregiver services began with a desire to make a positive impact on people's lives. Over the years, she has developed a deep understanding of the unique challenges and needs of both caregivers and those they care for. Amy's experience spans various settings, including home care, assisted living, and nursing facilities.

Amy believes that caregiving is not just a job, but a calling, and is dedicated to creating a positive and nurturing environment for both clients and caregivers, ensuring that everyone feels valued and supported.

Mario Acevedo

Lead Service Coordinator

Mario leads the Service Coordinator team, whom are dedicated in ensuring that our Clients have the care, schedule, and are matched with the right Caregiver to assist with their specific needs.

Johnathan Burgi

Home Care Development Specialist

Johnathan is a compassionate and dedicated professional who graduated from CSU Long Beach in 2012. His academic journey was marked by hands-on experience at the Long Beach Veterans Affairs, where he focused on Occupational Therapy, and by shadowing a diverse group of therapists at Skilled Nursing Facilities and Senior Communities.

In recent years, Johnathan has channeled his expertise into hospice care and home care, where he continues to be a valuable resource and a trusted community partner. He leads with a pure heart, always striving to support those in need.

Beyond his professional achievements, Johnathan's greatest pride is being a rockstar father to his daughter, Nia. He is also a passionate advocate for the well-being and rights of all people, continuously working to make a positive impact in his community.