Meet the Irvine Senior Helpers Team | SH South Orange County
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Serving South Orange County and the surrounding areas.
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Serving South Orange County and the surrounding areas.
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Meet the Senior Helpers of South Orange County office

More than 90% of our beloved seniors want to gracefully age in their own homes with dignity and respect but getting the right type of care that allows them to do so can be a daunting task. At Senior Helpers of South Orange County, we believe that getting the best care for your loved ones should be readily available and easily accessible. We recognize the growing need for in-home caregiving in a trusting and loving environment. With our passion for helping others and our Servant Leadership mindset, we are both committed to delivering the best possible care to our South Orange County senior community.

 

We take the opportunity to provide care in your home seriously and we make it a priority to provide the highest level of care possible. We have an exceptional team of highly trained care professionals, each committed to remaining at the forefront of the in-home care industry through our ongoing proprietary training, education programs, and culture. You will feel confident that your loved one is in good hands with Senior Helpers of South Orange County.

 

Our History

Our History

Senior Helpers of South Orange County is locally owned and operated by Sandy Muñoz and Hector A. Muñoz MBA, both Southern California-born and raised. They are proud to be part of an exceptional team of caregivers and office staff.

After successful executive careers in the Hospitality industry, the development of a Real Estate Investment & Development firm, and raising two children, Sandy and Hector believed there was an opportunity to give back at a greater level to the Southern California communities that were so instrumental to their upbringing.

Sandy and Hector both knew there was a need and realized firsthand the necessity for loving and high-quality caregiving. Hence Senior Helpers of South Orange County was born. Senior Helpers of South Orange County is a mission-based, in-home care service with a purpose. A company made up of Servant Leaders where the needs of the employees and clients come first to create the highest quality caregiving in South Orange County.

Sandy and Hector know what it's like for the people in need of care and for their families that have been providing the care up until now. Senior Helpers of South Orange County is committed to providing a home care experience that earns their client's trust and ultimately provides the support and relief that everyone is seeking.

At Senior Helpers of South Orange County, each caregiver candidate is personally interviewed by Sandy and Hector. Each caregiver goes through a thorough background check, and then once hired, caregivers are continuously trained in the senior in-home care industry by a certified trainer. Each caregiver is treated with the highest level of dignity and respect and is invited to be part of a Servant Leader culture, where we put the needs of others ahead of ourselves.

We have a Licensed Vocational Nurse on staff and are available 24/7. We are committed to our clients, no matter how big or small the need. We are a mission-based, in-home care service with a purpose.

Realizing every day is a blessing is the positive outlook that we bring to our caregivers and clients. If we can help families bring comfort and care to their aging loved ones while providing an employee experience that’s worth bragging about, we will have succeeded.

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 South Orange County Team

Sandy Muñoz

Sandy Muñoz

Owner & Head of Client Experience

Sandy was born and raised in Southern California and has a degree in Business Administration with 20 years of experience in the Hospitality Industry. She experienced firsthand challenges with her father Joe, who was fighting cancer and diabetes. He has since passed, but with the support of his family, Joe was allowed to live his last few months with the utmost care done with dignity and respect.

Sandy’s mother and aunt both, fortunately, had the blessing to be caregivers for their spouses. Sandy witnessed the toll it was taking on her mother and aunt and quickly realized there had to be a better way to address this critical need to provide relief and support for family members that are 24hr caregivers to their loved ones. “Listening is key to understanding people’s needs and wants and is crucial to provide exceptional service and a great experience.”

Hector A. Muñoz, MBA

Hector A. Muñoz, MBA

Owner & Head of Community Relations

Hector was born in Southern California and is a Cal Poly Pomona graduate with an MBA from the University of Miami. He spent over 25 years leading some of the largest restaurant brands in the industry as a Chief Marketing Officer. While living in Miami, Hector experienced a very challenging situation with his father, Jorge, who was dealing with diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease. Hector and Sandy found themselves in a situation where they needed someone to care for his dad, as his mom was dealing with dementia.

At the time, over fifteen years ago, high-quality professional caregiving was not as widely available as it is today. As a result, they had to settle for someone who was inexperienced in the field but could at least tend to his dad’s immediate needs, such as medication reminders, bathing, and medical appointments. However, the in-home care demands were more significant, and they knew there had to be a better way to address those needs.

Today, Hector is deeply involved in advancing caregiving and support services. He sits on the Steering Committee for the Southern California Chapter of the Home Care Association of America and the Executive Leadership Committee for the Walk to End Alzheimer's Walk in Irvine, where he helps shape initiatives to improve senior care and awareness for Alzheimer’s disease.

Zahra Paikar

Zahra Paikar

Client Experience Manager

Zahra was born in Los Angeles and raised in both Southern and Northern California. Both of her grandparents had cancer and helping her mother care for her grandfather who had lung cancer as a young teenager, made her decide to pursue a career in healthcare. She has a compassion for patients who are dealing with life-long illnesses. 

She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health from Dominican University of California. Later, she got her Master's degree in nursing from the University of San Francisco located in Orange, California. 

As both a Nursing author and fitness enthusiast, she spends her spare time writing, practicing photography, admiring art, and spending time outdoors. She also loves to travel. 

Erick Tlilayatzi

Erick Tlilayatzi

Scheduling Manager

Erick was born in Mexico City and was raised in SoCal his entire life. His passion for helping others originated from within his family and community. Throughout his life, he has been the voice for his parents, translating simple everyday tasks throughout his upbringing. Within the community, he has participated in multiple charity events that assist kids with higher education and in events that provide food for the homeless.

Erick understands how important it is for the right caregiver be with the right family. He is committed to finding the perfect match for your loved one, so your family can feel secure and confident that he or she is in good hands. Erick believes that skillset is paramount, but also believes that the right chemistry is equally as important.  

Kellie Cavanaugh

Kellie Cavanaugh

Talent Acquisition and Retention Specialist

Kellie was born and raised in Orange County, where she has lived in various towns including Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, and Fountain Valley. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies from Cal State University Long Beach.

She is an enthusiast for plants and nature, travelling (throughout and beyond the country), concerts, and comedy shows. Her wide range of hobbies has led her to find her passion – people.  

Kellie has always been a connector and people have often confided to her about challenges they may be dealing with – including health issues and taking care of the elderly. She has found immense wisdom and appreciation from connecting with people from older generations. This has created strong empathy and compassion for those dealing with issues related to the aging process. She seeks to ensure we have the top-quality care partners needed to support our clients and their needs, and to deliver a superior experience.  

Maya A. Munoz

Maya A. Munoz

On-Call Scheduler

Maya is a Southern California native, who was raised in the East Coast, specifically Miami, FL and Atlanta, GA. Maya now lives in Southern California and recently graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree from Loyola Marymount University (LMU). Maya is a Servant Leader at heart, and has tremendous passion for helping others, baking, and world travel. Given her travels, Maya has had the benefit of experiencing many different cultures and meeting many people.

Maya’s passion for the industry grew as she witnessed first-hand the challenges families have when their loved ones get older. She experienced it as she saw her parents struggle to find appropriate care for her Grandparents from out of state. This experience developed a passion Maya has to help others, especially helping the elderly.

Miguel Herrera

Miguel Herrera

Billing Specialist

Miguel, from Bogotá, Colombia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and brings extensive experience in billing and accounting within the health insurance and logistics sectors. Fluent in English, German and Spanish, he is poised to contribute valuable multilingual skills. Miguel is motivated to deepen his knowledge in senior and veteran care, embodying a commitment to continuous learning and professional growth. We are lucky to have him!

Nancy Lindsay

Nancy Lindsay

Training Coordinator

Nancy, born in Portland, Oregon, grew up with her grandmother living with her, which instilled in her the passion for helping the elderly or anyone who is challenged, mentally or physically. And until recently, Nancy also helped her sister care for their elderly mom.

Caring for people is second nature for Nancy. Her goal is to always make life a little better for the people she encounters.

Nancy worked in skilled nursing for 11 years, focusing on Physical Therapy care. She also worked in dentistry for 30 years, where she worked on billing, chair side assisting and scheduling.

Nancy is a skilled and thoughtful trainer, and also provides caregiving support for a few of our clients.

We are blessed to have her on the team.

Araceli Segovia

Araceli Segovia

Registered Nurse

Araceli was born and raised in Southern California. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Mount St. Mary’s and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from West Coast University. Araceli is also currently attending Azusa Pacific University to complete her master’s in nursing. Araceli has years of professional nursing experience that ultimately enhance her nurse practice.  She has years of experience as a school nurse working in an underserved and vulnerable community. Her many years of correctional nursing serve her well in management and leadership. Her practice in cardiac telemetry, labor and delivery, and wound care provide her with excellent clinical skills. Araceli transfers all those acute nursing skills to our organization.

Angela Ariza

Angela Ariza

On-Call Scheduler

Angela, from Bogotá, Colombia grew up seeing the shared care for the elderly and vulnerable in her community and became interested in healthcare. She Followed her dream and pursued a bachelor’s degree in veterinary medicine, so she could help animals in need. She started her path in health care with scheduling, and now has in-depth experience with matching caregivers and families, helping them form a great connection for the best care in South Orange County.

Leo & Layla

Leo & Layla

Co-Directors of Barketing

Leo and Layla specialize in morale boosting and stress reduction. Their expertise includes initiating impromptu play sessions, ensuring no crumbs are left after lunch, and providing comforting cuddles during tough deadlines. They are self-taught experts in the field of Barketing and hold a record for the fastest mailman greeting. When not on duty, they enjoy long walks and dreaming about playing ball.


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 South Orange County 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.