Meet The Team | Senior Helpers of Central Iowa

Meet the Central Iowa office

Welcome to your local Senior Helpers team website, with our office located in Urbandale, IA. One of 300 Senior Helpers offices nationwide, our office serves the entire Central Iowa area, including but not limited to Adel, Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Carlisle, Clive, Dallas Center, Des Moines, Grimes, Indianola, Johnston, Mitchellville, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Urbandale, Van Meter, Waukee, West Des Moines and Windsor Heights.

Senior Helpers of Central Iowa was opened in 2008 and is locally owned. Senior Helpers has been trusted as the premier reliable partner to assist with senior care needs. Expanding our in-home care and senior services across Central Iowa, we are able to accommodate the increasing need for higher quality home care. The safety of our clients is of primary concern to us. We provide security, comfort and professionalism to our clients and their families, with our goal to lift the burden and provide peace of mind for both the client and the family.

We pride ourselves on having the best and most compassionate caregivers in our area. We work hard to match up your loved one with the most appropriate caregiver(s). We have extensive training programs for our caregivers to prepare them for whatever circumstance they may find in the home. Our Alzheimer’s and Dementia training program is considered the best in the industry. Our Parkinson’s training is also second to none. However, we do not just train our staff. We also offer training to family caregivers and other family members of our clients. It’s important that you know what to expect, as well. We take our responsibility of informing our families and community very seriously.

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 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 affordable in-home care. This was the mission-driven spark that started Senior Helpers.

The first office opened in Baltimore, 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 Central Iowa was proud to join the system in 2008. Like every other owner, we too are fully-committed to the original goal of providing dependable and affordable 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 have been lucky to serve thousands of seniors in our community over the years, 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 Senior Helpers Central Iowa Team

Jeff

Owner

Jeff’s passion for senior care developed when he was the primary caregiver for his mother after she had a stroke. She moved into his home, and he experienced the joys and frustrations of being a family caregiver. He knows the difficulties of finding the right caregiver, and uses his experience as a basis for hiring the best people and managing Senior Helpers. He especially enjoys working with families to ensure their loved one receives the best possible care. He enjoys spending time with his family, his church family, helping in the community, and being outdoors doing almost anything. Jeff served as the President of the Board of Directors of the Iowa Chapter of the American Parkinson’s Disease Association and continues to serve on the board.

Alex, RN

Director of Operations

Alex received his RN degree from Mercy College of Health Sciences in 2021 with a passion for senior care. Alex grew up with a mother who worked in the industry and joining along her side just felt natural. Starting as a CNA in 2016, he worked his way up to eventually leading various organizations. Most recently, Alex worked as an executive director for a local assisted living / memory care community. Alex is extremely excited to bring his knowledge and ideas to Senior Helpers.

Madison

Office Manager

Madison began her career in a nursing home where she fell in love with senior care. She has been in healthcare for just over 12 years and has lots of experience in all aspects of senior living. She also has many years of experience in HR, scheduling, payroll, staff engagement and many other skills. Madison has a big heart for helping people be the best form of themselves, including our staff, our clients, and their families. Madisons passion is helping make a positive impact for clients at the end of life. She loves planning and organizing events and finds it a great opportunity to keep our staff engaged. She creates a fun and friendly environment for clients, staff and families. Madison and her husband have 2 boys and a very active goldendoodle. Outside of work she enjoys anything Disney, any Zoo and Aquariums and spending time with her nephews and family.

Bethany

Administrative Assistant

Bethany has been a CNA for four years and have been working in the healthcare field for a little over five years. Bethany can assist in scheduling and helps with other administrative tasks around the office, it will probably be her happy voice you hear first when calling the office. Bethany has a passion for helping others and making sure they are taken care of. Bethany has a little girl and is always up for adventures, whether its exploring new places or simply enjoying a great laugh with friends!

Cristel

Cristel lives in Bondurant with her husband, two kids, and two goldendoodles. She has worked in healthcare for 18 years. She started as a nursing assistant and worked while she finished nursing school. Cristel has worked in clinics, hospitals settings and home care, doing everything from delivering babies to preparing patients for hospice. She loves working with people to help them find wellness, happiness and peace. In her spare time, she volunteers at their church and enjoys attending events with her family.

Sheryl

Recruiter

Sheryl has a great passion for helping others. She has been involved in the Home Care business for 27 years and has personal experience with caregiving, as well as extensive experience in Home Care administration, having served as General Manager and Executive Director for prominent Home Care Companies for over 13 years prior to her partial retirement. As a teen, Sheryl accompanied her father to care facilities where she played the piano, sang, and assisted seniors with mobility, and finding pages in their hymnals. As an adult, she became involved in the world of brain injury due to a traumatic accident in her immediate family which caused her to become a caregiver herself, as well as having to hire caregiving staff to come into her home. She served in the Brain Injury field for several years which gave her additional insight into helping Seniors who struggle with residual effects from strokes and other issues. Sheryl knows firsthand what to look for when recruiting someone to help Seniors in their homes. Outside of work, Sheryl enjoys spending time with her husband, 4 children and their families which includes 6 grandchildren, and her close friends.

Alex

Accounting

Alex is a West Coaster who works remotely in Oregon and has a strong passion for helping others. Growing up he was surrounded by family who took care of one another, and knew he needed to continue the path they led by working in the home care industry to enrich other peoples’ lives. Alex’s pride and joy is his beautiful daughter who he spends a great length chauffeuring around to numerous events and activities. In his free time Alex enjoys taking his dog for walks in the mountains or the beach which are nearby his home. He enjoys traveling and meeting new people, and is looking forward to traveling with his daughter to as many places as possible and exploring the world together.

Meet the Central Iowa office

Our History

Our process

Meet the Senior Helpers Central Iowa Team

Areas We Serve