Meet The Team | Senior Helpers of Laurel
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Serving Laurel and the surrounding areas.
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Serving Laurel and the surrounding areas.
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Meet the Laurel 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 Laurel 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 Laurel 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.  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 Laurel was proud to join the system in 2024.  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 Laurel Team

Irene Karime Kanyingi

Owner

Irene is the proud owner of Senior Helpers of Laurel, driven by her deep passion for improving the lives of seniors and their families. Inspired by the care her own grandparents, now in their early nineties, have received, Irene has witnessed firsthand how professional in-home care can significantly enhance the quality of life for aging loved ones. She is committed to making that same level of compassionate and affordable care available to others in her community, ensuring seniors can remain safe and healthy in the comfort of their own homes, despite age-related challenges.

As a mother of three and having spent eight years as a stay-at-home mom, Irene understands the importance of family and caregiving. Now, she looks forward to the exciting challenge of running her own business and serving the Laurel community. In addition to her dedication to helping seniors, Irene is passionate about seeking out new experiences—whether it’s trying new foods, exploring different genres of music and books, or traveling to new countries. These experiences fuel her personal growth and broaden her perspective on life.

Irene and her husband, James, have been married for 20 years and love to travel, taking annual vacations to different countries with their children, ages twelve, ten, and six. She also enjoys giving back to her community through volunteer work at the local food bank and, previously, at a women's shelter in Baltimore.

James Kanyingi - Co-Owner and CFO

Prior to opening Senior Helpers James successfully ran his own business for over 20 years. He has a degree in Finance and business administration and ensures that all financial aspects of Senior Helpers are kept up to date. The decision to open Senior Helpers was realized when his parents were diagnosed with Alzheimers and having to make the difficult decision on deciding how to care for them in their own home.

James is a fitness enthusiast, loves traveling, kayaking and football.

Mary Keane

Mary Keane

Office Manager

Mary Keane is the dedicated Office Manager of Senior Helpers of Laurel, where she is passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of local seniors. With over 20 years of experience as an administrative assistant in Washington, DC, Mary brings a wealth of organizational expertise and a deep commitment to helping others. Her passion for assisting the elderly stems from recognizing the challenges faced by many seniors living alone without family or friends to support them.

Mary is proud to be part of the Laurel community, actively participating in various local events and activities that enhance the well-being of seniors. Outside of work, she enjoys staying active by bowling, playing pickleball, bocce ball, and bunco. She also devotes time to volunteering in both her church and the broader community.

Married with two children and three grandchildren, Mary treasures her family, who are her pride and joy. Her dedication to serving others, both professionally and personally, is at the heart of everything she does at Senior Helpers of Laurel.

Arianna Reed

Arianna Reed

Care Coordinator

Arianna has vast experience as a Homecare Administrator and community advocate with a passion for service, leadership, and making a meaningful impact in the lives of others. With years of experience in healthcare and direct support, Arianna has worked closely with individuals in need, ensuring they receive quality care and support in their daily lives.

Beyond her professional role, Arianna is deeply involved in community service and outreach. As an active participant in the Unity Foundation, she contributes to initiatives that focus on volunteer work, feeding the homeless, clothing drives, and drug and abuse prevention programs. She is also a member of the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce and Habitat for Humanity.

In her role as the Care Manager at Senior Helpers, she interviews all our caregivers and leads regular caregiver trainings to ensure that our clients get the benefit of working with well-trained caregivers with the most up-to-date expertise.  

In her spare time, she loves to travel with her husband Thad and they love going on cruises.

Judith Moore

Judith Moore

Client Care Manager

Judith has always been passionate about helping people. Judith joined the Senior Helpers office in January as the Client Care Manager. She is responsible for on boarding all the clients. She makes sure that the clients have a smooth transition and are happy with the care they are receiving. She sees each client as part of our extended family. She values and respects them and strives to provide top-tier service every day.

Before joining Senior Helpers, Judith worked as a mental health advocate in Iowa before moving to Maryland to be close to her parents. Judith loves reading, writing and hiking.


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 Laurel 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.