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 New Kensington was proud to join the system in 2018. 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.
Several years ago our owner, Tim Beckes, experienced two significant health events in his family. His father-in-law suffered from a cerebral aneurysm and his vibrant grandmother began the gradual decline associated with dementia. Tim was thrust into the world of caregiving. Knowing the struggles caregivers experience first hand, he knew he wanted to help both the patient and caregivers. When he decided to enter the industry there were many options to choose from. He chose Senior Helpers because of their emphasis on dementia and the Senior Gems program. Caring for people with cognitive issues requires unique skills and experience. Senior Gems and the associated training helps caregivers empathize with the patient and have a better understanding of how they see the world. This understanding gives caregivers the tools and patience to deal with many difficult situations.
Our team has grown quickly and is constantly expanding. We have been lucky to serve many seniors in our community, and we are committed to continuing to provide uncompromising levels of care to all our families.