Brief Info

Senior Helpers is a non-medical in-home senior care franchise co-founded in 2002 by Tony Bonacuse and Peter Ross. Its first office opened in Baltimore, Maryland, and the corporate headquarters is located in the Towson/Lutherville-Timonium area. In March 2024, the company was acquired by private equity firm Waud Capital Partners from Advocate Health and restructured under a new parent platform, Altocare. Senior Helpers is led by CEO Peter Ross and Executive Chairman Steve Jakubcanin. As of 2024, the organization operates 436 domestic units across 44 U.S. states, with additional locations in Canada and Australia.

The company’s care delivery model emphasizes structured support for chronic conditions such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Two proprietary tools guide care planning: the Senior Gems® program, developed with dementia expert Teepa Snow, which classifies stages of cognitive decline using a gemstone metaphor; and the LIFE Profile™ assessment, which evaluates home safety, predicts hospitalization risks, and supports personalized care design.

Senior Helpers requires condition-specific training certifications for all caregivers and maintains a strategic partnership with the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The company has been recognized in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 and the Inc. 5000 lists and was the first national in-home care provider certified by the Great Place to Work® institute.

Senior Helpers Care Services

Personal Care Support: Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), including bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, and transfers between beds or chairs.

Companion Care: Support focused on socialization, including conversation, recreational activities, schedule coordination, and transport to appointments or errands.

Specialized Dementia and Parkinson’s Support: Care for individuals experiencing cognitive decline or motor control challenges, utilizing the Senior Gems® framework to adapt daily routines to the client's documented cognitive stage.

Household Support and Meal Preparation: Help with domestic tasks, including meal planning and cooking, dishwashing, laundry, changing bed linens, and light cleaning.

Medication Reminders: Verbal or visual prompts to take medication. Caregivers check schedules but do not legally administer medications, open pill bottles, or organize pillboxes.

Respite Care: Short-term coverage to temporarily replace family members or primary caregivers.