Meet The Team | Senior Helpers of Kelowna

Meet the Kelowna office

At Senior Helpers of Kelowna , our commitment is to provide quality, dependable, and compassionate care to our clients. We tailor our approach to each individual, ensuring your loved one can age with dignity and comfort in their own home.

We believe getting the right care shouldn't be complicated. Our entire team at Senior Helpers is here to simplify the process, customizing your in-home care plan to meet your loved one’s specific needs. There are no contracts or commitments — just compassionate support when you need it, for as long as you need.

Our mission extends beyond merely providing a service. We aim to be companions, advocates, and friends to seniors, bringing comfort, joy, and dedicated care into their lives. Unlike many facilities that treat residents as numbers, Senior Helpers of Kelowna focuses on building meaningful relationships; we believe each person’s unique story matters and we strive to make our clients feel valued, heard, and understood. We celebrate life’s milestones, share cherished memories, and provide unwavering support.

We recognize that independence is a precious gift, and our goal is to empower seniors to maintain it. Whether it’s assisting with daily tasks, organizing outings, or simply sharing a cup of tea, we foster self-sufficiency while ensuring safety and comfort in the familiar surroundings of home.

Our team at Senior Helpers undergoes proprietary training and continuous education to remain industry leaders, ensuring we deliver the highest level of service. As qualified care professionals, we are deeply committed to the Kelowna community where we all reside.

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. 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 Kelowna 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

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 Kelowna Team

Colin Little

Owner

Colin's path to senior care began somewhat serendipitously, with a personal experience that started his journey to provide professional and personalized in-home senior care services.

Having witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by families of aging loved ones to find and access quality care that prioritizes independence, safety, and dignity. Colin’s decision to establish Senior Helpers in the Okanagan stems from a belief that seniors and their families deserve freedom to choose how to live their lives - to age gracefully in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes.

As a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS), Colin brings a unique blend of skills to in-home senior care. At Senior Helpers, we are more than a service provider; we strive to be a trusted partner in caring for your loved ones, delivering peace of mind through reliable and compassionate care.

Jocelyn Barre

Client Services Manager

Jocelyn is a dedicated professional with over a decade of experience working in the home care sector, specializing in supporting seniors, individuals with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and those with physical disabilities. With a diverse skill set and extensive hands-on experience, Jocelyn brings practical knowledge and a deep understanding of her clients’ needs. Her background in the service industry and hospitality management further enriches her approach, ensuring a high standard of comprehensive, client-centered care. Her commitment to improving the lives of seniors is reflected in her empathetic and tailored approach.

Jody Davies

Client Services Coordinator

Jody has always found true fulfillment in helping those in need, whether through volunteering or her professional career. Driven by a passion for serving others, she spent several years in Australia, working extensively in the disability and aged care sectors. This experience gave her a deep understanding of how to provide individualized support, reinforcing her commitment to promoting dignity, respect, and equal opportunity for all.

Recently, Jody returned home to Canada, bringing with her the insights and skills gained abroad. Recognized for her compassionate approach and dedication, she consistently goes above and beyond to help individuals navigate life’s challenges and improve their quality of life. Inspired by the resilience of those she serves, Jody is committed to making a meaningful impact through empathy, service, and advocacy. As a proud member of the Senior Helpers team, she is excited to work closely with clients, focusing on personalized care that empowers them to live with comfort, independence, and peace of mind.

Jeanette Holland

Community Relations Officer

As a retired RN, Jeanette Holland, has 23 yrs of nursing experience after working approximately 15 yrs in the retail & business field. The nursing experience was acquired in the hospital setting on a medical unit, as well as in the long-term care setting in 3 separate facilities. Then the final 13 yrs was performed in the community medical clinic setting as both triage nurse & nurse practitioner.

As well as performing all the practical nursing tasks in these settings, she communicated with Doctors & other Health Care professionals while being involved in the overall planning of daily patient care.

Fueled by the belief in the value and uniqueness of each individual she sees the importance of trying to involve multiple supports in senior’s later years!! Excited about the opportunity to work with Senior Helpers and facilitating their goal of building a healthy lifestyle for each and every client, she endeavors to work alongside with the overall vision to bring quality of life for all clients in their later years!

Jessica Houle

LPN

Jessica is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) with specialized training in SWAN (wound, ostomy and continence) and Advanced Foot Care.

Choosing to work with Senior Helpers was a natural fit. Jessica believes in the importance of maintaining the dignity and independence of seniors. Her passion for in-home senior care stems from her desire to make a positive impact on the lives of seniors, helping them to live comfortably and safely in their own home - where she can build strong, trusting relationships while providing compassionate and personalized care.

Meet the Kelowna office

Our History

Our process

Meet the Kelowna Team

Photos from the Kelowna, BC Office!

Areas We Serve