Meet The Team | Senior Helpers of Baltimore

Meet the Baltimore office

More than 90% of seniors want to age in their own home with dignity but getting the right type of care can seem daunting. At Senior Helpers Baltimore we believe getting the best care for your loved ones should not be complicated. Tony and Peter opened the Senior Helpers Baltimore office in 2002 because of their passion for helping others and their interest in the growing need for in-home care services. They are committed to delivering the best possible in-home care to seniors in the Baltimore community.

We take in-home care seriously and make it a priority to provide the highest level of client service possible. Over the past years 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.

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 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 22 years, the Senior Helpers family has grown to include a network of more than 300 locally owned and operated franchises across the United States.

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 hundreds 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 Baltimore Team

Amanda Sullivan

Owner, Client Experience

Leading our client experience and community outreach, Amanda exudes a passion for helping people thrive that has been described as infectious. Over the course of two decades as an executive creative leader in marketing, she had the privilege of helping build global brands in the health, beauty, and wellness fields both domestically and abroad. Through that experience Amanda discovered a driving love for helping others proactively enhance their quality of life and Senior Helpers is the perfect opportunity to bring that mission to life with individuals in needs of a little, or a lot, of help.

Amanda is a published author and an experienced consultant in the emerging intelligent-aging sector. Her approach to caregiving is a holistic one that emphasizes maximizing cognitive, physical and social health through interventions designed to keep seniors actively engaged with family, friends and community groups.

When she’s not spending time connecting with seniors and their families, you’ll find Amanda out on the ski slopes, enjoying some beach time and being a doting Mom to her daughter Madeleine and her fur-baby Murphy. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and is a two-time finisher of the 418-mile Ride the Rockies cycling race.

Patrick Sullivan

Owner, Operations

A proud Baltimorean and University of Maryland alum, Patrick’s personal experiences with senior home care came first-hand from being raised in a close-knit, multi-generational family. While his three amazing grandparents all had very long and fulfilling lives (Gigi was 95 when she passed), their later years were marked by struggles with dementia, Alzheimer’s, COPD and other chronic conditions.

Prior to opening Senior Helpers of Central Maryland, Patrick spent almost 25 years traveling the world as a writer and creative director for global brands in the hospitality, culinary and healthcare sectors. His experiences shaped his passion for serving others, and he considers empathy as one of his strongest superpowers. Patrick’s favorite role ever is being a Dad and loves spending time with his family exploring the great outdoors. He holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Arts and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism.

Michele Sullivan MSN BSN RN CHPN

Senior Care and Clinical Consultant

Michele is our Senior Care and Clinical Consultant. She brings 32 years of experience in the senior care arena. Michele graduated Summa Cum Laude from Towson University where she obtained a BSN in nursing and was a member of the Sigma Theta Tau international honor society for nurses. In 2000, Michele received her master’s degree in nursing from the University of Maryland.

She started her nursing career working in the Oncology Center at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. While working at Hopkins, Michele developed a love of making sure that each person was able to experience the best life possible, even while navigating life limiting illnesses.

In 1997, Michele was recruited by a Senior Living Community to assist with opening the Care Center at Oakcrest and later traveled throughout the country to support other retirement communities, so that they were able to offer the best living experience for seniors. In 2009, Michele went to work for a local hospice organization as their Senior Clinical Director where she obtained her Hospice and Palliative Care Certification.

She retired in 2020 to care for her mother who was diagnosed with dementia. Michele is also known as ‘G-Ma’ by her 7 grandchildren. She always finds time in her busy schedule to attend their sporting events, dance recitals and cheer competitions and, whenever there is spare time, Michele loves to sit on the beach and read nonfiction books.

Melissa DeLong, MD, MPH

Client Services Coordinator

Melissa DeLong joins Senior Helpers with decades of experience as a dedicated primary care physician. A 2002 graduate of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Dr. DeLong has provided compassionate, evidence-based care to patients while also serving as a teacher and advocate for underserved communities.

In 2007, Dr. DeLong stepped away from clinical practice to focus on raising her family, which includes three wonderful children and an assortment of treasured pets. During this time, she continued her commitment to service by initially volunteering medical care for uninsured residents in Baltimore City and most recently engaging deeply with a philanthropic organization that supports nonprofit initiatives across Maryland.

Now, she is thrilled to bring her skills, passion, and experience to her new role at Senior Helpers, where she looks forward to once again helping individuals and families achieve the highest standard of care.

Kelly P. Karpovich

Community Outreach Coordinator

With a longstanding career in healthcare administration, Kelly brings both experience and heart to her role at Senior Helpers Central Maryland. She has always believed that providing dignified, compassionate care is not just a service, it’s a calling. Raised in Annapolis in a Navy family, she carries a deep respect for our military and veterans and is honored to serve a community that includes so many who have served our country. Empathy drives everything Kelly does, and she finds true joy in helping others live with dignity and comfort.

Outside of work, Kelly is a proud mother to two amazing teenagers, Nicholas and Ana Grace, and has been happily married to her husband, Bill, for 21 years. Giving back to the community is an essential part of her life. She serves on the board of The Light House, a homeless prevention support center, and is a dedicated Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) to children in the foster care system. Kelly also works with the Baltimore Hunger Project to help combat food insecurity among local children. Philanthropy is not just a passion; it’s part of who she is.

Paola Caballero

Senior Care Scheduler

Paola Caballero is what we like to refer to as our “master matchmaker and scheduling magician”. Paola has a talent and passion for looking at the needs and interests of each of our Seniors, along with the skills and personalities of all of our Caregivers and then making the perfect match. That same matchmaking ability makes Paola a master scheduler, able to manage changing schedules and unforeseen needs with grace and compassion.

Embracing one’s culture and honoring family are the core values that inspired Paola to choose the Home Care Industry as her “professional home”. Her knowledge of the diverse needs of seniors, their families and the ongoing challenges within the industry make her adept at helping our clients navigate those challenges with confidence.

Paola is immensely grateful to be surrounded by family and has a great appreciation for how difficult it can be when families are trying to manage care for their loved ones from a distance. She strives to alleviate the worry and stress families can experience, both near and far, and establish a loving environment and peace of mind.

Laura Ayala

Recruiter

Laura brings a background in psychology and customer service to her role as our Recruiter, where she focuses on finding and welcoming the very best caregivers for our clients. She is passionate about creating the perfect match by pairing clients with compassionate and committed caregivers. For Laura, every placement is more than filling a role. It’s about making a difference by helping seniors live with dignity and independence, while supporting caregivers in finding rewarding work.

Rolando Salvadico

Care & Compliance Team Manager

Rolando is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a licensed Nurse in the Philippines. With a strong foundation in healthcare, Rolando transitioned into Support and Leadership roles in Customer Service and Sales from 2010-2022 and as an Operations Manager in the BPO industry in 2023. His passion for education and clinical excellence led him back to the field, serving as a clinical instructor at his alma mater in 2021-2023, where he guided future healthcare professionals with both knowledge and compassion.

Rolando moved to the US in late 2023 and worked as a staffing coordinator for a home health care agency which serves clients across Anne Arundel County. Outside of work, Rolando is a proud dog lover who enjoys staying active - whether it’s hitting the gym for his CrossFit workouts, playing volleyball, or experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. He also values quiet “me time” to recharge and stay grounded.

Dianne Frager, RN

Dianne meets with the clients and families during the assessment process and develops a personalized plan of care for those in our northern area of our territory. She has held a masters prepared nursing degree for over 35 years. She is committed to ensuring a high-level quality care experience for the clients through routine home visits, ongoing education, and linking of community resources. She possesses exceptional listening and communication skills, is an educator at heart, and works hard to create a supportive and inclusive environment for all clients, families, and caregivers.

Maria Delgado

Scheduler

Maria is one of those people who brings calm and care to even the busiest days. As a bilingual scheduler, she coordinates shifts with precision and empathy, making sure every client is covered and every caregiver feels supported. She often says, “I don’t just schedule shifts — I connect care with heart,” and that’s exactly how she approaches her work every day.

She believes that great scheduling goes beyond organizing hours; it’s about understanding people and creating connections that work. María listens closely to both clients and caregivers, finding the right balance so that everyone feels comfortable and confident.

Known for her kindness, reliability, and patience, María always goes the extra mile to make sure things run smoothly. Her favorite part of the job is knowing that, in her own way, she helps families feel secure and caregivers feel appreciated every single day.

Meet the Baltimore office

Our History

Our process

Meet the Baltimore Team

Senior Helpers of Baltimore

Check out our team in action!

Areas We Serve