Meet The Team | Senior Helpers of Polk County
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Meet the Polk County 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 of Polk County we believe getting the best care for your loved ones should not be complicated. Jorge Giraldo MBA opened the Senior Helpers of Polk County office in 2008 because of his passion for helping others and his interest in the growing need for in-home care services. Jorge Giraldo, MBA is committed to delivering the best possible in-home care to seniors in the Polk County community.

We take the opportunity to provide in-home care seriously and make it a priority to provide the highest level of client service possible. Over the past 10+ 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

Our History

Jorge Giraldo, MBA, has always had a special place for the elderly in his heart. He fondly remembers his late grandmothers and other elderly family members and the many stories they told him as a young boy. He also sadly remembers the time when his grandmother was bed bound after a stroke and how difficult that was for the family. Fast forward another 10 years and Jorge watched his family care for his aunt, who lived with Alzheimer’s for many years. She went from a smart, independent and strong woman to needing help with daily activities. It took a toll on the family, especially his own mother who stayed with her many sleepless nights. This experience shaped the longing to help others so they too wouldn’t have to see their family’s health deteriorate as they selflessly cared for their loved ones. There had to be a professional service to ease this intense family burden- alas, Senior Helpers was the way he could make a difference, even if not with his own family from years ago, but for countless families well into the future!

Our team has grown over the years thanks to the wonderful referrals we receive from our community partners. We work hard to ensure our clients and caregivers are well taken care of, each and every one of our team members and clients are very important to us. We have been lucky to serve hundreds of seniors in our community over the years, and we are committed to continuing to provide excellent service to our aging population for many more years!

 

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 Polk County Team

Jorge Giraldo, MBA

Jorge Giraldo, MBA

CEO/Owner

Responsibilities: Jorge prides himself on creating a strong, service-minded, hard-working and efficient team. Jorge believes that each and every employee is important and treats everyone with respect and allows for input and ideas along the way. Creating a very good working environment is his number one priority, not only for the office staff but for the caregivers. Jorge is always looking for meaningful ways to continually reward his team and assist in their development. Jorge believes that a happy, well taken care of team will go above and beyond for clients, our community and each other. Jorge also enjoys the strategic nature of the business, he is always looking for ways to continue to help more in the community, whether it be through hands-on skill building classes to care for those with Dementia or donating time, money and expertise to help our community.

Education/Experience: Jorge has a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey and an MBA in Finance from Iona College/Hagan School of Business in New Rochelle, New York. He is also a Certified Lead Auditor. Jorge is also a certified Senior Gems trainer and a certified Virtual Dementia Tour facilitator.

Free Time Fun: They enjoy the beach, taking the boys to theme parks and having fun together! Traveling is also a passion of theirs as they look forward to exploring the United States as well as select locations around the world as the boys get older.

Nancy Giraldo - Registered Nurse

Responsibilities: Nancy serves as our Director of Nursing.

Education/Experience: Nancy has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from College of Mount St. Vincent in New York.

Free Time Fun: Nancy enjoys doing projects with Giovanni and Gabriel, going to the beach, taking the boys to theme parks and having fun together! Traveling is also a passion of theirs as they look forward to exploring the United States as well as select locations around the world as the boys get older.

Little Known Fact: Nancy has a fraternal twin sister who is also a nurse!

 
James Westdorp

James Westdorp

Director of Operations

Responsibilities: James joined the team in 2013. He manages daily operations and projects for the office and field team. James is the office cheerleader, the problem solver, the chivalrous door opener, “jump in and make it happen” guy for our office.

Education/Experience:
In his first career, James served his country in the United States Air Force. He was deployed overseas several times for Operation Northern Watch, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He had a very distinguished career in the military; his awards are too numerous to count. James was a trusted leader in many positions while serving, but one of his favorites was when he taught management for the Community College of the Air Force. He was retired in 2012 and is a disabled veteran. James also has an Associate's of Science degree in Instructor of Technology and Military Science, an Associate of Science degree in Air Transportation and Business Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management.


Community Service:
James is a mentor for children through the Guardian Ad Litem program. He also actively serves in the Polk County’s Health and Medical Coalition, as well as serves as a support group facilitator for families caring for a loved one with dementia.

Free Time Fun: James enjoys worshipping/serving at his church and hanging out with his son, Logan. His daily goal is to “glorify God in all things I do.”

Little Known Fact: He was a paid extra in a movie called “Taking Chance” starring Kevin Bacon.

Georgiana Goodson

Georgiana Goodson

Community Relations Manager

Responsibilities: Whether Senior Helpers’ assistance is needed 24/7 or just a few hours a day, Georgiana provides complimentary, in-home care assessments to determine what is best for the entire family. She enthusiastically represents Senior Helpers at health fairs, trade shows, training conferences, events, and senior community service functions.

Education/Experience:
With a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of Florida and having been voted “Most Spirited Female” at Hernando High School, Georgiana has worked in banking, at an independent school, and in an assisted living facility.


Community Service:
Georgiana is a certified memory screener with the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute and she is active with several senior service organizations including serving on the board of the Senior Connection Center, and involvement with the Alzheimer’s Association, Better Living for Seniors, the Rath Center, the Coalition on Injury Prevention, and Polk FALA.

Free Time Fun: Having played flute since grade school, Georgiana enjoys playing the favorites for seniors in assisted living facilities and skilled nursing centers including Christian hymns and patriotic songs. She loves spending time with her three children, her large extended family, and friends.

Little Known Fact: Georgiana played piccolo in the Gator Marching Band.

Michelle Robinson, LPN

Michelle Robinson, LPN

Scheduling Manager

Responsibilities:  Michelle is responsible for managing Senior Helpers clients and caregiver schedules.  By skillfully putting many pieces together in harmony, Michelle is like the maestro for Senior Helpers.  Her responsiveness to our client’s needs result in a very high level of client satisfaction.

Education/Experience: Michelle has been in the medical field for 20+ years. She started her journey as a receptionist and worked her way up to becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). She received her LPN in 2013 from Colombiana County Career and Tech Center in Lisbon, Ohio and has a lot of experience in case management and restorative nursing.

Free Time Fun: Michelle is an outdoors type of person and enjoys spending free time with her family.

Little Known Fact: Michelle has 6 dogs and a horse named Romeo.

Holly Shepard

Holly Shepard

Client Services Manager

Responsibilities: Holly is responsible for our overall client satisfaction and caregiver competencies. She introduces caregivers to new clients as well as completes new client assessments. She ensures each home has an updated plan of care as well as helps represent Senior Helpers at networking events.

Education/Experience: Holly has many years of experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant for home health agencies and nursing homes. She enjoys being a part of elderly care.

Community Service:
Holly and her father occasionally sing at nursing homes throughout Polk County to entertain our elderly population.

Free Time Fun: Holly likes to spend time with her three teenage daughters and enjoys riding motorcycles with her husband. When she is not attending Peak's Worship Church you can often find her singing karaoke.

Little Known Fact: Holly likes to eat pickles dipped in peanut butter while she obsessively watches her "soaps".

Ginny Wolfe M.A.

Ginny Wolfe M.A.

Parkinson's/Dementia Educator

Responsibilities: Ginny teaches the Parkinson's Care Program to our caregivers as well as trains all our caregivers on Alzheimer's/Dementia caregiving techniques using our Senior Gems program created for Senior Helpers by Teepa Snow, an expert on Alzheimer's/Dementia care.

Education/Experience: Ginny has a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Adrian College and a Master of Arts in Counseling from Siena Heights College. She also has a certification in Non-profit Management from Case-Western Reserve University and a certification in Corporate Management from Harvard University. She has worked in educational and not-for-profit organizations her entire career...more years than she wants to admit she is alive!

Community Service: Ginny has facilitated a Parkinson's Disease Support group for more than four years. She is also on the board on InnerAct Alliance, an agency which promotes youth making positive choices (not using drugs, alcohol, or bullying others), where she has served as president for two years. She is on the advisory council for RSVP, and participated in 'Leadership Winter Haven' through the Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce.

Free Time Fun: Ginny says her hobbies are "many and expensive!" She knits and crochets, sells items in her Etsy "store", loves to cook ("and eat"). She also enjoys interior design, and reading. Ginny and her husband Steve like going to the beach, to theme parks, and museums. Ginny also enjoys traveling. She has been to 44 states and hopes to see the last remaining six soon!

Little Known Fact: Ginny has an "international" family. Her daughter-in-law is Japanese, and she has nieces and nephews who are Chinese, Mexican, and bi-racial. Ginny says she "has her own melting pot." She also has four sisters and her husband has four brothers.

Steven Magee

Steven Magee

Administrative Coordinator

Responsibilities: Steven is the liaison between clients and the business side of Senior Helpers relating to any type of transactional needs such as payroll, invoicing, and accounts receivable.  His responsiveness to our client’s needs result in a very high level of client satisfaction.

Education/Experience: Steven graduated from Lakeland Senior High School with high honors and a GPA of 3.8. He acquired his vast experience in communications and customer service previously as a supervisor with Verizon.

Free Time Fun:
In Steven’s free time, he enjoys going out with close friends and spending time with his parents.  He’s 6’5 and his passion is basketball.  Steven enjoys playing basketball with his brother, and you can also find him playing with his dog, Luna.

Little Known Fact: Steven is a Boston Celtics fanatic and watches every game!

Jackie McCullough

Jackie McCullough

Human Resources Coordinator

Responsibilities: Jackie attends job fairs, speaking engagements at caregiving schools,  and is responsible for recruiting and hiring only the best certified nursing assistants and home health aides for Senior Helpers.  She is also responsible for the onboarding/pre-hire sessions for newly hired caregivers where they learn all of our policies and procedures.

Education/Experience: Jackie has worked in an office setting her entire career.   One of her more memorable positions was working for the Supervisor of Elections as a Precinct Clerk for many elections. Jackie also knows how to pick the best caregivers to be on Senior Helpers caregiving team as she was also a Caretaker Resident Aide herself for 7 years.

Free Time Fun:
 Jackie enjoys going to the motocross track and watching her 4-year-old grandson race his dirt bike when she’s not hanging out with some of her favorite people at Disney.  Jackie loves trying new restaurants and never misses a girl’s trip.

Little Known Fact: Jackie has two small dogs, a male named Hollywood and a female named Charlie. Jackie is a mother to 5 amazing adult children and a grandmother to 5 wonderful grandchildren. She’s been married to her husband, Shane, for 25 years.

Haley Hitchcock

Haley Hitchcock

Administrative Assistant

Responsibilities: Haley is that friendly voice when you call the office.  In addition to handling the high call volume, she backs up and assists the entire office team to support our caregivers and provide the highest quality care to our clients.

Education/Experience:  Haley is certified as a Home Health Aide with experience in the field assisting our clients.

Free Time Fun:  You would never guess just based off of Haley’s welcoming smile and warm personality that she writes short horror stories for fun!

Little Known Fact:  Haley was born on Halloween which may explain why she likes to write horror stories.  She’s created over 20 characters in this past year alone.

Alzheimer's and Dementia Care

 

In 2013, 2015 and 2017, we brought Teepa Snow, one of America’s leading educators on dementia, to Polk County. She has worked as a Registered Occupational Therapist for over 30 years her wealth of experience has led her to develop our Senior Gems® program.

As experts in Alzheimer's and dementia care, you can trust us to make your loved one's life, and yours, much easier and more enjoyable. If your elderly loved one is suffering from Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia, it can also take a tremendous toll on your own physical and emotional well-being. But with assistance from Senior Helpers, you don't have to go it alone.

We can create a customized home care plan that changes as your loved one's needs change. Our care team has extensive training and experience in providing the right level of individual care and support, while carefully monitoring everything from medication to daily activities. Our Senior Gems® approach is about creating a positive environment that focuses on what they can do, not what they can’t do.

 

Veterans

Senior Helpers of Lakeland takes great pride in helping Veterans find the homecare benefits for which they are eligible. In addition, we honor our veterans for their service to our great country! We host veteran pinning ceremonies at client’s homes, facilities and even our office for our team. It is a way for us to let our veterans know their service for our country is still important to us and always will be.


Melanie is one of the most dedicated and caring people that have come into (our community) to care for a precious resident. She is so kind and considerate and respectful to Mrs. W and to our staff! I love knowing Melanie is here for her and Mrs. W loves her! I can see why she was chosen (as Senior Helpers Caregiver of the Month) and if I ever needed someone to care for MY OWN loved one, she would be the first one that I call!

Areas We Serve

Senior Helpers of Polk County provides a full range of senior home care services for you or your loved one—from companionship and housework help, to more complex care services, including disease management and 24-hour care services.

We serve all of Polk County, FL including:

  • Lakeland
  • Winter Haven
  • Kathleen
  • Auburndale
  • Eagle Lake
  • Lake Alfred
  • Bartow
  • Lake Wales
  • Haines City
  • Davenport
  • Polk City
  • Mulberry