Meet The Team | Senior Helpers of Reno
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Serving Reno and surrounding areas.
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Serving Reno and surrounding areas.
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Meet the Reno 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 Reno we believe that getting the best care for your loved ones should not be complicated. Fran and Charlie Graves opened the Senior Helpers of Reno office because of their passion for helping others and their interest in the growing need for in-home care services. Fran and Charlie are committed to delivering the best possible in-home care to seniors in the Reno 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 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

Senior Helpers of Reno assists seniors and their families in all areas of Reno, Sparks and outlying areas such as Spanish Springs & Sun Valley. Senior Helpers of Reno opened in 2009 and quickly established itself as a premier leader of in home senior care in our community.

Senior Helpers of Reno prides ourselves in delivering only excellent, compassionate care to all our clients. We strive to provide exemplary customer service to all our clients and their families.

We make clear to each and every client that we are a guest in his or her home. We are not there to take away any of their independence, they’re the boss! We are there to do things the way they would like them done.

To ensure that each home care client and their family receives the time and attention that they deserve, Senior Helpers of Reno’s owner Fran Graves meets with each family to explain our services, answer any questions, learn about their care needs and gets to know each home care client on a more intimate level. Getting to know each client is the key to matching them with a caregiver they will enjoy and feel comfortable inviting into their home. With every client this important procedure is followed. Whether a client needs help with just housekeeping or needs around the clock bedbound care, she takes special care to get to know each individual client. After meeting with a new client, Fran develops an individual care plan focused on each home care client’s particular needs and requests and then shares it with her internal team. At that time, after careful consideration of a client’s needs and personality, they are matched with a member of our caregiving team. Careful review of the care plan is done with the caregiver before the first day of a new assignment. Each caregiver is introduced to our new client at their first visit.

The ongoing support we offer our home care clients and their families ensures that our client’s needs are always addressed promptly and that care plans and schedules are adjusted immediately to address any changes in our client’s health and abilities. Families can rest assured that Senior Helpers of Reno is ready to be part of your care team providing your loved one the quality care you want for them and the support the family needs knowing that your loved one is being cared for by a well-trained compassionate professional caregiver.

Senior Helpers of Reno’s Manager of Client Services ensures that our client’s needs are always met by frequently visiting to reassess each client’s current needs so that adjustments can be made in care to accommodate any changes. The Caregiver Managers visits ensure that our caregivers are following the clients personally designed care plan, that they have appropriate additional training for any changes in condition and that our home care clients continue to enjoy the caregiver coming into their home. Our Manager of Client Services also keeps in touch with our client’s families ensuring they are aware and updated on how their loved one is doing. The Client Care Manager is also available at any time the family would like to share any thoughts or concerns about their loved one.

Senior Helpers of Reno’s Manager of Caregiver Services insures that all caregivers are properly hired and continually supervised while working with a client of Senior Helpers. Our thorough screening and hiring procedures includes:

  • 2 interviews
  • Checking all references
  • Background checks with the state and FBI
  • Pre-employment physical
  • Complete 2-step TB test
  • Drug screening for prescription and non-prescription drugs
  • 10 year DMV check with car insurance and proof of insurance

After a Senior Helpers caregiver is hired, the Manager of Caregiver Services ensures they complete their caregiver training before they are ever introduced to a Senior Helpers client. Ongoing, the Manager of Caregiver Services makes sure that each caregiver continues to complete their ongoing required training and that special attention is given to extra training for each of our client’s individual care needs. The Manager of Caregiver Services visits each caregiver on assignment to make sure they are providing the appropriate care for each client and meeting Senior Helpers high standards for care. The Manager of Caregiver Services also meets with each caregiver in our office to discuss the clients they are caring. This allows the caregiver time to share any changes about their client’s health or abilities, so we can address concerns promptly and ensure that family is notified.

Senior Helpers of Reno is continually upgrading our programs and providing training to our caregivers to ensure all of our clients have the best care possible. Special care is taken so that each caregiver has expertise in the craft of caregiving and knowledge in the particular challenges facing each individual client they work with. Whether a client has COPD, CHF, High Blood Pressure, Diabetes or one of the many other challenges facing our aging clientele, they can feel confident they will have a caregiver with the proper training, compassion and supervision to attend to their needs.

Senior Helpers of Reno is a Senior GEMS certified office. This important distinction insures that all of our caregivers working with clients who have Alzheimer’s or any type of Dementia understand this disease and know how to not only care for our client, but bring quality of life and happiness to their day. Our care is focused on what our clients can still do and allowing them to do it, not what they can no longer do.

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

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, review 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 Reno Team

Fran Graves

Fran Graves

Owner/Director of Client and Caregiver Services

Fran Graves is the owner and Director of Client and Caregiver Services of Senior Helpers of Northern Nevada. After putting her professional career on hold to raise a family, Fran became involved in caregiving and finding assistance at home for both her grandparents and in-laws. During that time she found a lack of quality and compassion in the services provided. She also fell in love with helping seniors and with the senior community. Fran decided to get involved and provide the quality care and services seniors need and deserve.

Using her business background, education and personal experience providing care and support for her elderly loved ones, she opened Senior Helpers. Her goal is to always provide compassionate, professional, and personal service. Fran works with every client and family to develop a care plan to meet their individual needs. She is involved in the hiring and training of all caregivers to insure only the most qualified and compassionate caregivers are introduced to Senior Helpers clients.

Fran is also a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA), completing a full regiment of course work to increase her expertise in all areas of senior care including health, financial and social issues facing our aging population.

Fran works closely getting to know all Senior Helpers clients and caregivers. She feels it is very important that Senior Helpers not only match a caregiver's skills with a client's needs, but their personality as well. Clients need to have a companion come to their home that they enjoy. That is why Fran feels knowing every member of her caregiving team and every client is an integral part of the service she provides.

Fran is proud to be one of a select few CSA's in Northern Nevada.

 

Charlie Graves

Charlie Graves

Owner/Director of Operations

Charlie Graves oversees and is responsible for all back office operations. He is in-charge of all payroll and invoicing. His education and over 30 years of experience in business and IT allows Senior Helpers to operate smoothly and insures all clients accounts are handled promptly and professionally.

Andie Dunsmore

Andie Dunsmore

Scheduling Coordinator

Andie Dunsmore is Senior Helpers’ Scheduling Coordinator. Andie is responsible for ensuring that all Senior Helpers client and caregiver schedules meet their needs. Andie is tasked with not only matching each client with a caregiver with the skill set necessary to address their needs and requests, but also that they are matched with a caregiver who they enjoy spending time with and that adds value to their day.

Matching caregivers with clients that need them is an art. There are many things to consider when making thoughtful matches. For this program to be successful, it takes someone with the skill set, people skills and passion that Andie has.

Andie’s years of experience in the medical field dealing with patients along with her degree from the University of Nevada- Reno in Psychology assists her in making careful, thoughtful matches for both our clients and our caregiving team.

Elle Probert

Elle Probert

Administrative Assistant

Elle Probert is Senior Helpers’ Administrative Assistant. Elle’s is the first friendly voice you hear when you call Senior Helpers. Elle joined the staff at Senior Helpers bringing with her excellent experience in office and mental health environments.

Elle assists potential employees with applications, is responsible for the entire on-boarding process for new employees and performs other administrative duties.

Elle continually interacts with clients and caregivers to ensure that all of their questions are answered and that their needs are addressed promptly and efficiently.

Elle’s degree from the University of Nevada- Reno in Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies assists her in working with both families and caregivers. 

Areas We Serve

Senior Helpers of Reno 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, Live-In and 24-hour care services.

Senior Helpers of Reno serves the cities and towns of:

  • Reno
  • Sparks