 Suzanne McElroy, MSW, Owner Suzanne opened the Springfield, MA branch of Home Instead Senior Care after spending several years caring for her grandmother and great-aunt, and realizing that this was, indeed, a calling for her. She brings with her the clinical skills she gained as a mental health therapist with a concentration in geriatric psychology. While working on her masters’ degree, Suzanne interned at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute in Los Angeles. There, she worked on the geriatric unit in individual therapy and group therapy settings, as well as conducted discharge planning meetings with patients and families.
“There are so many aspects of running this business that appeal to me,” Suzanne says, “but hands down, my favorite is the initial assessment meeting with the clients and their families or friends.” It is during this time that she becomes excited about the potential she sees Home Instead can make in a client’s life, admitting that “to become a partner in care as someone ages also brings back the feelings I had when I cared for my grandmother, which were pretty special.” Suzanne’s family (along with a little help from a Home Instead caregiver) helped her grandmother remain at home until she died at the age of 101, surrounded by family in her home.
“That is the spirit that inspires our work here,” she says.
  Maureen Cote, Client Care Coordinator Maureen joined our office in 2011 as the Client Care Coordinator, responsible for ensuring that the clients' needs are met, from their first inquiry about our services, to adjusting care as conditions change. Maureen conducts regular QUality Assurance checks, and serves as the "voice of the client" in administrative matters. Having had caregivers for her own family members has helped Maureen truly understand the importance of quality care. She is committed to providing superior client service through constant communication and oversight of each case.
Maureen loves spending her free time with her husband, teenage daughter and her three dogs. She also has a daughter and two wonderful granddaughters in Tennessee. Maureen enjoys home repair projects, random road trips and scrapbooking.  Marsha Parker, Scheduler & Administrative Assistant Marsha Parker is the cheerful voice you most likely will hear when you call our office. "I love helping people and always wanted to be in the health or medical field." She especially loves working with children and the senior population. Marsha started her career as a nanny, then became a caregiver for Home Instead before moving into her current role in the office. Marsha knows more about the company than most, having been with Home Instead since 2007.
In addition to her scheduling and administrative assistant duties, Marsha enjoys her work as an on-call supervisor for the nights and weekends. Her problem-solving skills and positive attitude really come in handy in that role.
Marsha's love for event-planning and volunteer coordination makes her the go-to person for organizing holiday parties, caregiver meetings, and volunteer efforts. "I volunteered in my high school's Key Club and was on the cheerleading squad and show choir team." Born in Saint Katherine's Jamaica, Marsha came to Springfield with her family when she was 3 years old. She enjoys taking her dog, Roxy, on long walks, zumba, dancing, tennis, football (Go Pats) traveling, reading, writing and bingo. She plans on someday publishing a children's book.  Traci Hopkins, Accounting Since 2008, Traci has been ensuring that the numbers side of Home Instead is held to the same high standards as the caregiving side. Her education in business and accounting, along with prior experience as a controller have helped the office ensure incredible accuracy in billing, payroll, and financial planning.
Recently Traci has been developing her own company, Accounting Solutions, and gathering a loyal client base. Her heart, however, remains in her work with Home Instead, and few have mastered the balance between the in-depth relationships we have with our clients and caregivers, and the need for fiscally sound decisions based on accurate data. |
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