Why choose us for home care in San Rafael, CA?

Todd and Catherine Vaughan acquired the Home Instead franchise in Marin County in January, 2010. Prior to owning Home Instead, ​Catherine spent 25 years in the project development and capital funding of senior housing, assisted living, and skilled nursing care projects and was very excited to move to the personal side of the senior care business through the acquisition of the Marin County Home Instead franchise with her husband, Todd, who's prior career was in the automotive industry managing large departments, budgets, and staff. Todd and Catherine had experienced first-hand the personal challenges and demands of dealing with a suddenly ailing father. He was hospitalized and then sent to a Geriatric Psych Unit for review where he was diagnosed with advancing dementia. In a matter of days, she and her sisters were dealing with court processes, trying to understand his condition and find resources for his care. Ultimately, he stabilized enough to be able to return to his own home where they hired Home Instead to help. It was such a relief for the sisters to have someone calling them weekly with updates on their father's care and condition and knowing that their father was in good hands with Home Instead. As owners of their own Home Instead franchise, Todd and Catherine are both engaged full time in the business and are committed to delivering the same quality care to their Marin clients that they expected for her father. As a team, they oversee the day-to-day operations of the business, manage care partner relationships in the industry, provide educational and resource support to families, and they represent the industry in legislative matters, both in California and nationally. They have also been active sponsors of local charitable events and organizations to benefit our seniors in Marin.

Natalie Schneider joined Home Instead in January 2026 as Chief Operating Officer. In this role, she oversees operations and strategic growth, helping ensure that seniors throughout the community receive compassionate, high quality care that allows them to age safely and comfortably in their own homes. Prior to joining Home Instead, Natalie spent eight years in corporate banking, where she specialized in financing senior housing communities across the Pacific Northwest. Her work focused on assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care facilities, giving her a deep understanding of the senior care landscape and the critical role that thoughtful, individual centered care plays in supporting aging populations. Natalie has long been connected to the mission of Home Instead. Since her parents acquired the Marin County franchise in 2010, she has been closely involved with the organization and inspired by the impact it has on local families and seniors. Outside of work, Natalie enjoys the outdoors and spending time with her family and her two Goldendoodles.

​Christy Queirolo joined Home Instead in December of 2018 as one of our Client Care Coordinators. In her current role as Senior Director of Business Development and Client Care , she manages the home care team and is the liaison between our clients, family members, referral providers and the on-site care team. Christy comes to us with a long history of customer service. Over the years, Christy has volunteered at a local senior care facility and personally cared for a friend suffering with Lou Gehrig's disease, demonstrating her commitment to helping seniors live a better quality of life. This passion led her to Home Instead. She is a Marin County native, has a strong sense of community and builds strong, lasting and committed relationships. In her leisure time Christy enjoys spending time with her family and friends and outdoor activities in the Bay Area.

Jackie Holt joined the Home Instead team in February 2017 as the Staffing Coordinator and was promoted to Senior Manager of Client Services and Staffing in 2026. Jackie is responsible for directing and coordinating all activities related to client schedules and plans of care, including the management of all day-to-day supervision and support of the Care Pro team. Prior to joining our team, she completed a degree in communications from San Francisco State University. She also worked in social media, marketing & sales for various startup companies in San Francisco. After working in the tech industry Jackie was looking for a career change, she was hoping to work for a company that is making a difference in the community and would allow her to still be people oriented. In her spare time she enjoys being active in the bay area. Some of her favorite places include Stinson Beach, Sausalito and North Beach.

Denise joined Home Instead in August 2025 as a Client Care Manager. After earning her nursing degree, Denise worked in Acute Rehabilitation as a Registered Nurse on the Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Units where she found inspiration in helping patients achieve the best possible quality of life. Following a break from nursing to raise her family, she continued her commitment to compassionate care by working in hospice for the last 8.5 years, most recently managing a team of 25 hospice admission nurses and intake coordinators. Her deep roots in Marin fuel her dedication to supporting clients' wishes to live with dignity and maintain a high quality of life. Her role at Home Instead allows her to continue this mission by helping individuals thrive in the comfort of their own homes. In her spare time you can find her hiking the beautiful trails in Marin County with her dog Chloe, cooking for her family, gardening, or practicing guitar (a very new hobby).

Lita Acosta joined the Home Instead team in May of 2021 and now serves as our Service and Operations Manager. Her role is critical to supporting our Care Pros and the clients we serve. Her primary responsibilities are managing important operational processes such as client billing, insurance and managing the screening of prospective Care Pros and payroll. Lita has been in the staffing field for 21 years and enjoyed all aspects of meeting and helping people help others. Prior to joining Home Instead, she has been engaged in the medical and home care fields for over 11 years. Lita says that nothing gives her more pleasure than to be part of a team that engages and assists in the care of our elder population to ensure they can stay in their homes and maintain social connections as well. In her spare time Lita enjoys spending time with her two wonderful children, her dog Lola and her three cats Puddin, Charlie and Littles. She also loves exploring the natural beauty of Marin.

Eden Plantinga joined Home Instead in March 2022 as a CarePro, where she quickly developed a deep understanding of client needs and built strong, positive relationships. In her role, she worked directly with clients, providing help with activities of daily living and safety. After some time, she began taking on the responsibilities of on-call duties and eventually stepped into her current role as a Client Care Associate in February 2025, where she assists the care team in various aspects of client care, including, communication, field support, and more. Eden graduated from Dominican University with a degree in psychology in May of 2025. In her spare time, she enjoys staying active while exploring the Bay area with friends and family, reading mystery and contemporary fiction novels, and listening to true crime podcasts

Elle Machmer joined the Home Instead team in March of 2026 as an Administrative Assistant. Her role supports our care team and is a connection point for both Care Pros and clients. Elle moved from Minnesota to Marin in 2023 where she has worked in various service industries and has enjoyed becoming a part the community and exploring the natural beauty. And she is excited to join a team that focuses on supporting the community of Marin. In her spare time, Elle likes to challenge herself with artistic pursuits such as knitting, painting, nail art, and exploring new hobbies like tennis.