Seniors Helping Seniors - Brevard, FL

Mother and daughter team, Rosemary Barton and Jennifer Helin come to Seniors Helping Seniors in-home services with the motivation and dedication to be there for seniors in Brevard County.

“As the youngest of seven children, with aging parents who had poor health, I became a caregiver at a very young age,” shared Rosemary. “When my daughter, Jennifer, came to me with the idea to start providing caregiving services to seniors in our community, it just made perfect sense.”

Jennifer had a similar caregiving experience with her mother-in-law. “I had spent a lot of time caring for my mother-in-law after she had two surgeries. While I was running to doctors’ appointments, doing errands and sitting at lunch surrounded by seniors, I realized that this was no burden at all, I was really enjoying myself!” said Jennifer. “I worked with my mother before and knew that she would be excited about being there for seniors in a compassionate and loving way. She was the first person I thought of to join me in starting a Seniors Helping Seniors center.

Seniors Helping Seniors in-home care matches seniors who want to help with seniors who need a little help. This peer-to-peer assistance allows seniors in need to receive care from someone who they can trust and with whom they can build a relationship. At the same time seniors who want to help are able to remain active in their community and often form relationships with the seniors for whom they are caring.

The senior providers who work with Rosemary and Jennifer offer many non-medical services including:
•Light housekeeping
•Transportation
•Grocery shopping
•Gardening
•Meal preparation
•Bill paying
•Computer assistance
•Laundry
•Companionship

Rosemary is from Staten Island. After her marriage she moved to upstate New York where she had her two daughters, Melanie and Jennifer. She began her career in the Insurance Industry in 1977 and received her CPCU designation in 1985. Rosemary has been a caregiver her whole life, first with her parents and through the years with her older siblings, family and friends. Most recently she cared for her brother and sister-in-law who were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at about the same time. In addition to working hard in her career and family life Rosemary is a choir member at Immaculate Conception Church, a member of Pathwork of Grace Ministry at First Baptist Church of Melbourne, Seaside Piecemakers Quilting Guild and Sunstitchers Quilting Circle.

Jennifer attended the College of St. Rose and received her CPCU designation in 1996. Following graduation she joined her mother in the insurance business. They worked together until Jennifer was married and moved to Pittsburgh with her husband. After later moving to Florida, Jennifer began teaching for the Brevard County School District and earned her Masters Degree from the University of Central Florida. She was named Lockmar Elementary’s Teacher of the Year for the 2010-2011 school year. Like her mother, Jennifer is very active in her community. She is a member of a small church community and retreat team member at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, she volunteers at her son’s school teaching Sunshine Math and participates in the baking committee. Her sons keep her active in Cub Scouts and with sports such as baseball, soccer and basketball.

Seniors Helping Seniors in-home services has sites throughout the U.S. The organization was founded by Kiran Yocom, who has a mission and a passion to help seniors live independently. She leads the organization through compassion and caring for all.