Meet Our Experienced Staff

Chris McIntyre, RN, Care Manager/Office Manager: Chris was a nurse for St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix and Akron City Hospital in Ohio before coming to Visiting Angels as a Caregiver in 2007. Promoted to managing the office, Chris is the person most in touch with our clients and caregivers on a daily basis. Hands on direct care experience with Visiting Angels clients, as well as care for her own parents and in-laws, allows Chris to be sensitive to the issues facing those whose ability to remain in their own homes is important to their end of life needs. Chris administers the drug-testing program, manages the office processes and maintains the schedules to coordinate visits for the clients and caregivers.

 

Tish Wallace, Director, Human Resources:  Tish is responsible for hiring and training Visiting Angels Caregivers. With Visiting Angels since 2006, Tish conducts a minimum of three professional interviews and references per caregiver, does background checks (50-state criminal and driving records), oversees continuing education and assures State and Federal compliance. All caregivers are CPR and first aid trained, have yearly TB testing and attend OSHA required classes on infectious disease prevention. She assists clients to set up Long Term Care insurance claims and provides follow up and intervention as needed. A former Geriatric Social Worker, Tish has BA degrees in Sociology and English from the University of Delaware and a Master’s equivalent in Human Resource Management from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Tish directed administrative services for a California medical homecare and hospice and managed client services for Apple Computer and a Human Resource Consulting firm. Tish’s mom and uncle were Visiting Angels clients and Tish assures we hire the caliber of caregivers she trusts to care for her own family. Tish is a member of SHRM (Society Human Resource Management) and the Arizona Mature Workforce Initiative, part of the Governor's Advisory Council on Aging. She serves on the C.N.A Advisory Board of PIMA Medical Institute.

 

Elaine Poker-Yount, Community Liaison:  Elaine provides education, outreach and support to the greater Phoenix Community as head of our “Resource Source” program. Elaine shares her extensive eldercare resource information through discussions “Resources for Aging Loved Ones” with seniors and others caring for their parents or grandparents. She speaks to educational and healthcare groups, women’s groups, active adult communities, church organizations and writes a column on aging resources for the Arizona Republic. Her duties include in-home assessments and care coordination while focusing on education about the resources Visiting Angels provides. Elaine lets people know where to go to get real assistance with legal, health, veterans and a variety of hard to find local care needs. Elaine is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and is the former President of Senior Summer School. She has been working with seniors and boomers for over 20 years in a recreational and educational capacity. Elaine is a member of the Arizona Mature Workforce Initiative, part of the Governor's Advisory Council on Aging and is the current President of the East Valley Human Service Professionals (HSP) organization. Elaine has long range care responsibilities for a parent living in another state.

 

Stacy Sweet, Manager, Marketing and Business Development:  Stacy does direct marketing and business development with community healthcare providers including nursing and rehabilitation facilities, hospices, hospitals and medical homecare companies. Active in local networking groups devoted to healthcare and the eldercare community, Stacy develops strategies that harness the needs of the community with solutions offered by Visiting Angels. Stacy came to East Valley Visiting Angels from Gemini Hospice and Homecare where she was the Community Educator facilitating end of life conversations for those with life-limiting illnesses and their families. She partnered with the senior community delivering presentations on hospice, available healthcare and community resources while developing blood pressure clinics and participating in health fairs. Stacy has a Master’s in Business Administration from ASU and worked as an accountant and financial analyst for several corporations prior to moving into healthcare.

 

Linda Simmons, Marketing, Business Development and Client Care Manager:  Linda provides crisis services for clients and prospective clients needing individual assistance encompassing the world of eldercare resources and placement. She provides assessments to new Visiting Angels clients in Gold Canyon and Apache Junction and works independently through her own business “Confident Connections” when a more in-depth approach is requested. With a BA degree in Social Work from Northern Kentucky University, Linda has over 27 years involvement in all aspects of eldercare services including Assisted Living, Hospice and Rehabilitation. Linda uses her social work skills to locate and suggest the best choice of care options available to our clients and potential clients.

 

Janice Heinrich, Care Manager:  A caregiver for Visiting Angels in 2005-06, Janice returned to East Valley Visiting Angels in 2014 with extensive and varied experience gained in many areas of eldercare services. She was a Program Specialist for the Area Agency on Aging in Phoenix working with community based services, Director of Elderly Services managing programs and activities for a senior center, including a home delivered meals program and an activities program for mentally ill individuals. As a Care Manager, Janice provides initial client assessments, on-going supervisory visits and offers follow up calls to new clients. She assists the office in scheduling, phone response and special projects. Janice has a Bachelors Degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. Janice’s parents have been clients of Visiting Angels and she works to balance work and family eldercare responsibilities.

 

Connie Hacker, Care Manager:  First a church secretary, then direct caregiver from 2004-08, Connie left Visiting Angels to provide office services to a large, over-55 homeowners association. She returned to offer her calm demeanor and hands on skill as a caregiver to our clients. Connie was promoted to Care Manager/Office handling scheduling, billing, long-term care processing and phone services. She was trained and worked as a chiropractic assistant, studied occupational therapy at Ohio State University and has for many years provided care to developmentally disabled adults in her home. Connie assists with care for her mother in another state and understands the dilemma faced by families handling multiple priorities.

Visiting Angels Mesa specializes in taking care of clients in the East Valley, including Apache Junction, Mesa, Tempe, Gold Canyon, Queen Creek and San Tan Valley. Call for your free assessment today!