Serving the Mendocino Coast​

   with in-home care since 1993

What makes us different from other home care agencies?

We are a community based business dedicated to providing good jobs at a living wage, and quality care for our community.

Our commitment to our clients and their families is to provide comprehensive care management and in-home care. In-home care can be a positive option, preserving independence and quality of life within the comfort of home. Home care offers a gentle, professional, and relaxed alternative to institutionalized care.

Elderly and disabled individuals often feel isolated in a world that grows smaller everyday. As a team, we strive with sensitivity and intelligence to address the many issues from fear and anger at loss of independence, to the isolation and loneliness that accompany critical illness and dying. We understand how to empathize with and acknowledge these feelings to promote the best possible quality of life.

We employ a multidisciplinary approach to care, connecting and utilizing the resources of nurses, social workers, home health aides, senior center day programs, physical therapists and hospice.

 

STAFF

 

 

Aaron Goertzen, MA

Chief Executive Officer

Aaron graduated from Sonoma State University with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a minor in Philosophy. His Master's degree specialized in Sport Psychology, and he enjoyed co-teaching while in graduate school. Aaron began his career in the mental health field working with severely emotionally disturbed adolescents. He then worked for St. Helena Hospital where he assisted predominately elder patients with severe emotional trauma. In the last 13 years Aaron has worked for both Lake and Mendocino counties as the Mental Health Crisis Supervisor, overseeing clinical and administrative operations. In his free time he practices Aikido, fine art and enjoys Weight Lifting and Kayaking. Aaron and his wife, Vanesa, enjoy living a healthy and active lifestyle.

 

 

Vanesa Goertzen, Ph.D.

Chief Financial Officer

Vanesa obtained her Bachelor's in Psychology and a Certificate in Aging from the University of Hawai'i. During her undergraduate training, she received a Fellowship from NASA to study Postural Effects on Age and Information Processing focusing on attention and information processing with older adults. While in college she studied abroad in London at the University of Kensington. She then went to Pacific Graduate School of Psychology to obtain her Masters and Ph.D. She worked at the Palo Alto and Menlo Park VA Hospitals during her graduate program, participating in research on Caregiver Burnout at the Palo Alto VA Nursing Home. She completed her Postdoctoral Fellowship in Geropsychology at the Portland VA Medical Center. She has since worked with the National Health Service Corp, and been a Mental Health Director. Currently she works part-time at the Mendocino Coast Clinics in the Chronic Pain program, and also has a private practice working with veterans. She also teaches Therapeutic Yoga for veterans. She and her husband, Aaron, have twin daughters.

 

 

​