Our Team

Director of Care

Susan Sainsbury, R.N.

Susan’s extensive knowledge of gerontology (the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging) combined with her 27 years of nursing experience is of immeasurable benefit to our clients.

In addition to assisting people as they attempt to navigate the health care system, Susan is also available for senior home care assessments and family consultations as well as periodic home visits. She is also well-informed about area nursing/retirement homes and hospitals.

As part of our team, Susan’s compassion, integrity, and nursing skills are a highly valued asset when it comes to making difficult decisions. To book a consultation, call Susan directly at 416.483.0070.

Director of Client Services and Employee Development

Paula Price, R.N., Ph.D.

Dr. Paula Price has held various positions in the health care & education fields including Director of Nursing Specialist Services at the Hospital for Sick Children and teaching in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto. From 1990 to 2000, she held a variety of positions at George Brown College including Chair of Nursing, and Chair of Community Health Programs. Following this, Dr. Price completed her Ph.D. at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Price’s responsibilities with Living Assistance Services include client consultations, and working with our Director of Care with individual care recipients, ongoing advice on health and home care issues including navigation of the health care system. Additionally, Dr. Price plays a key role in our ongoing efforts to recruit and retain the highest caliber of caregivers and provides continuing education, career development and coaching to our staff personal support workers (PSWs) and nurses. To book a consultation, call Paula directly at 416.483.0070.

Director - Board of Advisors

Opal Rowe, Director, M.Sc, MBA, CSA

Opal Rowe is the Director/Owner of the Living Assistance Services Metro-North office which services Willowdale, Thornhill, Richmond Hill, Vaughan and Markham.

Ms. Rowe has a stellar volunteer and business background. She is a founding member and Secretary/Treasurer of CARP (Canadian Association of Retired Persons), Leaside Chapter and on the Board of Directors for West Toronto Senior Support Services. She is an active Rotarian as well as a member of the Canadian Federation of University Women and also regularly volunteers with Meals on Wheels and the Canadian Cancer Society.

Opal has a wealth of educational and business experience and formerly held senior positions with Bank of Montreal, Canada Bread, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and Ernst & Young. For the past two years she has owned and successfully operated a home care agency in West Toronto.

Ms. Rowe complements our renowned ability to provide exceptional care and service that our clients have come to expect. Opal may be reached for a complimentary consultation at 647.822.7693.

Director Family Support, Palliative Care And Bereavement Services

Greg O’Neill, MSW, MBA, CSA

Greg holds, among others, a master’s degree in Social Work and has enjoyed a 26 year long career in various professional positions. He has also volunteered with diverse organizations such as Canadian Cancer Society, Central Toronto Youth Services, The Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Probation Services, Habitat for Humanity, Kindness in Action and Sleeping Children Around the World.

For the past four years Greg has been providing support and counseling for individuals approaching end of life, assisting caregivers and family members through the transition and providing bereavement assistance for those suffering from loss of a loved one.

It is this substantial experience which Greg brings to Living Assistance Services as well as his gentle ability to listen, respond and advise care recipients and their families with respect to their fears and anxieties associated with end of life care. We are fortunate to have Greg’s wealth of expertise on our Board of Advisors and for the benefit of our clients.

Office Manager and Service Coordinator

Rafia Hasan, CSA

Rafia has been with Living Assistance Services since 2004. She’s fondly referred to as the “heartbeat” of our company. Her familiarity with each of our caregivers and her ability to successfully match them with the appropriate client is legendary.

Prior to joining the company, Rafia was a school teacher. She is also a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA).

Service Coordinator

Elvira Flores, PSW, CSA

Elvira, who has been with Living Assistance Services since 2008, is responsible for coordinating staff and ensuring clients promptly receive the services they require. She also provides emergency coverage for caregivers in the field.

She has a Personal Support Worker diploma from Medix school and is certified with the Canadian Academy of Senior Advisors.

Director of Community Relations

Nicky Zeinis, CSA

Nicky is an active community volunteer having volunteered with Save the Children Canada and several other community charities and organizations. She has a marketing diploma from Humber College and is a Certified Senior Advisor.

At Living Assistance Services, Nicky advises community groups and provides information on the full range of services offered by Living Assistance Services. If you wish Nicky to speak with you or your community organization, contact her at 416.483.0070.

Director of Business Development - Board of Advisors

Patrick Mills, M.Ed, CSA

Patrick Mills, M.Ed, CSA is the Director of Business Development with Sherring Porter Ltd providing home care franchise opportunites and business development consultation across Canada. Concurrent with his duties with Sherring Porter Ltd, Patrick works as a Community Relations Officer for Alliance Hospice. Prior to this he was the Ombudsman at Atlantis Aerospace, a Business Developer for Hazell & Associates and also was, for thirty years, a teacher, Head of Lower & Middle School and Director of Alumni at Crescent Boys School in Toronto.

Patrick was an outside Governor with the Ontario Real Estate Association Foundation and former Director of the Empire Club of Canada. We are fortunate to have him on our Board of Advisors.

Associate and Member - Board of Advisors

Mary Ellen Tomlinson

Mary Ellen is the founder and director of Senior Care Options Inc., an organization that specializes in advising families, trust officers, lawyers and accountants on care for seniors. As a public speaker, she offers pragmatic advice to the business sector and communities on personalized care planning, long-distance family caregiving, retirement residences and long-term care facilities.

Mary Ellen is a member of the Ontario Palliative Care Association, the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association, the National Case Managers Network of Canada, the Canadian Association of Women Executives and Entrepreneurs and the Women’s Executive Network. She is the volunteer past chair of the St. Georges Church Pastoral Care Team, and a volunteer palliative care visitor at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

With a Diploma in Gerontology/Activation from George Brown College and a Certificate in Gerontology from Ryerson University, she is currently completing a degree at York University that focuses on “aging in modern times.” She is also a qualified re-motivation therapist.

For additional information on the range of services offered by Mary Ellen, call her directly at 416.932.9941.

Associate and Member - Board of Advisors

Heather Palmer, Ph.D.

Heather obtained her Ph.D. in Neuropsychology from the University of New South Wales, Australia. She returned to Toronto to complete a three-year postdoctoral position in neurocognitive rehabilitation at the Rotman Research Institute, Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. Heather subsequently became the research director at the Alzheimer Society of Canada where she discovered an increasing need for cognitive enhancement services to help support our aging population.

Currently, Heather is the founder and director of Cognitive Rehabilitation at Maximum Capacity Inc., a company that provides cognitive enhancement. With more than 15 years of clinical experience in the area of brain/behaviour relationships, Heather is a firm believer that the brain has the capacity to develop new connections between its various regions and that through proper training individuals can regain cognitive skills believed to be lost.