Preferred Care at Home was founded in 1984 by Lois Whitesell, a registered nurse, along with her daughter Jody Guerrieri and son-in-law Frank Guerrieri, in response to something they saw clearly: older people simply wanted to stay home. Read the story of how it all began.
What started as a small operation in central Florida has grown into a national franchise now serving families across 18 states. But it has never stopped feeling like a family business. The founders are still actively involved, now alongside the third generation of their family working in home care.
Preferred Care at Home of Coastal Volusia is individually owned and operated. Every decision is made locally, by Suzette and her team, for the families of this community.
Along the Halifax River and the beachside streets of Daytona Beach, families watch a parent slow down after decades in the same coastal home. Hurricane season adds its own worry: who checks on Mom when the storm rolls in and her children are two states away. There is another way to stay, and that is why Preferred Care at Home of Coastal Volusia is here.
This is a locally owned and operated office, and when you call, you reach people who are part of this community. This is not a national call center; it is a team that knows the neighborhoods, knows the families, and picks up the phone. That is what makes the difference.
Driven by Passion, Committed to Compassion
Suzette Gondera, RN, has spent 45 years in the medical profession, including time at AdventHealth. She knows what good care looks like from the inside, and that knowledge shapes how this office operates. Her standard is simple: the caregiver who comes to your home should be someone you’d trust with your own family.
Suzette’s background informs how care plans are built, how caregivers are screened, and what families can expect when they call. This is a non-medical home care office. The care we refer centers on personal assistance, companionship, and the everyday support that makes staying home possible, but having spent decades in healthcare settings changes how you approach building that care.
When you reach out to us, the first step is a free consultation to understand what your family needs. We then visit the home, build a personalized care plan, and match a caregiver by personality and experience. Every caregiver has passed our 7-step screening process before coming to your door.
If the match isn’t right, we find another. That commitment to consistency is how we build care relationships that last. Services are available from a few hours a week up to 24-hour care for seniors who need around-the-clock support at home.
Preferred Care at Home of Coastal Volusia holds Florida AHCA license HHA #299995877, issued by the Agency for Health Care Administration. This Home Health Agency license confirms that we meet Florida’s standards for operating as a home care organization in Volusia County. Every caregiver we refer meets Florida’s requirements for registration and background checks.
Preferred Care at Home of Coastal Volusia proudly serves families along the Volusia County coast, including:
Not sure if your community is covered? Call us at (386) 674-0046 and we will let you know.
