The Team
Teri Sauer, Business Manager
Esther Thomas, Community Liason
Donna Mead. DON
Carole Faux, Scheduling Manager
Robert Thomas, President
Jeanne Howell, HR
Biscuit, Golden Retriever, office mascot, Hospice Volunteer Dog
Robert I. Thomas: In Home Care for Seniors Offered based on Owner’s Personal Experience
Assisting Hands Fort Myers is owned by Robert I. Thomas. He lives in Fort Myers with his wife Charisse and two children. Having experienced the challenges of finding quality in home care for seniors for his own father, he opened Assisting Hands in the summer of 2007 to provide Florida seniors with the kind of in home care for seniors he wished could find for his dad. In his career spanning nearly 30 years, he has always followed the same approach: Serve clients one at a time, get to know them well, and move mountains to meet their needs and exceed their expectations. He stays involved in all aspects of our service on a daily basis, seeking the best caregivers, interacting with our clients, and constantly searching for ways to improve his clients’ care. Robert’s Fort Myers office was the very first location for Assisting Hands in home care for seniors, which now has over 50 offices nation-wide.
Robert was also the founder and host of the Senior Forum Radio Show, which aired Wink NewsRadio 1200 AM in Fort Myers in 2012 and 2013. Robert lead discussions with a panel of experts on the most pressing issues facing seniors and their families. The show is currently on hiatus. Listen to past shows at www.seniorforumradioshow.com
Robert was named the 2012 Franchisee of the Year in Senior Home Care by the International Franchise Association, in recognition of his leadership, innovation, and business development in providing in home care for seniors in the Fort Myers area.
Community Service
Robert commits a significant amount of time in the following activities:
The Community Board for Senior Friendship Center
The Senior Hunger Task Force
Volunteers for Hope Hospice
Sponsor and Founder for the annual “Hands Assisting the Generations” concerts with the SW Florida Youth Symphony.
Personal History
Robert has lived and worked in 5 countries overseas and speaks to clients in Spanish and Russian as needed. Robert earned a BA from the University of Illinois in Urbana, a Masters from SUNY Albany, and an MM from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Robert comes from Chicago but is now happy to call Florida home. His wife Charisse has a Phd. in Engineering from Cambridge University and works locally as an engineer. His high school children are violinists and often perform at seniors’ events and for Assisting Hands clients.
