Meet Our Local San Diego Team

ABS San Diego is one of San Diego’s largest and most respected home care agencies. In addition to being a licensed Home Care Organization, Lia successfully launched a Medicare certified Home Health division in 2017. As a result, ABS San Diego is able to offer a robust continuum of care for clients facing a diversity of needs.

From a young age, Lia has always had a special place in her heart for seniors. She started in the Health and Aging industry when she was just 22 years old, working in a skilled nursing facility as a CNA. Lia’s career in home care continued a steady climb as she tackled the roles of Office Manager and Director of Staffing where she quickly identified critical issues within the industry. These discoveries have allowed her to create a business model unique to the industry by acting as a hub for resources for her clients. Her passion for educating the community has become the link connecting clients to the fragmented resources in healthcare that are available to them.

Lia is a relentless advocate for senior issues at a state legislative level and is a two-term board member of the California Association for Health Services at Home (CAHSAH), where she addresses critical issues that affect the industry workforce, seniors and the medically fragile. In 2015, Lia developed her Home Care Brand into a franchise model and opened ABS’s first franchise location in the Wichita, Kansas area. Lia later formed A Better Solution Community Resource Organization, (ABSCRO), a nonprofit organization created to support San Diego with programs like feeding the homeless and providing them with supplies needed for the winter months. “Giving back to our community is one reason we have been so successful in our business.”

With over 25 years in the industry, the Author of three books and a mentor to past employees turned business owners, Lia believes empowering those around her is a part of her calling and purpose. Her latest release, The Homecare Bible, Tips of the Trade from the CEO Perspective, is a culmination of both the winning strategies and missteps that she has seen not only “Novice CEO’s” make when trying to establish themselves in the industry, but also owners all over the country. Lia illuminates the fact that real success in this people-centric industry comes from remaining teachable. In her book, Lia provides the reader with a birds-eye view of her success in business that was made possible by her ability to learn from her mistakes and use those instances to adjust her philosophies and methods for sustainable growth and longevity.

Kristen began her Senior Care career in 2006 as the Marketing Director for Seasons Senior Community and later moving into the role of Executive Director of Bayview Senior Accommodations where she oversaw operations, title 22 compliance and regulations. Kristen created and introduced Keepsake Concepts Care Planning and later Founded Keepsake Companions, a successful home care agency for over 16 years. Kristen developed an online caregiver and management training program, a successful placement company and a small franchise system for which she developed manuals and training procedures for all aspects of running a Home Care Agency. Kristen has a passion for Hospice and community involvement, being a previous Board Member for many organizations including: Elderhelp of San Diego, San Diego Dementia Consortium, Scripps Ranch Elder Care Alliance, Glenner Family Centers, Virtual Health Collective, and the Virtual Village for Elders. Most recently, Kristen served as the Executive Director for Hospice of the South Coast, the local branch of a national Hospice company. Kristen specializes in creating company culture, developing new systems and income streams, operations, and maintaining corporate policy, procedures and training.

Yolonda's strength in working closely with the senior staff improves the Agency internal processes, creates optimum productivity, and team cohesiveness. Her experience in developing performance goals, creating and implementing strategies for growth and ensuring that departments deliver quality service to clients is what drives her in her role as GM, with ABS.

"Our Clients Come First" is the Agency Culture that Yolonda continues to implement and establish, creating Client and Caregiver “Ambassadors” ensuring that advancement for new or open internal positions are offered to caregivers within the organization first, creating opportunities for growth and change for our workforce. Overseeing and establishing the ABS Certified Nursing School has been one of Yolonda’s pet projects allowing the ABS Culture of Service to extend to the San Diego Community.

Yolonda holds a Bachelors in Science in Business Management and is passionate about service. She was inspired by the philosophy of Servant leadership, while studying at Grand Canyon University. Her home town is Buffalo, New York. "Watching our agency grow into a large service-based organization, while keeping the mom-and-Pop level of service and dedication is my greatest passion" says Yolonda.