About FirstLight
in Boston Northwest
Flexible Schedules. Exceptional Care.
We know your first priority when choosing a home care agency in the Boston area is finding someone who will care for your loved one as you would… someone you can always trust and rely on. We’ve been in your shoes, and know what it takes to deliver the very best quality of personalized, yet affordable, in-home care.
Our goal is to enhance the quality of life for you and your loved one. We’re not content to simply help people get through the day. We want them to live life to the fullest and have the best day possible, filled with exceptional care, joy and accomplishment. Today and every day.
Girish and Shalini Lahoty
We’ve Been in Your Shoes
In 2018, my wife Shalini and I were inspired to establish a home care agency to serve the Greater Boston area after experiencing the profound impact that caregivers can have on families. Our journey began when Shalini’s father faced the challenges of dementia. Coordinating his care from a distance highlighted the difficulties of supporting a loved one in failing health while being unable to be physically present.
With decades of experience as a customer experience professional for Fortune 100 companies, I am committed to raising the standard of care in the home care industry. My mission is to ensure that our clients receive exceptional support and attention at every stage of their journey.
Specialized Dementia Care
To better serve our senior clients living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, I became a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP). This specialized training enables me to develop holistic and personalized care plans tailored to each individual, as well as provide guidance to families on how to understand and interact with their loved ones effectively. Additionally, I created a comprehensive dementia training module to equip our caregivers with essential redirection techniques and compassionate care strategies.
Both Shalini and I are passionate about delivering exceptional service and making a meaningful difference in our communities. It is incredibly gratifying to support families in need. We look forward to understanding your unique needs and helping provide peace of mind for you and your family.
Warm regards,
Girish Lahoty
CEO & Owner
Girish Lahoty, CEO and Owner
Girish Lahoty is CEO and Owner of FirstLight Home Care of Boston Northwest. He and his wife, Shalini, founded the agency in 2018 after their family experienced firsthand the challenges of coordinating care for Shalini’s father, who was living with dementia. Drawing on decades of customer experience leadership with Fortune 100 companies, Girish brings a service-focused approach to home care and is committed to ensuring clients and families feel supported at every stage. As a Certified Dementia Practitioner, he develops personalized care plans for individuals living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. He also created a dementia training module that equips FirstLight caregivers with practical redirection and compassionate-care techniques. Girish finds it especially rewarding to help families gain peace of mind while their loved ones remain safe and independent at home.
Saundra Lyons, Director of Client Care
Saundra Lyons joined FirstLight Home Care in August 2018 and serves as Director of Client Care. She oversees the day-to-day support of the office team, clients, and caregivers, helping ensure every client receives dependable, exceptional care and every team member has the guidance needed to succeed. Saundra began her home care career in 1990 as a Certified Home Health Aide and later earned an associate degree in Healthcare Management and a bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration. She is passionate about building services that become a trusted part of clients’ daily lives and allow them to remain safe, comfortable, and independent at home. Outside of work, Saundra enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren and especially values days spent boating and fishing with her dad.
Johanna Sanchez, Scheduler and Care Coordinator
Johanna Sanchez joined FirstLight Home Care in March 2026 as Scheduler and Care Coordinator. She coordinates schedules, plans the start of care for new clients, and reconciles care plans for current clients. Before joining FirstLight, Johanna worked in scheduling for skilled nursing home care and in case management. She earned an Associate of Arts in Political Science and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Chamberlain University, with an expected graduation in 2028. Johanna especially values finding quality caregivers for clients and giving families peace of mind. She is passionate about improving quality of life for clients and veterans. Outside of work, Johanna is a proud mother and lifelong learner who enjoys helping others, building meaningful connections, and making memories with her son and family.
Marissa Underwood, Recruiter and Care Coordinator
Marissa Underwood joined FirstLight Home Care as a caregiver in July 2022 and moved to the office team in August 2023. As Recruiter and Care Coordinator, she leads caregiver recruiting and onboarding, develops community partnerships, and represents FirstLight at job fairs. Before entering home care, Marissa worked in early education with children from infancy through age 12, advancing from teacher’s assistant and lead teacher to home care provider and regional director. She values the opportunity to apply her communication, patience, and relationship-building skills to serving older adults and finding dependable caregivers. Outside of work, Marissa is a proud mother of five – two college students, two high school students, and one fur baby – and enjoys music, art, and the outdoors.
Angeline Pascal, Care Coordinator
Angeline Pascal joined FirstLight Home Care in July 2026 as a Care Coordinator. Drawing on several years of hands-on experience as a Personal Care Assistant and Home Health Aide, she works closely with clients, families, and caregivers to help ensure each client receives thoughtful, personalized support. Angeline is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and her clinical education strengthens her approach to client safety, communication, and recognizing changing needs. She is especially passionate about advocacy and person-centered care and believes every client deserves to feel heard, respected, and involved in their care. Outside of work, Angeline is a mother of three who enjoys pottery, art history, museums, the outdoors, piano, and learning Korean. She also volunteers annually with Blood Cancer United.
Momo, Chief Morale Officer
Momo is our six-year-old mini Goldendoodle and unofficial Chief Morale Officer. Affectionate and always ready for pets, he brings warmth and calm to the office, especially on busy days filled with last-minute scheduling changes, and the many moving parts of home care. Whether he is greeting visitors, keeping the team company, or offering a quiet moment to reset, Momo reminds us how much comfort and companionship can brighten even the most stressful day.
Why Choose FirstLight for Best Home Care in Boston
Here are a few reasons why we’re amongst a handful of home care agencies nationwide to receive the Best of Home Care – Provider of Choice Award year over year. And why our clients consistently rate us #1 in Client Satisfaction, give us ALL 5-star Reviews, and refer us to their friends and family.
Affordable Home Care
- Whether it’s once a week or 24×7 care, we offer very flexible schedules with no weekly minimums. Why pay for more care than you need?
- We collaborate with you to create a plan that fits your budget and adjust it as necessary to ensure it meets your evolving needs.
- As a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) approved home care provider, we help eligible veterans access home care, potentially eliminating or reducing your out-of-pocket expenses.
- We also accept Long-term Care Insurance.
Reliable Caregivers that Go The Extra Mile
- Punctual, compassionate, attentive, trusted, trained and experienced – these are just some of the qualities you will find in our caregivers.
- We prioritize your safety and peace of mind, employing only direct staff, not contractors. Our caregivers are fully insured and bonded, and our screening process includes national and state background checks, driver’s license checks, sex offender registry checks, and drug testing. Rest assured that we only select people we would trust with our own family.
- Our generous reward and recognition program fosters a motivated team, which directly enhances the quality of care we provide.
Completely Personalized Home Care
- We’re available 24/7, ensuring that your calls are answered by our team, not an answering service.
- With former caregivers in key office positions—many with over 30 years of experience—we understand what exceptional care entails.
- During our complimentary in-home consultation, we take the time to learn about you and your family, develop a personalized care plan, and match you with a caregiver who fits your needs, schedule, availability, routines, and personality.
- When care is urgent, we move quickly to make a plan work while still focusing on the right caregiver fit. In some cases, care can begin as soon as the next day.
- On the first visit, we facilitate a face-to-face introduction to ensure your comfort with the caregiver in your home.
Person-First Dementia Care
- Our CEO & Owner, Girish Lahoty, is a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP). His specialized training informs our Person-First Dementia Care approach, allowing us to create holistic care plans for clients living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. We also provide families with strategies to enhance their interactions with loved ones facing these challenges.
- Girish has developed a unique dementia training module for ALL our caregivers, equipping them with redirection and compassionate care techniques.
“Good” isn’t Good Enough
- We prioritize client feedback through monthly evaluations conducted by an independent third party.
- This ongoing commitment to listening and learning helps us identify our strengths and areas for improvement, enabling us to deliver unparalleled home and elder care services.
Our Services include:
- Personal Hygiene – help with bathing, grooming, dressing, incontinence care, etc.
- Mobility assistance, wheelchair transfer and posture positioning
- Medication reminders, conversation and company
- Meal preparation, special diets and eating assistance
- Transportation to doctor appointments, shopping and errands
- Laundry and light housekeeping
- Recreational activities and companionship
- Respite care – relief to a family caregiver to enjoy some time off
- 24/7 hour care
- Live-in care
- Specialized Dementia care
Vision & Mission
At FirstLight Home Care, we envision a world in which all adults may age with comfort, dignity and independence in the place they call home. We exist to help people have their best day, every day. Our mission is to provide compassionate home care so that the families we serve have peace of mind knowing their loved ones are receiving the support they need to enjoy the quality of life they deserve.
Core Values
We live these core values every day, without compromise. It is what we believe in above all else as they guide our home care company and team members to help us achieve our mission.
