About FirstLight
in West Suburban Boston
Home Care is Not a Career, It’s a Calling
We know your first priority when choosing a home care provider is finding someone you can trust and rely on… someone who will care for your loved one as you would, and as we would our own. We’ve been where you are, and this is one of the main reasons we chose to be in this business.
Please take a moment to read our many outstanding reviews from Google, Facebook, and AgingCare.com and you’ll understand why FirstLight Home Care of West Suburban Boston is recognized for the highest quality of care and service as a home care and senior care agency. With over 60, 5-Star Google reviews and positive reviews on other platforms, we are proud to be one of the highest rated home care agencies in the Boston area.
Wendy Adlerstein, LSW
Wendy Adlerstein, LSW is the Executive Director and Co-Owner of FirstLight Home Care of West Suburban Boston, where she leads the care coordination team and ensures that each family receives thoughtful, individualized support rooted in deep experience and empathy. With more than 25 years of leadership in elder services and home care, Wendy is widely recognized as a trusted expert in helping seniors and their families navigate complex care decisions — from planning for aging in place to building effective, compassionate care plans.
Wendy’s approach draws on her background as a licensed social worker, extensive direct experience with older adults and individuals with disabilities, and her firm commitment to relationship-centered care. She oversees client assessments and service planning, leads caregiver recruitment and training, and mentors the care coordination team to ensure quality, consistency, and responsiveness in every case.
Wendy holds a B.A. in Psychology with a concentration in Sociology and Human Services from Clark University, a Certificate in Gerontology from the Worcester Consortium Gerontology Program, and maintains her Massachusetts License in Social Work. She is also a Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) and an active member of the Aging Life Care Association (ALCA), where she serves on the Programming Committee for the New England Chapter, helping to bring expert education and thought leadership to professionals across the region.
Expert Voice in Aging & Home Care
Wendy Adlerstein, LSW—Executive Director and Co-Owner of FirstLight Home Care of West Suburban Boston—is a recognized thought leader in home care, gerontology, and aging-in-place strategies. With 25+ years of experience, she shares practical insights on podcasts reaching families, professionals, and elder-care communities nationwide.
Recent Podcast Appearances:
“Inside Home Healthcare with Wendy Adlerstein” (Risking Old Age in America, Jan 2026): Wendy discusses staffing high-quality home care teams, choosing trusted agencies, and building care plans for independence. Listen on Apple Podcasts
“Recognizing Cognitive Decline” (Next Steps 4 Seniors, Feb 2026): Signs of early dementia, care transitions, and compassionate in-home strategies. Listen on Apple Podcasts
- “Navigating the Journey of Aging with Wendy Adlerstein” (Grey with Benefits, Feb 2026): The importance of staying present and caring for your mind and body early in life, how home care services begin, what families can expect during an in-home assessment, how caregivers are thoughtfully matched, and how technology can help aging adults maintain independence. Listen on Apple Podcasts
These discussions highlight Wendy’s expertise in caregiver matching, dementia care, and relationship-centered service—core to why FirstLight is a Home Care Pulse-endorsed leader in West Suburban Boston.
Listen to Wendy for guidance on starting care conversations, evaluating providers, and supporting dignity at home.
Steve Stern, President
As President, Steve manages FirstLight Home Care of West Suburban Boston and leads the community relations and business development efforts.
Prior to opening the FirstLight office, Steve served in a number of management positions at marketing services organizations, where he developed programs and campaigns to promote a range of consumer brands and business services—from telecommunications and public transportation to accounting services and healthcare. Steve was born and raised in Needham and graduated from Tufts University with a B.A. in Economics. He also holds an MBA with a concentration in marketing from the University of Maryland’s Smith School of Business.
After much success with his marketing and business development career, Steve began exploring new ways to use his skills while seeking a return to the meaningful work he enjoyed and missed of his early career where he was the manager of a Wellesley-based marketing services agency. In that position, Steve developed public awareness campaigns for a range of social issues in support of non-profit organizations and government agencies. Clients included the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, New England Home for Little Wanderers, the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, and a Medicare Options campaign for the predecessor to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Opening the FirstLight Home Care office was an opportunity for Steve to give back to the community, to seniors and others in his hometown and the surrounding area by offering an important service—one which has such a significant impact on quality of life.
Steve has personally seen the growing need for services to help people remain independent, through care for his grandmother, relatives, and other family members. He understands firsthand, the difficulty of caring for loved ones, and the challenges of finding qualified and compassionate resources to help in meeting this goal.
On the personal front, Steve is married to Amy, a public health care quality advisor, and he is the father of twin boys who graduated from Tufts University in 2020 and are now in the working world. Steve volunteers as a member of the Marketing Committee of the Aging Life Care Association-New England Chapter and recently completed a term as an inaugural Board Member at the Boston Festival Orchestra.
Jenny Wu, Manager of Operations
Jenny began her career at FirstLight Home Care of West Suburban Boston as a Care Coordinator and was promoted to Manager of Client Care Services in July 2019. Prior to joining FirstLight, Jenny worked in the mental/behavioral health and developmental disabilities systems in Maine and New Hampshire. In her previous roles, she worked with individuals and families in the home, school, group homes and various community settings. She is passionate about working with people to help them meet their personal, academic, vocational and recreational goals. She has experience working directly with youth and children doing functional and behavioral health support, as well as parents, family members and caregivers in other case management roles. Jenny grew up living with her grandmother and relocated back to Massachusetts when her family needed additional assistance with her grandmother’s care due to Alzheimer’s. Jenny graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a B.S. in Family Studies. She holds a Certificate in Case Management from Boston University School of Social Work’s Center for Aging & Disability Education and Research. Finally, Jenny is a Certified Dementia Practitioner® (CDP) in good standing from the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners.
Amanda Nalepa, Manager of Staff Development
Amanda oversees all of our caregiver recruiting and retention activities and is responsible for monitoring and streamlining our processes around caregiver talent identification, hiring, onboarding, and retention. In addition, she ensures that we are up-to-date with current caregiver quality and satisfaction metrics and trends, locally and nationally. Working closely with Jenny Wu, our Manager of Operations as well as the full office team, Amanda is responsible for assessing our caregiver orientation and training, the performance evaluation process, and retention programs, with the goal of making us the employer of choice for all caregivers. Previously, Amanda served as our Human Resources Recruitment Specialist where she oversaw the recruitment process of finding the most qualified of caregivers. After graduating from Newbury College with her B.S. in Psychology, Amanda began her career of providing support to children & adolescents in the mental health field. In this role, Amanda supported families by implementing specifically tailored behavior programs in support of a particular child’s development. Amanda has always been passionate about helping others, and as such, has devoted the last nine years of her life in the home care industry. She has and continues to build relationships with clients, on-board the most qualified of caregivers, and network in communities surrounding Boston. Amanda has always been passionate about finding the right caregiver for her clients’ particular needs and supporting families during their transition to home care. Amanda lives west of Boston with her husband Walter, daughter Isabella and son Bryce. In her free time, Amanda enjoys spending her time cooking and trying new recipes. Her friends and family say she should open her own restaurant to show off all of her cooking creations.
Elise Degon, Manager of Client Care Services
Elise is responsible for the oversight of all client care, including caregiver schedules and performance through her role of managing the Care Coordination Team. Along with her direct reports which include the Care Support Coordinator, Senior Care Coordinator and Care Coordinators, Elise participates in the performance evaluations and mentoring of our professional caregivers. Over the last seven years, Elise has also held the positions of Senior Care Support Coordinator, Senior Care Coordinator and Care Coordinator. Prior to joining FirstLight HomeCare in 2017, Elise attended Curry College where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Community Health and Wellness. Elise also holds a Certificate in Case Management from Boston University School of Social Work’s Center for Aging & Disability Education and Research. In her prior position as a Health and Wellness Consultant at Jenny Craig, Elise enjoyed making a positive impact on people’s lives physically, mentally and emotionally. Her job was not only to help clients lose weight, but to instill healthy lifestyle changes and behaviors to ensure clients live a long and happy life. Elise has always had a passion for the elderly as she lived with her grandparents all of her life, and they had a very large part in raising her. She provided help to them when needed, just like our caregivers do at FirstLight. Whether helping with grocery shopping, providing support at doctor’s appointments, cleaning, or just running errands, Elise was always there for her family members needing care. She knows firsthand what great care is, and the incredible benefits that come from it. Elise’s mother is a CNA who often provides help with her grandfather for the more physical aspects of his needs. Elise loves being able to make a difference in someone’s life. Finally, Elise is a Certified Dementia Practitioner® (CDP) in good standing from the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners.
Nachelle Augustin, Care Support Coordinator
Over the years, Nachelle has built her career path working with the elderly in many roles. With her passion to help older adults, she started her career as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), working in both home care and assisted living facilities. She then went on to obtain her undergraduate degree in Biology from Pine Manor College and later earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Boston College. Before joining FirstLight Home Care, Nachelle worked for an assisted living facility as the Memory Care Director, overseeing the care of the residents, maintaining relationships with family members, and managing and supervising care staff, ensuring all care plans were followed and that safety and proper oversight were priorities for the residents. Nachelle also has experience working as a clinician with different age groups doing In-Home Therapy, and as an intern, worked doing cancer research. In her role as Care Support Coordinator, Nachelle does supervisory in-home visits to clients—to support our hard-working caregivers, updates and reviews care plans, and provides ongoing oversight and training for caregivers. She also assists with scheduling and care coordination. Nachelle is family-oriented, and she is known to be friendly and bubbly. Nachelle also enjoys watching movies when she’s not spending time with her family. She enjoys long walks on a nice day. Overall, Nachelle is goal-oriented and a go-getter, and she won’t stop until all of her plans have been met.
Anya Carey, Care Coordinator
As a Care Coordinator, Anya works closely with our caregivers as well as our clients and families to find the best possible matches to ensure a supportive and collaborative environment for the client that promotes mutual respect and trust. Her role includes overseeing schedules and managing any adjustments according to individual needs. Anya graduated from the University of Vermont with a Bachelor of Arts in English as well as a minor in French. Prior to joining FirstLight, she worked as a Case Manager overseeing home care clients. She has also previously worked with children as well as in a customer support role in a customer-focused company. Anya has been dedicated to helping others throughout her working career and is committed to being a part of a team that helps people get the exceptional care that they deserve. Throughout her years of working in the field of home care as a coordinator and overseeing private in-home care, she’s developed an understanding about the uniqueness of individual needs. Anya has learned the importance of communication with all parties involved, building relationships, and prioritizing the well-being of both caregivers and clients. In her personal time, Anya enjoys the creativity in cooking, literature, and film. She loves sharing good company, especially her friends, family & cat, Donnie!
Chlea Bynoe, Care Support Coordinator
In her role as Care Support Coordinator, Chlea does supervisory in-home visits to clients to update and review care plans and provides support to caregivers by providing oversight and training. Prior to joining FirstLight, Chlea worked at a home care agency as an HR Generalist. She then worked for several years at an assisted living facility where she held various positions from CNA, Med-Tech, Lead Resident Care Associate, Lead Receptionist, to Social Ambassador. In that role, Chlea organized events to help bridge the gap between clients and caregivers. Finally, she served as the Care Director where she supervised the care of clients. Chlea loves being there for the clients she works with and enjoys making their day any way she can. In her spare time, she enjoys playing with her joyful daughter and sitting by the water while reading a book.
Rhetta Johnson, Care Coordinator
As a Care Coordinator, Rhetta works closely with our caregivers as well as our clients and families to find the best possible matches to ensure a supportive and collaborative environment for the client that promotes mutual respect and trust. She oversees schedules and manages any adjustments according to individual needs. Rhetta is a dedicated healthcare professional with 19 years of experience in both assisted living and independent living settings. Throughout her career, she has built a strong reputation for compassion, reliability, and an unwavering commitment to supporting residents’ well-being. With extensive hands-on experience, Rhetta has supported older adults with daily living needs, promoted independence, and fostered safe, respectful, and nurturing environments. Her work across multiple care settings has strengthened her communication skills, adaptability, and resident-centered approach. Recognized for her patience, professionalism, and warm demeanor, Rhetta takes pride in building meaningful connections with residents and their families. Her nearly two decades of service reflect not only her expertise, but also her genuine passion for improving the quality of life for those she serves. Outside of work, Rhetta enjoys spending quality time with her family and cherishing the moments that bring balance and joy to her life.
Laura Galluzzo, Staff Development Hiring Associate
Laura supports the recruitment process of finding the most qualified caregivers to join the FirstLight Team. She assists caregivers during the interview and onboarding process. Laura ensures all caregivers remain in compliance and supported with ongoing employee perks. Laura has always been passionate about helping others remain safe and comfortable at home. With over 4 years of Home Care experience, Laura understands what it takes to find the right caregiver and best match for each family. Laura brings this same passion and expertise for finding quality people who are compassionate, trustworthy, caring and kind to FirstLight, helping to find caregivers who have all those qualities, talent, and skills. When Laura is not working at FirstLight, you can find her at the beach with her family or enjoying a long walk.
Jill Kemp, Staff Development Senior Recruiter
For over four years, Jill has been serving as the first voice of the professional caregivers looking to join our team. She has screened hundreds and hundreds of caregivers, using her friendly, upbeat, demeanor to connect with each person over the phone and assess their suitability for our culture of care at FirstLight Home Care.
After graduating from Lesley University with her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Jill began her teaching career in Quincy Public Schools in grades Kindergarten through 2nd Grade. During this time, she strengthened her skills for helping and teaching young children and working very closely with their families in the community. After many years working with children in the school setting, Jill made a career change and began her journey at Encompass Health Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital where she gained a new love for working with adults and the geriatric community. She worked very closely with the nursing staff and patients which helped her learn what it takes to find caregivers who have empathy, kindness, and a passion for helping others. This has allowed her to understand what it takes to find caregivers who have the highest of skills, qualities, and talent for FirstLight. Jill lives with her husband, three children, and two dogs. She enjoys spending time with her family, watching her children’s sporting events and being outdoors.
Rebecca Trinque, Training Coordinator and Weekend On-Call Supervisor
Becky is responsible for developing and implementing our training curriculum for caregivers which among many topics includes Alzheimer’s/Dementia, Hospice, Parkinson’s Disease, Fall Prevention, Communication with Families and other common needs that arise when providing care. Her role is to ensure that all of our caregivers are equipped with the knowledge, skills and support to provide the highest level of care. While Becky serves in this weekday-focused position, she is also our Weekend On-Call Supervisor responsible for scheduling and care coordination-related issues from Friday nights to early Monday mornings, plus holidays. Learn more about our award-winning Caregiver training program, named a “Best of Home Care–Leader in Training”.
Prior to joining FirstLight Home Care, Becky attended Mount Wachusett Community College for Early Childhood Education and worked with children for 15 years as a licensed infant/toddler teacher. She then found her passion working with seniors when she cared for her grandmother who was diagnosed with dementia. She followed this passion and entered the senior care field working for several years as a scheduler in the home care industry, overseeing caregivers in the field and their assignments with clients. She is a Certified Dementia Practitioner® (CDP) in good standing from the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners. Becky is passionate about caring for people. She is a natural nurturer. Becky is currently enrolled full-time at Southern New Hampshire University, studying Psychology with a concentration on mental health, with an expected graduation in Winter 2024.
Kaia, Official Office Pup
She ensures that no crumbs are left on the floor and most importantly, that each team member has a smile on their face when they see her. She is always game for a belly rub. Prior to joining the office team in September 2019, Kaia unfortunately, had a less-than-enjoyable life. But thanks to a rescue agency and our Executive Director & Owner, Wendy Adlerstein, LSW, she has found a renewed enthusiasm–and most certainly, round the clock love. Kaia is currently working towards enrollment in classes to become a therapy dog, and down the road, we see her bringing much warmth and cheer to FirstLight Home Care clients.
One of the Highest Rated Home Care Agencies
When you come to us for care, we know it hasn’t been an easy decision to make. Trust you’re in good hands with FirstLight Home Care of West Suburban Boston (along with our Back Bay office) – One of the highest rated (Over 50, 5-Star Google Reviews) and best home care/senior care agencies serving Boston area communities. Please take a moment to read some of our outstanding reviews.
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.
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