Hartford Home Care Assistance Staff

Kathy is the owner of HCA Hartford. She has worked in insurance and IT project management for many years but has always been passionate about helping people, especially in Connecticut, where she has lived most of her life. Kathy has volunteered in her community and at her church, but more importantly has spent 10 years overseeing her mother’s care while she was living with dementia. According to her, she sometimes found it frustrating navigating the various challenges of dementia and making decisions on her mother’s behalf due to her condition. Even though she felt honored to be her advocate, she also realized she wouldn’t be able to provide the high-quality care her mother needed and deserved due to caregiver burnout. Her mother passed away a few years ago, and now she has dedicated her career to helping others by providing the best possible care for their loved ones.

At Home Care Assistance, our mission is to change the way the world ages by helping our clients live meaningful and purposeful lives in their own home environment. Our holistic Balanced Care Method™, which is based on the scientifically studied lifestyle choices of the healthiest, longest living population on Earth, emphasizes following a nutritious diet, getting regular physical and mental exercise, and focusing on a purposeful and calm lifestyle.

Welcome! My name is Karen DiCenso and I am the Client Care Manager at Home Care Assistance. I have an extensive background in healthcare, working as Director of Financial Services for a nursing home and as an auditor of nursing homes.

My true happiness in life comes from knowing the people I care about are happy as well. I have a wonderful husband and two daughters who I truly adore. When I was a child, my grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and my family made the decision to move her out of her home. I was saddened by this decision. My grandmother’s home was her happiness and where she had wonderful memories.

Getting a call from a client who wants to share a story or thought with me puts a smile on my face. When a client asks me to come over for some “amazing” tea, I know I am doing something special. On Sunday morning I know who will be calling to tell me about his or her weekend. I know which client will answer the phone with “No, I am not having a party” and which client will try to convince me that donuts are “health food.” I look forward to seeing the clients who smile at me with their eyes when I walk into the room or those who spray me with perfume so we can “smell the same.”

I have a special connection with so many clients because I love what I do. They bring something special to my life and teach me so much. Each client has individual needs. Making sure all of our clients have everything they need to be safe, happy, comfortable, secure, and well taken care of at home is extremely important to me.

Patricia Young is our new Employee Care Manager and she is ecstatic about bringing her high energy and love for people to our team! Patricia has a diverse professional background ranging from office administration, management within the Fred Astaire Dance Studios of New England, owning a tanning salon and delivering dialysis treatments as a Patient Care Technician.

Patricia credits her training within the Fred Astaire Dance Studios for teaching her the importance of always extending high quality customer service as well as above average staff support. After her years with FADS, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from CCSU and owning a tanning salon, she realized the missing piece was healthcare.

Patricia has a vibrant passion for encouraging others and motivating them to live life to the fullest and to be the best possible version of themselves they can be! Having overcome a lot in her life, she tries to always move forward and embrace challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Currently she is enrolled in a CNA course and has completed 3 prerequisites to possibly pursue a future nursing degree.