Meet Our Team
We believe every family in the area deserves tailor made in-home senior care with a compassionate touch. That's why we established Home Instead® of Port Coquitlam, BC.
Mandi Strickland, Director of Care & Support Services
Mandi brings heart, warmth, and almost 20 years of experience in the senior care industry to her role at Home Instead, with more than seven of those years spent growing, leading, and supporting the Home Instead care community. Her work is deeply rooted in a genuine passion and a belief that aging should be filled with dignity, connection, and purpose.
With a background in senior therapeutic recreation, care coordination, and caregiver support, Mandi understands care from every angle. She has a natural ability to connect with people in ways that feel safe, steady, and deeply respectful, especially during times of change or vulnerability. Families often describe her as calming, reassuring, and deeply present, while caregivers know her as a steady source of guidance and encouragement.
Mandi believes that care is never just about tasks. It is about trust, safety, and meaningful human connection. She is passionate about creating an environment where seniors feel seen and respected, families feel supported, and caregivers feel confident, valued, and never alone in their work.
At the heart of everything Mandi does is a commitment to bringing humanity back into health care. She is proud to walk alongside clients, families, and caregivers, helping create care that feels personal, respectful, and full of heart.
Angela Croteau, Service Coordinator
Angela is a highly respected and long-standing member of the Home Instead team, with over five years of experience supporting both seniors and caregivers with skill, compassion, and steady leadership. She brings a deep understanding of cognitive challenges and dementia care, along with a rare ability to meet people exactly where they are.
As the first point of contact for our caregivers, Angela plays a vital role in supporting our care team day to day. She is often the calm voice on the other end of the phone, helping caregivers problem-solve in real time, navigate complex situations, and feel confident and supported in their work. Her guidance is grounded in experience, empathy, and a strong understanding of what quality care truly looks like in the home.
Angela excels in dementia and cognition-focused care, approaching every interaction with patience, respect, and thoughtful presence. She understands that meaningful care starts with connection, and she consistently creates environments where clients feel safe, valued, and understood.
Families and caregivers alike trust Angela for her clarity, warmth, and reliability. She communicates with honesty and care, builds strong relationships, and ensures that everyone involved feels heard and supported. Her work reflects the heart of Home Instead’s mission: care that is personal, dignified, and deeply human.
We are incredibly proud to have Angela as a leader, mentor, and advocate within our care community.
Christina Wendt, Client Care Advisor
Christina is a dedicated Client Care Advisor and an important part of the Home Instead care team. With over 20 years of experience in health care and more than a year with Home Instead, she brings depth, compassion, and a strong advocacy lens to every client relationship.
As the primary point of contact for client wellness and advocacy, Christina works closely with clients, families, and caregivers to ensure care remains thoughtful, responsive, and centered on the individual. She is known for her attentiveness, clear communication, and her ability to speak up when something needs attention or adjustment.
Christina’s background in facility-based care shaped her strong belief in what care should be. While that experience helped built her hands-on experience, it is one-to-one home care that aligned with her heart. At Home Instead, Christina values the ability to slow down, build real relationships, and support care that is personal, dignified, intentional, and genuinely impactful.
Families trust Christina for her steady presence and commitment to their loved one’s well-being. She approaches every situation with care, respect, and a deep desire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those she serves.
Carmen Smith, Community Relations Representative
As the Community Relations Representative for Home Instead, Carmen is deeply committed to fostering connection and enhancing the lives of our aging population within the communities we serve. Carmen's passion lies in building meaningful relationships that empower seniors and their families, ensuring they receive the support and resources they need to thrive. Carmen prioritizes and fosters our referral partner relationships, recognizing the vital role they play in connecting seniors with services and support. By collaborating with local organizations, advocating for senior rights, and promoting awareness of the unique challenges faced by older adults, Carmen strives to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and cared for. Her role not only allows her to engage with the community but also to make a tangible difference in the lives of those we are lucky enough to be in service to.
Assurity® Certified, Home Care You Can Trust
Inviting care into any home is an act of trust. It means allowing someone past the threshold of an aging adults most personal space. That decision should always be supported by clear standards, strong oversight, and real accountability.
Assurity® Certification, through the BC Care Providers Association, is a voluntary accreditation that holds private home care agencies to established provincial standards for safety, employee screening, training, and quality of delivered care. While this certification is not required to operate in British Columbia, we believe it should be.
Private home care remains largely unregulated, allowing agencies to open without consistent expectations or external review. In an industry serving seniors and vulnerable adults, that gap matters. Standards, screenings, and accountability should be in place before anyone is entrusted with care inside a private home.
The Assurity® program provides that oversight through an independent review of an agency’s care model, including:
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Caregiver screening, onboarding, and ongoing training
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Health and safety practices
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Care planning, documentation, and supervision
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Policies, leadership, and continuous improvement
Assurity® Certification confirms that an agency meets, and often exceeds, the benchmarks for quality home care in British Columbia. It represents a commitment to professionalism, transparency, and the protection of those receiving care.
Families are encouraged to ask an important question before hiring any private home care service:
“Are you Assurity® Certified?”
Because care at home should never be casual. It should be held to a standard.
Proudly Serving Aging Adults & Their Families
Our Promise
- Do what we say we’re going to do – each and every time
- Solve care problems using compassionate, person-centered solutions
- Engage in thoughtful relationships with the families we serve
- Give back to our community
Our Team
Your Home Instead team in Port Coquitlam, BC possesses a heartfelt desire to work with seniors and those in need within the community. It is our ultimate goal to forge extraordinary relationships between our clients and their Care Professionals.
When you are ready for help, our caring staff is on call to quickly answer your questions and accommodate your senior services needs.