From corporate executive to compassionate caregiver

Nicola Lopez, a former banker and corporate executive, has turned her personal passion for caregiving into a thriving business. In September 2023, she founded Caring Haven in Antioch, California, with the mission to provide “compassionate, high-quality care for seniors, ensuring they live with dignity, comfort, and respect”.

Originally from St Elizabeth in Jamaica, Lopez’s entrepreneurial venture is supported by her extensive career experience. Before starting Caring Haven, she had a successful career in both Jamaica and the United States, which included roles in advertising at the Daily Gleaner, banking, and corporate training. She worked at major financial institutions such as Bank of America, Chase, and US Bank, and most recently served as a program manager at the Federal Reserve. Reflecting on her transition from the corporate world to caregiving, Lopez says, “My passion for this work runs deep. I started this agency because I saw a critical need for compassionate, trustworthy senior care... . I’m driven by a desire to make a real impact in the lives of seniors and their families.”

For Lopez, a mother of two, the decision to start Caring Haven was deeply personal, influenced by her experience caring for her grandmother, Miss Beryl, who still lives in Balaclava in St Elizabeth.

“Caring for my grandmother opened my eyes to how hard it was to find reliable, well-trained caregivers I could trust,” she explains.

Despite living thousands of miles away, Lopez maintains a strong presence in her grandmother’s care.

“I make daily calls to her, coach and train her live-in caregiver, and help my mom and sister with paying for her care and sending supplies and medication when needed. I visit twice per year, more often if she’s unwell and needs to see family.”

This hands-on approach to her grandmother’s care laid the foundation for the kind of compassionate, dependable service Lopez wanted to offer through her business.

The challenge of finding dependable care, coupled with her corporate experience where she observed seniors being “undervalued and dismissed”, motivated her to create a business focused on treating the elderly with the respect they deserve.

“I started Caring Haven to change that – to provide dependable, compassionate care, with trained caregivers who treat seniors with the dignity and respect they deserve, something I found missing both in caregiving and in the corporate world,” Lopez says.

Caring Haven has already made an impact within its first year of operation. The community’s response has been overwhelmingly positive, with Lopez noting that they have built strong relationships with families and local organisations.

“We are credentialled with the Veteran’s Administration (VA) and Medi-Cal, accredited by the Better Business Bureau, and have been rated the Best Senior Care Agency in the Bay Area,” Lopez proudly shares. Additionally, the business has been recognised as the best in one of the cities it serves, Oakley, and has been featured in the local press, including the California Gazette.

Despite these successes, Lopez acknowledges that the journey hasn’t been without challenges.

“Hiring and retaining skilled caregivers in a competitive market, especially against larger chains, has been tough,” she admits. However, the agency distinguishes itself by focusing on personalised, compassionate care, which resonates with families looking for more than just basic services. Self-funding the business has also required careful financial management, but Lopez remains optimistic. “By staying proactive and adaptable, we’re committed to overcoming these challenges and providing the best care possible.”

Caring Haven has big plans for the future. An upcoming partnership with major healthcare companies will allow the business to expand its services and reach even more seniors in need. For Lopez, the goal remains clear.

“We’re excited about the growth and the opportunity to make a lasting difference in the community.”