About Us

The founder of Advocates for the Independent, Kim Tweedel, knows what it's like to be in desperate need of compassionate, skilled senior care at home for a loved one.

Her grandmother was placed in a nursing home in 2008, and the conditions were less than ideal. As a respiratory therapist, she decided to leave her career behind to provide the senior care her grandmother needed and deserved.

In 2010, Advocates for the Independent was born, so that others would have access to the best possible in home care services in Houston and the surrounding areas and the chance to continue living in the comfort of home.

Advocates for the Independent Staff team photo

If you're facing the daunting task of selecting the right care solution for someone you love, we want you to know you're not alone.

As one of the top-rated agencies providing in home care services in Houston, TX and the surrounding areas, we’re here to assist you every step of the way with helpful resources, educational information, and answers to all of your questions.

Accredited by the Better Business Bureau, we are also proud recipients of the BBB’s Awards for Excellence designation.

Leadership

Kim Tweedel

Kim Tweedel, Founder/Owner

Kim Tweedel, founder and owner, has a history of caring for older adults that goes back to her childhood. With her love for the elderly, she enjoyed spending time in the nursing home with her aunt, visiting relatives and residents who had no other visitors. As an adult, she provided senior care for both of her grandmothers in their final years.

With a degree in respiratory therapy from Lamar University and a former career as a respiratory therapist, along with 20 years of sales experience in the molecular biology and cell culture field, she opened the doors to Advocates for the Independent in 2010, fulfilling her natural inclination to care for seniors. She truly believes that if a senior wants to age in place in the home he or she has spent a lifetime building, then that option should be available. With Advocates for the Independent, this dream has become a reality.

Kim is deeply involved in the local community, helping the Chamber of Commerce promote local businesses, and also volunteers time to conservation groups to help prevent overdevelopment of our beautiful, natural lands. In her spare time, she loves cooking, gardening, spending time at the beach, and is an avid hunter.

Denise Johnson

Denise Johnson, Scheduler

Denise Johnson has served as Scheduler for Advocates for the Independent for nearly two decades, and loves what she does, especially going out to meet clients and spend time with them. Denise handles scheduling for our clients and skills training for our caregivers. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and grandchildren, as well as gospel music and reading devotionals.

Mary Allen

Mary Allen, Office Assistant / Caregiver

Mary Allen serves as our office assistant as well as a caregiver. She was born and raised in Orange, TX, moved to Baytown, TX in 2011. She has two beautiful kids, Christyan and Saige, and enjoys spending time with loved ones and having a good time. She has been part of the Advocates for the Independent team since 2015, and truly enjoys working in the health care field. Putting smiles on our clients’ faces and making a difference in their everyday living is what she loves the most.

Why You Can Feel Secure With Our Carefully Chosen Care Team

Finding just the right caregiver for a senior you love can be challenging. You want someone with a kind and caring heart, who is skilled in meeting a variety of care needs, and who is compatible, for a comfortable bond of friendship.

At Advocates for the Independent, offering in home care services in Houston and the surrounding areas, we take time to thoroughly interview, screen, and train our care staff. Families have the peace of mind in knowing the caregiver their loved one is paired with will be fully equipped to meet their needs, and also carefully matched based on personality type, likes/dislikes, and more.

We run extensive criminal background and reference checks on all of our staff members.

Because we know how important it is to be matched with a caregiver who is compassionate and skilled, we consistently ask ourselves this question: “Would we want this person taking care of our loved ones at home?” Only those who meet our strict criteria become part of the Advocates for the Independent family.

Our training process begins with a live skills evaluation for each caregiver, followed by appropriate training based on each person’s particular strengths and opportunities for growth. We then provide ongoing training to ensure skills stay sharp and up to date at all times.

Contact Advocates for the Independent, experts in home care services in Houston and surrounding areas, to learn more about how we can help someone you love live life to the fullest.

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