Meet Our Team

​Shannon Carithers and his wife Melody are the owners of Home Instead Senior Care of Charleston. Shannon is a Registered Nurse and previously worked at the Medical University of South Carolina. Melody's background includes marketing and sales in senior communities and the medical industry. He and his wife are South Carolina natives, and together they have 40 years combined healthcare experience. Shannon is responsible for the day to day operations of the business. He works closely with both clients and Caregivers to ensure the best care.

Bianca grew up on Hilton Head Island but left the east coast to live in Fort Worth, Texas where she met her husband, Cody Wayne. They moved to Mount Pleasant in 2019 with their two dogs. Bianca and Cody spend their weekends golfing, exploring the low-country and cooking together. Bianca loves working for Home Instead because she truly believes we honor God in all that we do.

Laura grew up as a military child and later became a military wife. After living in Charleston for 10 years, her and her family decided to permanently call our beautiful city “home.” Laura thoroughly enjoys the Senior citizen community. She feels there is no better way to serve their needs and help improve their quality of life than to be on the “front lines” with them. As our Registered Nurse, Laura works with other care team members to build supportive relationships with our clients, families and caregivers. She addresses concerns of clients, families, and caregivers and provides solutions along with additional community resources. She has a background in caregiving and hospice work. Laura has taken several classes on Dementia to increase her knowledge on this subject. In Laura’s free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and volunteering to facilitate her favorite game, BINGO, at local assisted living facilities.

After retiring from the school system where she worked for over 33 years, Donna sat at home for seven months and knew she had more to offer. She wanted to embark on something new, different and rewarding. That's when she found Home Instead Senior Care. As the Inquiry Specialist, Donna educates our families on the many facets of home care. Donna is warm and compassionate, so it's no wonder that families express time and time again how at ease they feel when speaking with her. In her spare time, Donna loves working out and spending time with her family and fur baby.

Jessica Merlo was born in Guam. Growing up, she traveled the world with her father who served as a airman for the United Air Force. In 2017, Jessica moved to Georgetown, SC and began working as a Caregiver for the Murrells Inlet Home Instead office. She loved her job as a Caregiver so much, that she asked to join our team when she relocated to Summerville, SC a year later. Jessica excelled as a Caregiver and was quickly promoted to Scheduling Coordinator in 2019. As a Scheduling Coordinator, Jessica ensures our clients are matched with exceptional caregivers. Her patience and caring demeanor are traits that allow clients to feel safe and comfortable. In her free time, Jessica enjoys going to the gym, playing video games and spending time with her boyfriend and friends.

Alaina was raised all over the world as her parents were both in the Air Force. Anytime that her mother was stationed somewhere her and her siblings could not go, she lived with her grandmother in Charleston. After graduation, she moved from Georgia back to Charleston where she worked in the hospitality field for 23 years. Alaina decided to make a change in her career and came to Home Instead of Charleston as our Human Resources Officer managing billing, payroll, long care insurance claims, retention and assisting with recruitment. Alaina is also a Head Cheerleading Coach for a local high school. In her free time, Alaina loves to travel and spend time with her husband Cleve, daughters Jada, Jordan, Jurnee and stepson Trindon.

Kelsey was born in New Jersey, and lived there until she moved to Summerville, SC in 2008 where she currently resides. She studied Education and Psychology at University of South Carolina and is a Gamecock fan.

She has always had a passion for helping others, whether on a football field during sports medicine classes in high school, in a classroom setting in college, in a treatment room with massage therapy, or at Home Instead with seniors and the community. She's always wanted to make a difference in other people's lives.

In her free time, she enjoys playing with her puppy, attending concerts and festivals, spending time with family, and traveling.

She is a graduate of Augusta University and has been with Home Instead for 9 years! She has teenage boy /girl twins and is an avid Georgia Bulldog Fan.

Melinda loves working with her referral sources and helping them find a solution to benefit their patients and residence.

Christina is a proud Charleston native, born and raised in the charming city of Charleston, SC. Christina pursued her passion for health and wellness by earning a bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science from Coastal Carolina University. With several years of experience in the healthcare field, Christina is dedicated to making a positive impact, especially for seniors, reflecting her big heart and unwavering dedication to improving the lives of those around her. Outside of her professional life, Christina is embarking on a new adventure with her fiancé, managing their first Airbnb property. This venture combines her love for hospitality with her knack for creating welcoming spaces.

Victoria was born and raised in Charleston, SC. She worked in home care as a CNA for over five years, helping clients all over the Lowcountry. After switching careers, she lived in Spartanburg, SC, for a few years, where she met her husband. After moving back to Charleston, Victoria took on a management role before feeling the call to return to home care. She joined the Home Instead team as the Director of Caregiver Experience. In this role, Victoria loves bringing Caregivers onto the team and working with them to ensure that they provide the best quality care to clients while also growing and achieving their goals. In her spare time, Victoria enjoys spending time with her husband and family.