Some of the most powerful transformations begin with a simple truth:
“I’ve seen it fail—and I know there’s a better way.”
That realization drove Mark and Michele Vollmer to start Queen City Elder Care in Cincinnati 13 years ago. They weren’t following a trend—they were filling a gap they had experienced personally while caring for her mother with Alzheimer’s. What they needed at the time—reliable, specialized, truly accountable in-home dementia care—didn’t exist. So they built it.
“We didn’t start the company to mimic the industry, but to raise the bar on what quality care and accountability should look like,” says Michele Vollmer, CDP, co-founder and partner.
With a combined 60 years of healthcare experience and a successful history as co-founders of Queen City Hospice, the Vollmers entered the elder care space with a more complete approach. Dementia support, they believed, required compassion, structure, oversight, and professionals trained to handle the nuanced, often unpredictable progression of cognitive decline. They understood the clinical complexities, the emotional toll on families, and the glaring gaps in quality home care.
The result of their experience, frustration, and vision is a boutique elder care agency rooted in Cincinnati and laser-focused on delivering not just service, but continuity, compassion, and competence—especially in the challenging landscape of dementia care.
A patient may improve one week and decline the next, requiring deep understanding and specialized care, not just basic support. To address this, the Vollmers— both Certified Dementia Practitioners (CDPs)—bring professional expertise as well as personal experience to every case. They built the organization around this specialty, with a team that includes dementia-certified trainers and a nationally certified activities director. Caregivers receive targeted training to navigate the ups and downs of dementia and design client activities that are both engaging and cognitively enriching.
If there is an issue that the family has identified, Sallie addresses it immediately and that level of responsiveness sets QCEC apart from other providers
Rejecting the franchise model from day one, Queen City Elder Care built its own path—one that prioritized control, flexibility, and reinvestment into care rather than paying out franchise fees. The company reinvested directly into its staff and oversight systems. While most franchise agencies are driven by volume and standardized models, this business remains deeply personalized and owner-involved, with a hands-on approach to everything from caregiver hiring to quality control.
That reinvestment is evident throughout the company— especially in the team the Vollmers have built and nurtured over the years. At the heart of that team is Sallie Funk, CDP, CADDCT, the company’s Director of Client Services. Sallie is not only a Certified Dementia Practitioner—she is also a Certified Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Trainer (CADDCT), an important distinction that underscores her depth of knowledge and her role in shaping the expertise of others. With over 25 years in the elder care space and more than a decade at Queen City Elder Care, Sallie plays a central role in maintaining the company’s high standards.
Sallie’s job is wide-ranging and hands-on. She interviews, hires, trains, and manages the caregivers. She develops care plans and serves as the point of contact for every family. She also oversees quality checks and handles every curveball that comes with providing care in the unpredictable world of cognitive decline. Perhaps most importantly, she walks every caregiver into their first visit with each client—personally introducing them, reviewing expectations, and explaining the client’s preferences.
“I genuinely love helping others,” says Sallie Funk. “This isn’t just a job. It’s a mission. And when I see our clients thrive, even just a little, it reminds me why we do what we do.”
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We chose to be the best at the hardest thing. Dementia care isn’t intuitive. You can’t guess your way through it
That level of continuity and responsiveness sets Queen City Elder Care apart. While many agencies take a transactional approach to staffing—broadcasting shift openings to whichever caregiver responds first—Queen City Elder Care takes a different route. Caregivers are carefully matched to clients, and Sallie ensures they are fully oriented before the first shift begins. There’s no knock at the door from a stranger, no confusion about duties, and no question about accountability.
“Sallie’s not just a manager—she’s the main point of contact for clients and their family members,” Mark says. “If there’s an issue the family identifies, Sallie addresses it immediately, and that level of responsiveness sets QCEC apart from other providers.”
The results of this deep commitment to quality and personalization speak for themselves. Queen City Elder Care has maintained the highest possible rating on Caring.com for nine consecutive years. With more than 95 five-star reviews, the difference in feedback is striking.
That level of consistency is no accident. The company has an unusually high caregiver retention rate, with many staff members staying five years or more—an extraordinary feat in a field plagued by turnover. The stability pays dividends not only in care quality but also in the relationships built between staff, clients, and families.
“We didn’t start the company to mimic the industry, but to raise the bar on what quality care and accountability should look like”
The Vollmers and their team know that dementia does not follow a straight line. Clients may improve one week and struggle the next. They may suddenly lose a skill they had yesterday or display confusion that disappears hours later. The disease process is long and unpredictable, demanding patience and expertise in equal measure.
“We chose to be the best at the hardest thing,” Michele says. “Dementia care isn’t intuitive. You can’t guess your way through it.”
Providing Person-Centered Care
Kim Weber, ADC, CDP, Supervisor and nationally certified activities director, began working with the Vollmers in 2008 and brings with her nearly four decades of experience in geriatrics. Kim was the first team member to become a Certified Dementia Practitioner, and her unique background in activity planning informs much of the company’s engagement programming.
“I’ve always loved helping others, and providing person-centered care right where people want to be—in their homes—means everything to me,” Kim says.
Kim ensures that clients’ lives are not only safe and supported but also filled with purpose and joy. She designs activities tailored to each client’s interests and cognitive abilities, helping them retain dignity and a sense of normalcy amid the changes dementia brings. Her care plans often include music, art, sensory engagement, and movement—tools that go far beyond what typical non-medical home care provides.
Queen City Elder Care also provides training to caregivers for post-acute care to ensure clients remain safe and stable after discharge—reducing the risk of rehospitalization. Parkinson’s disease is another area of specialized training available to caregivers. While specialization is important, Queen City Elder Care can provide services for any condition or debility requiring support, helping clients remain in their preferred setting.
Company : Queen City Elder Care
ManagementMark Vollmer, MBA, CDP, Co-Founder and Partner, Michele Vollmer, CDP, Co-Founder and Partner
