From Service to Seniors: How Two Veterans Are Charting a New Course for Elder Care in Boston

GREATER BOSTON, Mass. – June 09, 2026 – For families across Greater Boston, the conversation about a loved one’s transition into senior living is often a daunting maze of financial stress, clinical complexities, and emotional turmoil. Now, two local veterans are bringing their unique blend of military discipline and compassionate advocacy to help navigate that landscape, launching a new service designed to be a lifeline for families in crisis.

Jersouk Touy and Jessie Marasco, both disabled veterans, have officially launched Trua of Greater Boston. Their venture is a senior living placement and guidance service that offers personalized, no-cost support to families exploring independent living, assisted living, and memory care. But for the founders, this is more than a business—it's a mission born from personal experience and a lifetime of service.

A Market of High Costs and Heartbreak

The need for such a service in the Boston area is stark. The region's senior population is growing, but the cost of care is escalating even faster. With average starting rates for senior care providers hitting $22.25 per hour and monthly rents for assisted living averaging $7,550—well above the national average—families are under immense financial pressure. This high-stakes environment is crowded with options, from large corporate facilities to smaller homes, each with different specialties and price points, creating a paralyzing paradox of choice.

While established advisory services like Oasis Senior Advisors and Senior Care Authority operate in the area, Touy and Marasco are betting that their deeply personal, clinically informed approach can set a new standard. Their business model, common in the industry but often misunderstood by the public, is a key part of their value proposition. Trua’s services are provided at no cost to families because the company is compensated by the senior living communities upon a successful placement. This model removes a critical financial barrier for clients, allowing them to access expert guidance without adding to their financial burden.

"Families are often expected to make incredibly emotional and complex decisions with very little guidance," said Touy, reflecting on the challenging conversations surrounding her own grandmother's care. "Looking back, I truly believe having a service like Trua would have helped my family feel more supported, informed, and less alone during that process."

From Military Service to Community Advocacy

The ethos of Trua of Greater Boston is forged in the personal and professional histories of its founders. Jersouk Touy, a disabled veteran of the U.S. Air Force and National Guard, has built a 22-year career centered on leadership and advocacy. Her experience as a Military Police Officer and a longtime victims advocate, where she ran a Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program, has given her a profound understanding of how to support individuals through crisis and major life transitions.

Jessie Marasco, a retired U.S. Air Force Veteran, brings over two decades of hands-on medical and operational experience. Her career began in a nursing home before she transitioned to the Air Force medical field, giving her a ground-level view of the senior care industry and the clinical needs of aging populations. Like Touy, her mission is fueled by her own family's journey navigating senior living for her grandmother, which gave her a close understanding of how the right fit can protect dignity and improve safety.

"Caring means treating every senior like they were my own family member," Marasco stated. "It means truly listening, being honest about what a community can and cannot provide, and helping families find a safe, dignified fit where their loved one can genuinely thrive."

This shared background in military service instills a structured, mission-oriented approach, while their personal encounters with the system fuel a deep-seated empathy. Their existing community roots—Touy serves as a Corporator at Emerson Health and on the board for the Domestic Violence Services Network (DVSN), and both volunteer at Emerson—further anchor their work in the local fabric of Greater Boston.

An Ethical Framework for a Complex Choice

Beyond simply matching a senior with a facility, the founders of Trua of Greater Boston are championing an ethical framework that prioritizes people over placements. They emphasize a relationship-first approach, focusing on long-term fit, advocacy, and education rather than transactional referrals.

This is where Marasco’s clinical expertise becomes a key differentiator. The firm’s process is described as "clinically informed," leveraging her medical background to conduct a more thorough assessment of a senior's needs. This detail-oriented approach aims to ensure that a placement is not just suitable for today, but sustainable for the future, minimizing the trauma and expense of repeat moves.

"This is not just about placements for us," Marasco explained. "It's about helping families feel supported during one of the most vulnerable and emotional transitions they may ever experience."

Their work extends beyond the family to building a network of trust within the local healthcare system. By partnering with hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, social workers, and veteran organizations, they aim to become an integrated part of the care continuum. For a hospital discharge planner, having a trusted, veteran-led resource that understands both the clinical and emotional dimensions of senior care can be invaluable for ensuring positive patient outcomes post-discharge.

As they expand their presence, Touy and Marasco plan to continue strengthening these partnerships, particularly with veteran services, to address the specific needs of the local veteran community. Their unique position as fellow veterans offers an immediate layer of trust and understanding. With their mantra, "When in doubt, give us a shout," they are sending a clear message to the community: you are no longer alone in this.