Last week gave us the opportunity to come together with loved ones to give thanks and reflect on the blessing of family and those that impact our lives. We wanted to take the opportunity to thank a special group of people that are an important part of our community, caregivers.
At CESI, we have the privilege of meeting the family caregivers of our participants and witnessing their tireless devotion to the care of their loved ones.
Last year, we met Nancy, when her husband first started attending Cooperative Elder Services (CESI). She had heard about CESI through friends and when she visited the site and had a chance to speak with a service coordinator, she knew it was the right place for her husband. She had retired to take care of her husband but didn’t feel safe leaving him at home alone. She knew she needed some help and didn’t want to burden family members.
“I’m on a first name basis with the staff and it’s obvious that they are dedicated to the care of my husband, and all of the participants. They always make sure to tell me about an activity he enjoyed or some anecdote from the day.”
Nancy is confident that her husband is safe and cared for at CESI and says the program has allowed her to have more time to herself. It has also given her more patience when she is caring for her husband at home.
Her advice for caregivers is to have patience, a sense of humor, and don’t be afraid to ask for help and support.
We thank Nancy and all of our CESI caregivers. Make sure you thank your family caregivers and if you are thinking about additional support, contact us for more information at 781-863-1166 ext. 104 or email us at outreach@elderdayservices.org.
