IN-HOME COMPANIONS EASE THE STRUGGLES OF FULL-TIME CAREGIVERS
Did you know 94% of Nassau County seniors 65 or older live at home? Many of them rely on their families for help, meaning that there are thousands of individuals caring for an older adult at home. Being a caregiver is a full-time job. Those who support their elderly family members do so at a cost to their personal lives and health. The simplest things like grocery shopping, running errands, and having some quiet time become inconvenient when the person you care for needs you 24/7. We recognize these difficulties and came up with a solution to support caregivers. Our In-Home Respite Services program provides in-home companions to relieve caregivers and give them some much-needed time off.
Our companions are compassionate people looking to ease the struggles of caregiving and provide interaction with a senior. They are trained to deal with Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementia, so you can go about your business worry-free. Our clients love it when their companions visit to play games, prepare them a small meal, and keep them company.
But the rewards aren’t just for the caregivers and their family members. Our volunteer companions feel their visits are fulfilling.
“It’s one of the most satisfying things that any person can do for anyone else,” says Mary Ann Samson, an In-Home Respite companion.
Hear what the rest of our companions have to say about their experience in the video above.
Interested in helping local seniors? Become a companion for In-Home Respite Services! Contact Christine Weber at (516) 539-0150 x218 or Christine.Weber@eac-network.org, or learn more here.
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Cassandra Huneke was the Development & Marketing Specialist at EAC Network. She graduated from Stony Brook University with a B.A. in English and is currently completing her Master’s Degree in Media Studies at The New School University in New York City.