26 | MARCH 3 • 2022
OUR COMMUNITY
B
rooke wanted to learn how to make
change so that she could complete
purchases on her own when at a
store checkout, a task most of us take for
granted. Brooke is one of the many people
JARC serves who excitedly anticipate the
moment they will complete new tasks suc-
cessfully. With practice, time and the help
of her JARC caregiver Katrina Smith, that
desire recently became a reality for Brooke.
This is just one of the many heartwarm-
ing stories that can be told of the incredibly
compassionate, kind and patient caregivers
that make up the JARC direct caregiver
staff.
A physically and emotionally taxing
job, it takes an especially devoted and
soft-hearted person to choose this pro-
fession. The recruiting team at JARC is
trained in identifying the best candidates
to ensure that only the kindest and gentlest
caregivers are hired to support persons with
developmental disabilities living in their 22
Oakland County group homes. As part of
National Caregivers Day, on Feb. 18, JARC
highlighted two of its many exceptional
caregivers.
The stories take place in the Gilbert
Home, which houses four ladies served by
JARC and three highly trained staff mem-
bers who devote their time and attention to
helping them live their best lives.
A caregiver for nearly 24 years and the
manager of the Gilbert Home, Katrina says
that providing care for JARC persons served
fulfills her desire to help others and allows
her to have a true impact on their lives. She
says, “I love seeing their smiles when I help
them accomplish something they never
thought they could.
”
While Brooke was learning to make
change, Katrina worked to bolster her
confidence by reassuring her that it’s okay
to take time and count on your fingers to
figure out the math. Brooke is so proud of
herself and exclaims her joy to Katrina each
time she makes change successfully.
Another JARC direct care staff member,
Ellen Fonseca-Hilliard, not only works in
the Gilbert Home but she also lives in the
attached suite. While Ellen has her own
entrance and living space, she enjoys check-
ing on the ladies to see how they are doing,
even when she’s not officially on the clock.
Like so many of us, one of the biggest
challenges of the pandemic for the persons
JARC serves has been isolation. When
the pandemic began and lockdowns were
mandated by the state of Michigan in group
homes, the relationships between caregiv-
ers and the people they serve became even
more important, as did maintaining a posi-
tive attitude.
Katrina’s philosophy is that “Life is too
short to try to fast-forward. The best way to
live is one minute at a time.
”
Katrina worked hard to identify plenty of
activities for the ladies to keep occupied and
feel a sense of fulfillment while sheltering
in place.
“Everyone deserves to be treated well,
”
Ellen says, “No matter the circumstances,
everyone deserves that.
”
Having gone through her own personal
challenges lately, Ellen especially appreciates
the ladies’ company. “They don’t know how
much they have actually helped me. It’s a
lot. More than they know.
“Bad thoughts don’t help anyone,
” added
Ellen. “There’s a silver lining to everything,
you just need to find it.
” This philosophy
has served Ellen well in her own life and, in
turn, improved the outlook of the people
she serves, particularly during the state’s
shelter-in-place order.
JARC CEO Shaindle Braunstein says,
“Our direct care workers put their heart and
soul into caring for others. The relation-
ships between JARC’s direct care staff and
the people we serve are vital to maintaining
their wellbeing and improving the likeli-
hood of successful outcomes with learning
new tasks.
”
All Gilbert Home caregivers were recent-
ly recognized by JARC with the Woll Staff
Recognition Award. Nominations for
this quarterly award are submitted by the
families of the people JARC serves and are
awarded to those caregivers for provid-
ing exceptional care for their loved ones.
Awardees are given a well-deserved cash
prize, funded by the Woll Family Fund
for Staff Education, Development and
Appreciation.
“We work hard to make sure things run
smoothly for the ladies, and I do my best to
help them live their best lives. Winning this
award shows me that our work is not over-
looked,
” Katrina says.
JARC direct care workers offer vital help and
hope for people with developmental disabilities.
Compassionate
Caregivers
PAT BASKIN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
COURTESY OF JARC
Ellen Fonseca-
Hilliard and
Abbey
Katrina
Smith and
Brooke