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

