March is National Social Work Month!
In celebration, the Howie’s House would like to thank and recognize some of the local social workers who help donor families and transplant patients around Gift of Life’s region! Every Saturday, check back and read about a new social worker in the local community. Also be sure to be on the lookout for their transplant caregiver tips throughout the month via the Howie’s House social media!
LARA MORETTI has been a social worker at Gift of Life Donor Program since 2003. She’s worked in a variety of social work fields, from working with adolescents, to hospital/ transplant social work, to employment assistance, and even spent some time working for an internet advertising company in the 90’s! She’s no stranger to transplant social work because her first field placement in graduate school was with heart failure/heart transplant patients!
Why did you decide to go into Social Work?
I knew I wanted to go into some kind of counseling and helping profession (my mother was a guidance counselor) but I knew I wasn’t interested in becoming a full time therapist. Social work seemed like a good way to combine my helping and therapeutic skills while using other skills in a variety of setting. I also was always interested in the medical field and started as a hospital social worker. The job at Gift of Life came at a time when I was looking to try something different in social work.
What is your favorite aspect of your job?
I love when a donor family tells me that talking to me has helped them. So much of what I do is grief education for these families. They may have experienced loss before but this sudden, unexpected loss has them reacting in such a different way, that often they feel like they aren’t grieving normally. Most of them are experiencing normal grief; they just don’t know it. Being able to educate them and give them permission to grieve the way they are grieving is hugely rewarding.
What is your favorite way to relieve stress?
Losing myself in a good book or “This American Life” podcasts.
“The Howie’s House is a very special place for everyone. Not just the guests, but the volunteers too.”
Most donor families, while they may correspond with their loved one’s recipients, don’t often get the opportunity to meet the recipients in person. When a donor family member does have the opportunity to meet a transplant recipient, even if the gift did not come from their own loved one, these interactions can be very meaningful and of much comfort to them. This is the feeling members of Hearts of Gold get when they come to the Howie’s House. Hearts of Gold is a donor family support volunteer group run through Gift of Life Donor Program, and its members meet regularly at Gift of Life Howie’s House to participate in the Home Cook Heroes program, where they can interact with transplant recipients and families.
Diane Milbourne, Hearts of Gold team leader, explains, “Being at the Howie’s House gives us an opportunity to talk to transplant recipients and those who are waiting for a life-saving transplant. It is probably the first time that potential transplant recipients and their families come into direct contact with donor families. It is important for both of these groups to interact, to hear each other’s stories. We are happy to share the story of our loved one and reassure people that the gifts they are receiving are done so because our loved ones wanted to give the greatest gift of all, the gift of life.”
Having served their first meal just a few months after the Howie’s House opened in July 2011, Hearts of Gold has since returned three times every year to prepare dinner or brunch for transplant families. “We remember when we first started cooking, their weren’t too many guests in the House, now there is always a full House. The Howie’s House is truly a blessing for each family who is coming to Philadelphia for their medical needs.”
Hearts of Gold aims to serve meals that bring comfort to the guests staying at the House. Because all of the members of this team have had loved ones in the hospital, they relate to the stress and anxiety that caregivers can feel on a daily basis. The team explains, “At that most stressful time of our lives, we were not interested in eating, but knew it was necessary. We know it is the same for the guests staying at the Howie’s House after a long day at the hospital. Comfort foods are just one small way for our group to help them.”
From chicken pot pies to casseroles and soup, the group always tries to make a different comfort food. However, nothing can top the popularity of their trademark meal, “Breakfast for Dinner.” Serving the guests eggs, bacon, sausage and home fries, Hearts of Gold ties it all together by making their special heart-shaped pancakes!
The group volunteers at the Howie’s House to remember, honor and celebrate their loved ones. The members find healing through the Home Cook Heroes program and other opportunities with Gift of Life Donor Program. “The Gift of Life organization has been there for each donor family at our worst possible time. Physical activities, like cooking together as a group, releases the endorphins in our brains, which makes us look at life in a more positive way,” explains one of the Hearts of Gold members.
Interested in getting experiencing the benefits of the Home Cook Heroes program for yourself? Gather your friends, family or coworkers together and participate in this heart-warming program which provides an essential means of healthy support for transplant families staying at the Howie’s House. Dinners are served every night of the week, along with brunch on the weekends. These meals afford our tired guests with the opportunity to decompress, share their experiences and find solace in a communal setting. Volunteers donate their time and the food, and get to see the impact of their efforts on the families they serve, all the while learning the importance of supporting organ donation in their own lives. Come try it out! Click here to learn more about the Home Cook Heroes Program.
by: Kirsten Diegel
- Take a Lap – Walk around the whole cafeteria to see the selection. Cafeterias may change the menu daily, and sometimes they have seasonal specials. As you walk around, take note of which options fit your nutrition goals. For instance, are you trying to lose, gain, or maintain your weight? What did your dietitian recommend?
- Food for Thought – Although the staff works hard to prepare foods that are safe to eat, transplant patients need to be especially careful. This is one reason why dietitians spend time educating transplant patients before discharge. Examples of foods to avoid include deli meats and cheeses, salad bars, raw nuts and sprouts, etc. Refer to FDA’s list about food safety as a refresher. If needed, contact your dietitian for an additional copy of Food Safety for Transplant Patients.
- Balance Your Plate – Imagine your plate is divided into 4 sections; fruit, vegetable, protein, and whole grains. Aim to have a plate that has food in each section. Of course, this can be a challenge. At a minimum, try to pair a protein (chicken, turkey, fish, beef, peanut butter, milk, etc.) with at least one other food group (fruit, vegetable, or grain). Having a serving of protein will help keep you feeling full!
- Sip on This – Beverages can boost your calorie intake and weight, which may be a benefit for some but not so great for others. If you are trying to gain weight, high calorie beverages/fluids, such as whole milk, chocolate milk, fruit/vegetable combination juices, protein shakes are options to consider. On the other hand, if your goal is to lose or maintain your weight, water, unsweetened beverages, and low-fat or skim milk is your best bet. Remember: Canned beverages (ex. soda) are not recommended for transplant patients for food safety purposes.
- Keen on Clean – Before eating or drinking anything that you have purchased, take a second to use hand sanitizer to clean your hands, wipe your utensils with a napkin, and wash your fruit. That apple may have been washed in the kitchen, but who knows how many people picked it up before you selected it. During your meal, place your utensil on a napkin or on your plate rather than setting it directly on the table between bites.
About Kristen:
Kirsten Diegel graduated from University of Delaware and completed her Dietetic Internship through ARAMARK in Philadelphia. She is currently pursuing her Master of Science in Health Promotion at the University of Delaware while working as a Clinical Dietitian at Temple University Hospital. Kirsten has worked within the hospital system for 4 years and has been a part of the Lung Transplant Program, one of the oldest and most experienced centers in the region, for the last 3 years. Kirsten is an active runner who is working towards running the New York Marathon in 2017. Kirsten enjoys eating soy yogurt with fruit and almonds/walnuts as a snack to help fuel her workouts, although she will never say no to anything with chocolate.
In today’s age of technology, a simple Facebook search can reunite long-lost friends, but it can also lead to the greatest gift of life—an organ transplant. Spending their summers growing up together in South Amboy, NJ, Gail Boscian and Mary Casey-Griffin grew incredibly close. However, after their families moved away from one another, they lost touch for about 30 years until they were reunited through social media.
“I have plans to live. We had many good times and they are not over yet—they are just beginning. This is the next chapter of our lives.” – Mary Casey-Griffin
Mary, born with polycystic kidneys, was officially diagnosed with Kidney Cancer around age 45. At that point her health rapidly declined. Having worked as an art teacher for 25 years, she tried to continue her work in administration but her health impeded her career. On peritoneal dialysis for 10 hours a day, “I was tethered to my bed –it was really getting me depressed.” In 2015, she was diagnosed with kidney cancer and needed a nephrectomy—removing both of her kidneys this past September. Her husband, son and daughter-in-law all wanted to be her living donor but were unfortunately unable to.
Meanwhile in Ohio, Gail had recently moved back to be with her family and future husband. Having just received foot surgery in March of 2015, Gail was confined to the couch for eight weeks during recovery. After playing around on social media out of sheer boredom, she remembered her long lost friend, Mary, and decided to do a search for her. After plugging her name in on Facebook, there she was! They connected and quickly became friends again.
Gail explains, “We started talking on the phone and I found out about her kidney and I said, ‘Oh, no, no, no, no—you can’t live like that!’” So without hesitation, Gail offered to be tested to see if she was a match to be Mary’s living kidney donor.
Just five months later, in August, she discovered she was an exact match for Mary. Out to lunch with two friends on a random afternoon, Mary received a call from Gail: “I just heard from our transplant center and it’s a go!”
Mary recalls, “I couldn’t even talk… I was crying and I couldn’t believe she would do something so selfless.”
Gail has struggled with the attention this selfless donation has ignited. She explains, “I don’t like people saying how wonderful I am for wanting to help my friend. I guess it’s amazing to me that more people don’t donate. I love her, she’s become like a sister to me.”
After endless phone conversations, these two women finally had the opportunity to reconnect in person before the scheduled surgery as guests of Gift of Life Howie’s House.
Upon arrival they were both immediately impressed with the Howie’s House and all the services provided to transplant families. Gail’s impression of the facility was simple: “I Love it,” she says, “there is just so much to do here!” Mary calls the Howie’s House “a godsend; I cannot imagine how important the Howie’s House is to the people that stay here. The Library alone is just amazing – it’s worth every stay here!”
Sitting around a table in the Howie’s House dining room eating Jell-O and beef broth, they were anxious to try all the delicious food prepared by the Home Cook Hero volunteers. Not being able to eat before surgery, they were dreaming of hoarding the cake from the night’s volunteers to save for a post-transplant treat.
We are happy to say that Mary and Gail’s surgeries went very well and both are recovering here at the Howie’s House. And now, looking to the future, the opportunities are endless. Mary says “I see myself living. I want to go to Ireland, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Ohio—to visit Gail—to take a few art classes. I have plans to live. We had many good times and they are not over yet—they are just beginning. This is the next chapter of our lives—we took a brief hiatus and now we are back!”
At the Howie’s House love is manifested in many ways – consider joining our mission to support and show love for transplant patients and their families. Learn how to get involved or show your support through a financial gift visit, www.GiftofLifeFamilyHouse.org.
“To be able to provide home-cooked meals and improve someone’s day is a great thing to be a part of.” – Jenn Fisher
Jenn Fisher and her family were delighted to start volunteering at the Howie’s House in the new year. Very different from all of their other volunteering endeavors, volunteering at the Howie’s House has a personal meaning to Jenn and her family. Both Jenn and her husband, Trevin, are transplant recipients whose love story began at the World Transplant Games.
Trevin, a pancreas recipient, and Jenn, a heart recipient, both competed at the 2013 World Transplant Games in Durban, South Africa. They met on the first day of the games and the rest, as they say, is history. As Jenn explains, “Our transplant stories are very similar and we had an instant bond. The day we got back from South Africa, Trevin booked a ticket to Philadelphia to come visit. And we’ve been together ever since.”
Although the Howie’s House didn’t exist at the time of Jenn or Trevin’s transplant, they both very personally understand the need for such a resource. As Jenn states, “I think the Howie’s House is an amazing support for transplant recipients and their families. We are so appreciative of everything that Gift of Life has done to support us; and we would like to give back in any way possible.”
Understanding all too well the overwhelming feelings associated with the transplant process, Jenn and Trevin wanted use their love of cooking to alleviate some of those difficult feelings for the Howie’s House guests. “I think that people have many emotional connections to food and to be able to provide home-cooked meals and improve someone’s day is a great thing to be a part of.”
Jenn also values how being a Home Cook Hero allows her to interact first-hand with Howie’s House guests. She hopes that her and her husband’s positive transplant experiences and success stories can be of support and motivation for anyone going through their own transplant journey. Speaking with the families, whether patients or caregivers, is the most memorable and meaningful part for Jenn. Inspirational does not begin to describe the guests at the Howie’s House, “It’s amazing how much people can go through and still be smiling and have a positive attitude.”
“The Home Cook Heroes program gives us the opportunity to connect directly with the people we help serve – in real time. Every time we’ve been there, the guests – and staff – have been so grateful for what we do.” – Greg Dommel, Voya Financial
As the clock approaches 6 o’clock, inviting aromas of roasted pork tenderloin, breaded tilapia and berry cobbler beckon guests into the dining room. Even after three main courses, lots of sides and plenty of desserts, there are rarely any leftovers from this particular group’s Home Cook Hero meal!
Since its inception, the Voya Financial team has been nothing but committed. Greg Dommel, their team leader, created the Home Cook Heroes program through his company. Like many employers, Voya Financial strongly encourages staff to get involved in the community, offering incentives to encourage them to take advantage of volunteer opportunities, including 40 hours of paid time each year to volunteer.
The Voya Community Partners initiative presents several opportunities to get involved throughout the year. All opportunities are selected by employee nominations in an effort to interact with organizations and causes important to its employees. Because Gift of Life Howie’s House was near and dear to Greg’s heart, he has been ensuring his company’s involvement in our programs since 2011, when the Howie’s House first opened.
Greg has a close personal connection transplantation, as one of his own family members needed a heart transplant in the early 2000s. He mentioned commuting back and forth from Lancaster to the Philadelphia area for transplant care was a strain on his family. He understands the important need of the Howie’s House and is thankful that families traveling g to Philadelphia for transplant care nowadays have a warm and inviting place to stay.
When the opportunity arose, there was no question in Greg’s mind about where he wanted to direct his time in volunteering. He quickly formed the Voya Financials Home Cook Hero team and was excited to hit the kitchen.
The team’s natural talent to “rebrand” has not gone unnoticed by Howie’s House guests and staff! Greg recalls one day the team was scheduled to volunteer at the Howie’s House, “Mark and I finished off our grocery shopping with a diverse range of desserts including a Mixed Berry Pie with Lattice Top. During the car ride from West Chester to the Howie’s House, contents shifted. When we unpacked our groceries, the pie was still sealed and fresh – but was no longer anything close to being pie-shaped.” Being fast on his feet and thinking with marketing savvy, Mark took the object formerly known as a pie and placed it in a slow cooker. “Just like that, our pie was rebranded as ‘Mixed Berry Cobbler.’ Interestingly, our ‘cobbler’ was one of the most popular items that night!”
Volunteering at the Howie’s House means a lot to the entire Voya Financials team, even beyond having a personal connection to transplant. “It gives us the opportunity to connect directly with the people we help serve – in real time. Every time we’ve been there, the guests – and staff – have been so grateful for what we do.”
For other corporate companies looking to start a team, figuring out where to start can be a challenge. Greg sheds some light on the issue: “I quickly learned to surround myself with people who enjoy cooking. Initially, most of our Home Cook Heroes team came from my Marketing group, but soon expanded to other departments. We have a revolving door of frequent volunteer cooks, but our lead chef, Mark Siciliano, helps coordinate the planning and execution of our meals.”
The Home Cook Heroes program offers a unique and engaging opportunity to get involved in both the local and the transplant community. It provides a chance to engage directly with the people you are helping. Working with your coworkers, family, friends or classmates, groups of up to 10 people can prepare meals (on or off site) and serve them to our guests. Just bring yourself and your food and we will provide everything else in our modern, fully-equipped kitchen. For more information about the Home Cook Heroes program or to sign up, please click here.
By Julia Stiffman, Gift of Life Howie’s House Social Work Intern
The holiday season and New Year can be a stressful time for anyone. As a caregiver, you may experience stress year round, but with the holiday season comes added worry. Additionally, caregivers often neglect to think about themselves because they are so focused on their loved one’s health. Between holiday traveling and visiting family, increased spending plus ongoing medical issues and expenses, it is easy to feel pretty helpless as your resources get spread thin. It is crucial for caregivers to prioritize self-care so they can stay as healthy as possible while caring for their loved one. New Year’s resolutions are a great way to start thinking about what’s missing from your life and what you can do to change that.
Listed here are 5 common resolutions that could be especially beneficial to someone in a caregiving position.
1. Learn to say “no”.
Especially during the holiday season when your capacity to handle many responsibilities may be stretched thin. You may be naturally prone to want to help others whenever possible, but everyone needs a break at some point. If you are asked to host a holiday party or to take on a big project, try not to feel guilty for saying no. This can be applied year round. Your friends and family will understand that you have a lot on your plate. With one less thing to stress about, you’ll have more to spend enjoying your holiday season and a great start to 2016.
2. Spend more quality time with your loved one.
As a caregiver, much of your time spent with the patient ends up being in medical settings and discussing their medical status. While it is great to show them your support through the transplant process, both of you need some sense of normalcy in your lives. Find an activity to do with your loved one that’s not medical. It can range from going on a walk to finding a new show to watch together on TV.
3. Consider joining a support group.
Whether your loved one is awaiting a transplant or recovering from a transplant, it is nice to know that you’re not alone in the caregiving process. Support groups are a great way of connecting with other caregivers and comparing notes about the transplant process and how to cope with stress. Your attendance at a support group could prove highly beneficial- both for yourself and for other attendees.
4. Try something new.
When was the last time you did something completely new? When you’ve been a caregiver for so long, your days can start feeling monotonous. Trying a new activity, no matter how little, can feel like a breath of fresh air and will help in breaking up your routine of doctor visits and medical tests.
5. Take some time off for yourself.
Many caregivers may experience burnout at some point. The holiday season can be especially grueling for caregivers as they try to navigate busy schedules filled with medical appointments plus the many holiday parties and family gatherings. Take some time dedicated solely to you. It can be something as simple as turning off your phone for an hour to read a book or watch TV. Whatever it is you choose, make sure the focus is all about you at that time.
By: Allison McDaniel
As the festivities of Hanukkah begin this weekend, many families will celebrate the holiday with eight nights of lights and presents that bring joy to children and parents alike. Many others will have a more challenging journey, as they face their first holiday after the loss of a loved one.
Philadelphia native, Betsy Horen, was married to her husband and best friend, Bob, for more than 40 years before he passed away last year. They traveled the world together and were a perfect match. They both worked hard and had successful careers, but always kept a firm focus on living life to its fullest and enjoying every moment – whether it was going to the theater, visiting their time share in London, or going to their synagogue, Beth Zion-Beth Israel (BZBI), where they were part of a close-knit, supportive community.
Although this holiday will be a difficult one for Betsy, she speaks with gratitude about the nearly ten years that Bob was able to live because of one person’s selfless decision to say yes to organ and tissue donation. Bob had been diagnosed with Amyloidosis, a condition that causes abnormal protein to build up in tissues and organs. The disease attacked his kidneys, resulting in him needing a kidney transplant to survive.
“I feel like we were so lucky to receive the call that there was a perfect kidney for Bob.” said Betsy. “We were also lucky that Bob was healthy for so long and we were really able to celebrate and experience life together. Our lives were for each other, and I am grateful that he was able to live and share so many wonderful experiences.”
Betsy uses the word “luck” often, and expresses a deep gratitude for the life she was able to share with him. Since Bob’s diagnosis, the couple promoted organ donation at their synagogue by hosting The Robert Horen Annual Donor Shabbat, which educated other members about his transplantation journey and the critical need for individuals to register as donors. In addition, Bob spoke in support of donation in the community and at local schools. Betsy also became an advocate for donation during the time that Bob was waiting for his transplant. She began volunteering for Gift of Life Donor Program to give back, and became a huge supporter of Gift of Life’s Howie’s House, a “home away from home” for transplant patients and their families.
Since Bob’s passing, Betsy has dedicated an area – a gateway to the Legacy Garden – at the Howie’s House in Bob’s name and has also honored his memory with a memorial paver in the garden. Betsy said, “It’s so peaceful to sit in the garden and to realize how fortunate all of us are, and how lucky the people are that are able to stay at the Howie’s House. When Bob was first diagnosed, we would have to travel back and forth from Philadelphia to Boston for treatments. Because of his restrictive diet, we couldn’t eat at restaurants, so we had to bring containers of food with us. Going through it, I understand how the Howie’s House really gives people peace of mind.”
Religion has played a major role in Betsy’s life, and it will continue to this holiday as she navigates it without Bob. She proudly describes the numerous heartfelt dedications that she has made in his honor at their synagogue. Her goal is to dedicate a plaque on the seat where Bob always sat at BZBI – right next to her.
Gift of Life Donor Program has worked tirelessly for the past 41 years to coordinate donors’ generosity with those in need. Since 1974, Gift of Life – the organ procurement organization for eastern PA, southern NJ and DE – has helped save nearly 40,000 lives through organ donation, and enhanced over half a million lives through tissue donation. For more information or to register, visit donors1.org. It only takes 30 seconds to register.
November is officially National Family Caregivers Month and this year’s theme is respite, a temporary relief from something stressful and difficult. The Caregiver Action Network outlines:
“Respite” – the chance to take a breather, the opportunity to re-energize – and it is as important as any other item on the caregiver’s to-do list. People think of respite as a luxury, but considering caregivers’ increased risk for health issues from chronic stress, those risks are a lot costlier than some time away to recharge.
In honor of National Family Caregivers Month, the Howie’s House has been posting wellness tips and support resources for caregivers, as well as recognizing transplant caregivers and their efforts. Many of the guests staying at Gift of Life Howie’s House are caregivers to their loved one waiting for, undergoing, or recovering from an organ transplant. The Howie’s House provides resources and support to caregivers throughout the Gift of Life Region through its Caregiver Lifeline Program. Whether it be self-care tips, keeping patient to caregiver relationships healthy, or numerous other resources, the Caregiver Lifeline Program provides services specifically tailored to the needs of organ transplant patients, family members and caregivers inside and outside the walls of the Howie’s House.
Recognizing the importance of caregivers and their influence in the transplant community, the Howie’s House continues to advocate for and support them by all means necessary. The National Alliance for Caregivers created a program called Caregiving Champions; it highlights important government officials who have been steadfast advocates for caregivers nationwide throughout their career. Pennsylvania’s local Caregiving Champion is Senator Bob Casey.
Senator Casey has been a dedicated supporter for aging Americans and their families throughout his entire career in public service. The Senator has a personal connection to transplant and genuine understanding of caregiving through his father, former Governor Robert P. Casey of Pennsylvania (left). Robert P. Casey Sr. was diagnosed with hereditary amyloidosis, a condition that required an extremely rare heart-liver transplant in 1993. Because of this personal connection to organ transplant and experience as a caregiver, the senator has strongly backed organ donation in his region. Additionally, he introduced legislation that would create a national Caregiver Corps plan to aid families who provide care to aging or disabled relatives. In honor of this month and this important cause, Senator Casey shared a few words with us:
“I would like to thank my friends at Gift of Life for using the month of November to highlight this important issue. Caregivers of all ages face unique challenges in providing support for their loved ones during times of illness
and disability. Gift of Life provides valuable resources and support to caregivers through its Caregiver Lifeline Program, supporting the families who are caring for loved ones awaiting or recovering a life-saving transplant. The least we can do is provide these caregivers a safe haven where they can share their experiences with other people undergoing similar experiences. We also have the opportunity in Congress to pass legislation to help family caregivers properly care for their loved ones, including the Caregiver Corps Act, which would provide community services opportunities for volunteers to provide respite care for family caregivers. I will continue to push for bipartisan legislation that improves the quality of life for families and their care recipients, and ensure that they receive the assistance and respite they truly need.”
For more information about Casey, his caregiving efforts, or to find your local Caregiving Champion, please visit: http://www.caregiving.org/find-your-champion/pennsylvania/
Being a transplant caregiver can be difficult physically and emotionally. It is common to fear the unknown and become anxious about the “wait list” because it is a completely new journey. Lorna, wife and caregiver to her husband who needed a lung transplant, explains, “For now, it is very, very, difficult — working full time and taking care of a lung transplant recipient is by no means an easy task. There are days I sit at my desk and tears just run down my face. I pray for the day when we can go for long walks and take trips and just appreciate each other even more.”
Feeling alone, emotionally overwhelmed, or any other range of emotions is completely normal. It is important to remember that you are not alone. Over 6,000 individuals are currently listed on our regional waiting list for a life-saving organ donation. Each year, thousands of patients – both children and adults – and their families and caregivers, travel for treatment at one of the fifteen Gift of Life Donor Program’s transplant centers. And while there has been tremendous growth and increase success in transplantation, for many transplant patients and their family members, even the good news of a life-saving organ brings anxieties.
Often support from others who are also going through the transplant journey or have gone through it in the past, can be exactly the type of support a caregiver may need. Caregivers should look to identify support networks within their life to help them cope throughout the entire transplant process and hopefully find respite and emotional support. If you are having trouble locating the support you need and deserve, please look to our Caregiver Resource Handbook as well as this article written by the Howie’s House Social Worker, Talia Giordano on how to find support networks.
“Respite is the key to a caregiver’s own well-being. Respite protects one’s health, strengthens family relationships, prevents burn-out and allows a loved one to stay at home up to three times longer. No wonder respite is one of the most frequently requested support services for family caregivers.
~ Caregiver Action Network
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