Meet Our Client: Kimberly Hill
A daughter’s caregiving journey.
A complex family dynamic combined with a dementia diagnosis for her aging father led to significant challenges for Kimberly Hill. Determined to ensure his safety and well-being, she took the necessary legal steps to become his guardian and welcomed him into her home.
Realizing the impact this would have on her children, her work, her life, Ms. Hill sought help through 211, a helpline operated by United Way of Greater Cleveland and learned about WeCare…Because You Do, a caregiver support program offered by Benjamin Rose.
WeCare provides telephone- and email-based care coordination and coaching for family and friend caregivers of older adults. Over 18 months, Ms. Hill worked with Benjamin Rose Care Navigator Cathy Franz who reached out via regularly scheduled phone calls to help her navigate the challenges of caring for her father.
“Things were intense,” says Ms. Hill. “Cathy’s support, compassion, understanding and lack of judgement helped me immensely. I could share what I was going through with my dad and have someone validate difficult decisions I had to make.”
Key aspects of the WeCare program include assisting with getting services and support for the person with the chronic disease as well as helping the person providing the care.
“Cathy always reached out to me and asked when I wanted her to call. It was never my responsibility to call her,” says Ms. Hill. “ She always reminded me to take care of myself while also taking care of my dad and my family, and after we talked, she’d send an email so I could reference what we discussed.”
Over time, Ms. Hill was able to obtain Medicaid approval for a program of all-inclusive care for the elderly, which allowed her to move him into an assisted living facility.
“My passion is education and making hard things easier. The support I received from Cathy was key and has inspired me even more to help others,” says Ms. Hill.
Learn more about WeCare
WeCare… Because You Do℠ is an individualized care coordination program that helps to answer your toughest questions, connect you to the services you need . . . and bring you peace of mind.
Learn More