Moments that Matter: Liberty Hospice Serves Up Buffet for Golden Corral Fan
Patrick Connelly, who is receiving care from Liberty Hospice, used to love eating at Golden Corral. It wasn’t just the delicious food that attracted him to the restaurant, but the ability to make choices for himself when it came to selecting items he desired from their buffet. The ability to make choices is something many of us take for granted. For Patrick, choosing was something he desired more than anything as health complications took a toll on his daily life.
During visits to his current home at Liberty Commons Nursing and Rehabilitation Center of Lee County, Patrick expressed to his hospice care team several times just how much he loved Golden Corral. Through further discussions, Regional Volunteer Manager Charlotte Walton and Bereavement Coordinator Robin Lemieux realized the significance of the correlation between his love for the restaurant and his strong desire to make choices. Together, they decided to create a ‘Moments that Matter’ for Patrick by bringing the Golden Corral buffet to him.
Charlotte reached out to the local Golden Corral in Sanford, North Carolina and a plan began to unfold. Patrick and Charlotte discussed his favorite foods, and she then worked with Golden Corral to ensure those foods would be on the menu for the big day.
Liberty Hospice and Golden Corral set up a delicious buffet in his room at Liberty Commons. Patrick was able to choose his favorite items from his very own Golden Corral buffet.
“I know this means a lot to my son and you have no idea how much this means to my wife and me,” said Robert Connelly, Patrick’s dad. “Thank you so much for doing this – for supporting us. No one has ever done anything like this before.”
During hospice, it becomes incredibly important to celebrate ‘Moments that Matter’ with loved ones because every moment counts. Liberty Hospice is so thankful Golden Corral helped us make this moment for Patrick and his family possible.
To learn more about how Liberty Hospice can create ‘Moments that Matter’ for your family, visit our website or give us a call at 800-999-9883.
Liberty Celebrates Caregivers for National Caregivers Day
National Caregivers Day falls on the third Friday of February. It is a day to honor a special group of people who have selflessly devoted their time and energy to caring for others.
Individuals who take on the responsibility of caring for another person provide the essentials and necessities of daily living, from medical assistance to personal grooming. Along with direct, hands-on care, caregivers also typically look after the person’s house, nurture their social connections, and deal with doctors, hospitals and insurance companies. The list of tasks can be daunting, especially when maintaining their own personal lives and careers.
Caregiving is a challenging job, and one in five Americans are currently doing it. According to a 2020 report from the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), 53 million adults in the United States are unpaid caregivers, which is up from the estimated 43.5 million caregivers in 2015.
Compared to 2015, the report also found a greater number of caregivers are providing care to more than one person. This finding, along with the increased prevalence of caregiving, shows our society continues to step up to provide unpaid care to family, friends and neighbors who need assistance.
If you know someone who is a caregiver, here are a few ideas on how you can show your appreciation and recognize all they do for others:
- Send them a letter or card, thanking them for everything they do.
- Give them a small gift that can bring them comfort such as a book, baked goods, hand lotion or a candle.
- Offer to care for the caregiver’s loved one so they can take an afternoon to rest and make time for themselves.
For our Liberty Hospice families, Liberty can provide respite services for up to five days at a time so caregivers can go on vacation or take a much needed and deserved break. Liberty can offer respite care wherever a person calls home or at one of our Liberty Healthcare and Rehabilitation locations throughout the Carolinas. For more information about our respite care services, give us a call at 800-999-9883 or request a free consultation online.
Liberty HomeCare and Hospice would like to thank all the caregivers who support and care for their loved ones, neighbors and friends. The kindness of caregivers should be celebrated not only on National Caregivers Day, but year-round.