In President Obama’s speech at the Lincoln Memorial, he said that what gives him the greatest hope of all “is not the stone and marble that surrounds us today, but what fills the space in between. It is you … ” As I listened to his words, I too found myself feeling hopeful about the days to come. My hope, however, is based on events far from the glitter and glamour of Washington and the promise of people working together in a new administration. My hope is based on the care and compassion I have the honor of seeing each and every day in the towns and streets of New Jersey.
As a social worker for the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey, I am in constant communication with the nurses, therapists and certified home health aides who assist our patients. Recently, I was working with an 80-year-old woman who was also being cared for by one of our community health nurses and a certified home health aide. The aide is Carline Camille. She has been with Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey for 13 years and cares for patients in all walks of life and social circumstance in the Asbury Park area.
Carline goes to the elderly woman’s home every day to assist her with personal care, such as grooming, bathing, light housekeeping and shopping. The woman lives alone, has many health care issues and is often confused. But because of Carline’s diligent care, the woman is able to remain in her home where she desperately wants to be. Carline acts as her eyes and ears, keeping track of her health and mental disposition and promptly reporting any challenges the woman is facing to me or to her home care nurse.
The woman’s home had been broken into several times and both money and food had been stolen. Recently the woman lost her Social Security check and was completely without funds for the month. Carline promptly told the home care nurse, but in the meantime, purchased food and laundry supplies with her own money to ensure this woman had clean clothes to wear and enough to eat. Carline’s care and compassion went well beyond her job description and during that time made the difference in the woman’s ability to survive. As soon as I heard, I was able to reach out to the community, and through Mercy Center Food Pantry, obtained enough food to help the woman through the rest of the month. Carline went with me to pick up the food and personally deliver it to her patient.
We are facing tough times. And whether politicians will be able to come together to deal with the hard issues is still an unknown. But I am among the many who keep a hopeful eye on the future because of the things I do know and see every day — the extraordinary acts of kindness from people who care about others in need — Carline is one of these people.
Melissa Rafter, M.S.W.
Wall Township
Visiting Nurse Association
of Central Jersey