St. Louis Caregiver Honored for Dedication to Aging Father

December 8, 2003
St. Andrew’s At-Home Services of St. Louis recently awarded Janice O’Malley of Ballwin, Mo., with the 2nd Annual Caregiver Recognition Award for her hard work and selfless dedication to providing on-going care to her aging father.

O’Malley was chosen from 40 inspiring caregiver nominations and was presented with a prize package worth several hundred dollars that included a one-night stay at an area Bed & Breakfast, a $100 savings bond, gift certificates to Sam’s Steakhouse and Red Lobster and much more. The package is designed to pamper her for her daily sacrifices. Four runners-up were also honored.

O’Malley is a mother of three and a cancer survivor who has provided care for her father for more than five years. He is blind and partially deaf. On a daily basis, she travels nearly 100 miles to her father’s residence in St. James and prepares meals; draws up syringes of medication; takes him to doctor’s appointments and to the cemetery to visit his wife's grave; and assists with personal grooming, cooking, paying bills, shopping, yard work and more.

O’Malley also provides constant care for her son who has Epilepsy, is active at her children’s schools, a Boy Scout MOM, a member of the Epilepsy Foundation, a wife and works full-time at her cleaning business and takes on long hours at Chrysler. She was nominated by her sister-in-law, Nancy Higgins of South County, who is also a caregiver.

“Providing care is just something you do,” commented O’Malley. “I am not sure where the time comes from, it just happens. I have had to put a whole lot of things on the back burner, but it allows my father to stay at home, live independently and remain happy. God, the support I get from my family and people like my sister-in-law Nancy are what keep me going each day.”

Mary Bell of North County, Greg Walker of Arkansas, Joanne Blase of West County and Dianne Winn of West County, who works for Maritz Travel Company, which is involved in the Caring Workplace Program, all received a special prize package for being selected as runners-up. All other nominated caregivers received a St. Andrew’s tote bag with caregiver resources and a Panera Bread Company gift certificate.

“We were overwhelmed by the entries we received as the sacrifices these caregivers selflessly make on a daily basis is truly inspiring,” stated Ann Bannes, vice-president of St. Andrew’s At-Home Services. “We salute each of you. You are unique and inspiring individuals and the older adults you are caring for are very lucky to have someone like you in their life.”

Sponsors of this year’s program included Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Inc., Julie Berkowitz Attorney at Law, the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging, The Rice Law Firm, Missouri PRO, the Jewish Community Center, HbL PharmaConsulting, the American Red Cross, Debra K. Schuster, PC, Devereux & Co., KelDon Medical, Inc., Renaissance Financial Services, Mimi Schuchet of The Travel Company, Mizpah Manor, Family Care Health Centers, Cape Albeon, Tower Grove Manor, Brooking Park, Concord Bank, The Sarah Community, Missouri Council for Senior Citizens, Midwest Bank Centre and St. Andrew’s At-Home Services and others. Without their generosity, this program would not exist.

Spouses, children, relatives, co-workers and older adults submitted nominations on half of caregivers they knew. Self nominations were welcome also. Once the nominations were received, a judging panel consisting of a representative from the County Older Residents Program, the American Red Cross Adult Care and Enhancement Program, the Alzheimer’s Association and the St. Louis Area on Aging selected the grand prize winner and runners-up.

St. Andrew’s debuted this program last year to spotlight the many faces of caregivers and the organization was thrilled that it ended up being recognized as a “best practice” by the American Association of Home and Services for the Aging. For more information regarding the 2nd Annual Caregiver Recognition Awards program or the services provided by St. Andrew’s At-Home Services call (314) 726-5766.

St. Andrew’s At-Home Services is a division of St. Andrew’s Resources for Seniors, a private, non-profit Episcopal-Presbyterian organization that has provided nurturing care and lifestyle choices to older adults and their families since 1961.