January marks the 10th anniversary of two of Rowan County’s most important resources for seniors and their families: Trinity at Home and the Trinity Oaks Alzheimer’s Support Group. And both owe much of their success to Trinity at Home’s warm and welcoming Community Outreach Coordinator, Teresa Dakins.
Dakins has been with Trinity at Home since the very beginning – and she brought the Alzheimer’s support group with her from her previous position with a for-profit home care entity. Both programs are a long way from her roots in retail; Dakins managed a TJ Maxx for about 20 years.
Her career pivot to senior care was gradual.
“When I was ready to move out of retail, I took a position with Dr. Douglas Kelling in Concord, North Carolina,” Dakins recalls. “He is such a caring physician, and he made sure to educate his entire staff on best practices in patient care. He held an in-service day every Friday for the whole staff.”
Because Dr. Kelling is a pulmonologist, many of his patients are seniors. As Dakins learned more about geriatric medicine, she became intrigued by other career possibilities.
“I wanted to explore the field of senior care, so I took a position in for-profit home care,” she says. “I spent 10 years there honing my skills before Trinity at Home came along.”
Community-based Alzheimer’s support
“The Alzheimer’s support group began at my previous employer, and a bunch of us there decided to launch a community group at Rufty-Holmes Senior Center,” said Dakins. “When I came to Trinity at Home, the group moved too. It’s still growing.”
“Today we offer respite care during meetings,” Dakins added. “While loved ones with Alzheimer’s are singing songs, playing games, and having dinner with our amazing volunteers Stephen and Susan Cottraux, caregivers can focus on the conversation. I think caregivers feel comfortable with [co-facilitator] Deb Tillman and me because we both have walked in their shoes.”
The Alzheimer’s support group now averages 20 attendees per meeting, and it is free to attend.
“Our monthly speakers range from hospice organizations to funeral homes, financial planners, and elder law attorneys. And we always have time for sharing. At our last meeting, one woman was attending for the first time. Her husband had just been diagnosed. She cried, and we held space for her,” adds Dakins.
Members also reach out to each other between meetings. “It has really become like a family,” Dakins says.
Trinity Oaks quality at home
Trinity at Home fills an important gap in Rowan County. “For some people, in-home care is about maintaining independence. For others, it’s more cost effective to stay at home,” said Dakins. “Regardless, I love knowing that I helped a senior remain independent.”
When Dakins started, Trinity at Home had just five clients; today it serves 60. Some pay privately for services, and others use long-term care insurance. “I’m so proud that I’ve been able to help our faith-based ‘business’ grow,” said Dakins.
“Being a family caregiver is the hardest job you will ever do in your life,” added Dakins. “Even if you do healthcare for a living, it is still tough. Caregivers need someone to listen to them, guide them, and reassure them that they’ve made the right care decisions. I’m touched when families tell us what a difference our caregivers made in a loved one’s life. Trinity at Home gives adult children more space to focus on their relationship instead of on physical care.”
Dakins’s advice for adult children of aging parents? “Don’t promise your loved one that you will never place them in a facility or that you, personally, will do all of their physical care. Talk about what they want before they become sick, because then emotions are too high. Know what their finances are; people assume Medicare pays for everything, and it doesn’t. And don’t wait to make the call – whether it’s for home care or for hospice or palliative care. Don’t put off the decision. We have so much to offer.”
To learn more about the Rowan County Alzheimer’s Support Group at Trinity Oaks or about Trinity at Home’s in-home care services, contact Teresa Dakins at [email protected] or 704-603-2776.