Caregiving: My Heart Sees Your Heart; Discovering The Joys And Benefits Of Respite

Panelists Discussion

• Sherri Blome, Coordinator, Nebraska Lifespan Respite Network
  Professional Representative
  Sherri Blome has been the Respite Coordinator for the Western Area of the Lifespan Respite Network since 2000. She has helped to initiate ongoing programs in her area to enhance respite such as Respite Days and the annual Fun Day. Respite Days is a means of paying for respite by using grant funds for families who otherwise would not qualify for respite or who could benefit for additional respite funds beyond what they are allocated through other programs. The annual Fun Day is an event for children with special needs and their siblings. The event is typically held at either Fort Robinson or Riverside Discovery Center. The kids have a great time while their parents get a few hours of respite from all the children. The event allows siblings to meet other children who may be experiencing many of the feelings they do. In the past few years the respite program in the Western area has grown tremendously. Throughout the 20 plus years Sherri has worked with respite, she has formed some great bonds with families served and many of the agencies who make referrals.
   
• Tom Genung
  Caregiver Representative
  Tom Genung was raised on a ranch in northern Holt County NE. After graduating from Atkinson High School Tom & his wife Cathie both graduated from Hastings College. Tom spent a 20 + year career in rural developmental disabilities. At that time, he also, acquired a nursing home administrator’s license. The Genungs reside in Hastings NE where he is involved in a variety of community endeavors. He is a member of Creation Care Team, Kiwanis, UCC Church, BOLD NE, Nebraskan’s for Peace. Tom is a member of the South Central Townhall Coalition & on the planning committee for the annual Day of Caring which celebrated its 16th year with an open-air event with Covid precautions. He is also, a long term supporter of Hastings Respite. As is the case in many instances, one doesn’t plan to be a caregiver. Life necessitates that happening. Tom’s widowed mother developed Parkinson’s & dementia and as the only child, the role of caregiver became Toms. Despite the challenges, the rewards were great & with the help of respite workers Tom’s Mother was able to remain in her home the last eleven years of her life.
   
• Jinx Hackler, Respite Coordinator, Hastings Respite Care
  Professional Representative
  Jinx entered the world of Respite Services during the time she was employed by South Central Behavioral Services in the Human Services Department. The office is located in Hastings Nebraska. During those years, Jinx managed the respite care program which served Family Caregivers in Adams, Clay, Nuckolls and Webster counties in South Central Nebraska. Because of the success of South Central Behavioral Services' respite program, and the time it took to manage the program, Jinx was asked to take over as Coordinator and "Hastings Respite Care was born and incorporated as a 501 (c) 3 in 1985. For the past 36 years Jinx has led the efforts of Hastings Respite Care, Inc. in providing respite services, caregiver education and family support to families caring for loved ones with special needs in South Central Nebraska. Jinx is also a member of the South Central Town Hall Caregiver Coalition and is currently working on the 17th annual "Day of Caring for Those Who Care". She is also currently co-chair of the Nebraska Caregiver Coalition and so happy to be sharing that opportunity with Suzy Campbell of Lincoln, Nebraska. Jinx has lived in Hastings with her husband Jerry, for the last 49 years. They are so thankful to have 3 very special children and now 6 terrific grand children that they love spending time with.
   
• Ruth Hamlin, Martinwood International
  Professional Organization Representative
  Over the span of two decades, columnist, consultant and speaker Ruth Hamlin was the primary caregiver for both her mother and husband. She is a certified Master Trainer for the nationally known evidence-based caregiving program, Powerful Tools for Caregivers, designed to assist caregivers in better sustaining their own health and well- being while caring for another person with a chronic illness or disability. Prior to becoming a trainer for the program Ruth was the executive director of Presbyterian Outreach a program that coordinated over 100 volunteers providing respite to families in eastern NE and southwest Iowa. Ruth has a deep passion for caregivers and believes with a little support and the right tools caregivers can thrive not just survive. In 2016, Ruth and her husband Mike created a nonprofit to provide social activities, education, and resources to caregivers and their families.
   
• William Rowell
  Caregiver Representative
  My name is William Rowell 66 years of age. I am a caregiver for my wife, Janey. I love helping people to seek out the different programs and welfare issues that can be an ungodly process if you’ve never experienced this before. I know myself in the beginning of this experience I did not know where to go for information or even hard to start this process. It is very life-changing and there are processes that get changed along the way and being able to stay up-to-date with that information is very crucial. I enjoy the pleasure of helping anybody I can in this situation and sharing our experiences. The sky is the limit if you know where to obtain the latest information.
  
• Graciela Shariff, MMI
  Caregiver/Professional Representative
  Graciela Sharif, BS serves as the LEND Cultural Diversity Coordinator and Community Parent resource coordinator at the Munroe Meyer Institute. Ms. Sharif is the Peruvian-born, Muslim mother of a son with Down syndrome. Ms. Sharif worked for 17 years as an Outreach Coordinator for the Parent Training and Information (PTI NE) and has served in multiple boards advocating for immigrant and refugee families in NE who have children with disabilities. M.s Graciela Sharif co-chairs the MMI Diversity and Inclusion Council.
   
• Martha Sopinski, CRCC
  Professional Organization Representative
  Martha Sopinski has a degree in Psychology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and has worked in the Human Services field for 27 years working to serve children and families in various capacities including direct care, training, program development, staff recruiting, and admissions. Martha has been employed with CRCC for 3 ½ years and is currently the Coordinator for Outreach and Recruiting. CRCC has been serving the special health and education needs of children since 1990 by providing quality child care to individuals of all abilities and continues to meet the changing needs of children and families in the Omaha area.
   
• Amberly Wagner-Connolly, Executive Director, Nebraska Action Coalition
  Professional Representative/Respite Recipient
  Amberly is a Nurse from Gretna. She is a breast cancer survivor and mother of 7. She has a Doctorate in Nursing from Creighton University. She works for a national Nonprofit called Camp Kesem. The organization provides free summer camp and year long support for kids whose parents have or had cancer. This year they will serve over 10,000 kids in the U.S. She is very passionate about respite and the positive impact it can make in underserved populations.