HCAOA The Voice Fall 2020

15 Fall 2020 KAREN BUTLER, A CAREGIVER WITH Custom Home Care in Chicago was named the 2020 Caregiver of the Year during HCAOA’s Virtual Conference in October. She was selected from more than 200 nominees submitted by home care agencies across the country. “As we’ve known for a while now, the right caregivers allow for seniors to truly live out their advanced years with grace, dignity, and joy,” said Vicki Hoak, HCAOA Executive Director. “We were blessed to receive more submissions for Caregiver of the Year than in any previous year, and even with all of the great nominations, Karen was the clear winner. We’re delighted to be able to recognize her exemplary service, not just this year but for the many years she has served her community.” Butler has dedicated her life and career to caring for others. A caregiver for more than 50 years and a CNA for more than 35 years, she was nominated because of her gift for making her clients feel special. In her nomination of Butler, Custom Home Care Executive Director Jennifer Avila said, “She understands that the small things matter in the lives of her senior clients. A current client loves to play BINGO, and when she wins, Karen substitutes the candy given out as a prize for sugar free candy to keep her blood sugar in check. Butler goes the extra mile for her clients whether shopping for them, communicating with them and their families, keeping her supervisor informed of any issues, or sharing a joke and a smile.” “Karen has changed so many lives, and she has made our company a truly special place,” said Tamara Jackson, CEO of Custom Home Care. “We’re proud that she is receiving this richly deserved recognition.” In her nomination of Butler for the award, Avila noted that Karen has been known to hold the hand of a dying senior because her philosophy is, “No one should die alone.” Karen says her most rewarding experiences as a caregiver were working in hospice with AIDS patients in the 1980s. At that time many healthcare professionals were afraid to care for AIDS patients because of misinformation and prejudice, but not Butler. “All of these beautiful, young men and their families had turned away from them. They needed somebody, and we were there for them. When I knew that they were dying and only had moments left to live, I would crawl into bed with them, put my arms around them, hold them and sing ‘Into the Garden,’” she said of the experience. Butler was one of six finalists for the award. Meet the other finalists and nominees on the following pages. Chicago’s Karen Butler of CustomHome Care Recognized as Top Caregiver in the Country 2020 Caregiver of the Year Caregiver of the Year Nominees Demonstrate the Essential Nature of Home Care We recognize the caregivers who made it possible for so many people to stay safe and healthy at home this year. In the midst of the ongoing pandemic, home care is quite literally the best medicine, the work of our caregivers across the country has been beyond essential. HCAOA received nearly 200 nominations for this year’s Caregiver of the Year Award—the most ever! Meet the winner, finalists, and nominees...