An absolute highlight of our quarterly inservice this week was Ms. Joanna Jones. Joanna bravely opened up to our caregivers, taking them through her personal journey of raising her son who has Down Syndrome. Her talk was striking in its honesty and its grit. Her experiences mirror what our caregivers undertake during every shift. She knows how hard this job is; she “gets it”. An added bonus: her perspective is a refresher for every caregiver, who must always appreciate where the family is coming from.
Joanna urges us to fix what we are afraid of; don’t be afraid of what is different. Remember that words matter! And finally, “do not grow weary in well-doing. We need your support.” Thanks, Joanna!
Joanna asked me to include the link to our local Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis. Check it out! If your school-age or adult group is interested in hearing Joanna speak you may contact her via my e-mail: kpfister@cooperativehomecare.com
Video of Joanna’s presentation coming soon to our YouTube channel, ParentsAging.