From Caregiver to Care Receiver

Mt. Kemble Home resident Marit has spent most of her life helping others. As a caretaker for children and the homebound elderly, she devoted years of service with compassion and kindness—never knowing she would eventually need help herself.

Around the same time Marit’s longtime patient passed away, she fell victim to fraud and lost everything she had. Penniless except for her Social Security income, she found herself unable to afford rent and with nowhere to go. She ended up living in her car.

The details of that time are fuzzy for Marit, but she does remember being cautious not to drive too far to conserve gas, the fear of falling asleep at night in her car, and relying on her faith in God. When people from her church told her about HSI’s Warming Center, she was able to sleep in a warm bed and enjoy hot meals for a few months. With the help of her former employer’s family, she eventually secured an opening at the Mt. Kemble Home (MKH).

Here, she says, she’s found companionship and peace. Where once she was the one people relied on, she now receives the same kindness and compassion from others.

She has nothing but praise for Housing Retention Division Manager Sylvia Stukes and Property Manager Jasmine Tirado, who have helped her with paperwork, document handling, and anything “involving technology.” She’s grateful for the volunteers who come to MKH to provide food, entertainment—she especially loves the craft nights—and opportunities that bring the women together for social gatherings.

She also cherishes the company of her housemates. Marit likes to think she still helps the people at MKH, simply by being a companion or a sounding board. They share in many ways, from meals to daily moments of connection.

“The last two years for me, everything went to hell in a handbasket,” she reflects. “But you have to laugh at life—if you don’t, you’ll end up crying. I’m very grateful for what I have here. This has been a blessing.”