Gladwin CoA Celebrates Long-Time Care Workers

Gretchen Mora, Katie White, Angie Card and Marie Cummings pose for a photo

The Council on Aging, Gladwin County would like to recognize four of its employees for outstanding service to the seniors or Gladwin County: Gretchen Mora, Katie White, Angie Card and Marie Cummings (pictured: left to right).

In July, 2022, the Council on Aging (CoA) received a grant opportunity to assist in the retention of its in-home care staff. In applying for the grant, the CoA’s Program Director, Anna McNeill was able to apply for up to 5 in-home care workers who had shown outstanding skill and care, and who had worked for the organization 1 ½ years or longer.

McNeill quickly wrote up letters requesting the funding for her four employees who had been with the company for 3 + years.

“I wish the grant had been more all of our employees,” McNeill said. “All of our In-Home Care Workers go above and beyond for the seniors they help.”

When applying for the grants, McNeill had to describe how each worker was chosen for their outstanding service that they had provided to the seniors in Gladwin County.

“It wasn’t hard to write up how these four ladies have gone above and beyond for their people,” McNeill said.

A few weeks later, McNeill received confirmation that all four employees received the one-time grant.

Mora has been with the CoA since June of 2014 and McNeill wrote in her letter: “Gretchen has a spectacular way of dealing with people of all backgrounds and personalities. She knows when to be a listener and when a line has been crossed in the client/caregiver dynamic.”

She also included multiple comments from Gretchen’s clients, such as “Gretchen is doing excellent.”; “(We) are truly blessed to have Gretchen in their lives, helping with (my husbands’) RC service.” and “that she's good help and that she is always cheerful and prompt, when she said she's going to do something or be somewhere, she is.”

Following not far behind Mora, Cummings joined the CoA in November of 2015. In her letter for the grant, McNeill wrote: “Marie cares very much about her clients and goes above and beyond to make sure that their needs are met and that she is giving them her best service.”

Cummings clients also had plenty of words of praise for her services, which McNeill included in the letter as well. One clients comment in particular was, “Marie is a really marvelous person, that she does a terrific job and that she is just very, very good.”

Card was next, having been with the CoA since October of 2016. McNeill wrote in her letter: “Angie creates meaningful and deep connections with her clients and that flows over into the service she provides.”

Clients of Card, also had wonderful comments to add in regards to her outstanding service, which were included in her letter. One of her homemaking clients quotes was used in the letter, which read “He said that Angie does a wonderful job. He said that his dog has passed away and that Angie does more than just clean for him. She knew that his dog was sick and called to check on how he had been doing. He said that Angie has been such a sweet heart.”

The last grant went to White, who has been with the CoA since August of 2019. McNeill wrote “Katie cares very much about her client’s safety and helping them in their day-to-day lives.”

And, just like the other hard working ladies, her clients were used as antidotes in her letter as well. One of her personal care (bathing) clients was quoted in the grant letter: “she does an excellent job with his personal care and that he is so appreciative of her service.”

Each of the In-Home Care Workers were presented with a certificate and acknowledged at the Gladwin City Housing Commission’s staff meeting in August and the Board of Directors meeting in September.

“I was just so thrilled to be able to acknowledge them publicly,” McNeill said. “They are all such hard workers, and the Direct Care workers of the world get over-looked a lot.”

The CoA wanted to thank the Region VII Area Agency on Aging for providing this grant opportunity to help retain and celebrate their workers.