I have known Sara since the spring of 2020 when she joined a team providing care for my elderly parents in Deer Isle., while all of the family was out of state. She provided care for them full time every week until the end of the year, when their situation changed. It is to be noted that she also was providing care during a pandemic and had to manage the restrictions and safety precautions required by COVID-19. In my career as a social worker, I have had the opportunity to work with and to head many teams of medical and psychiatric caregivers. By any measure, Sara is an exceptional caregiver. Not only was she knowledgeable, consistent, skilled and responsible, but she genuinely cared for and supported my parents at the end of their life. She was sensitive to their emotional and social needs and stepped in when needed without having to be asked, readily recognizing where she could help and clearly sensitive to the dynamics of their relationship and their challenges in coping with their deteriorating mental and physical condition. She was compassionate, but firm, encouraging them to do activities and tasks that they resisted for various reasons, but were needed for their care. She was patient and understanding even in the most difficult situations and worked well with the large (10+) team of staff in the house during that time and with external medical and service providers. Sara also worked well with family members, involving them when appropriate and extending the same compassion and understanding to me and my siblings as she did to my parents. My anxiety about my parents’ safety was much reduced by my contacts with Sara about my parents’ condition and care because of her honest assessments and her sensitivity to interpersonal dynamics and emotional issues. I, and the rest of my family, will be forever grateful to Sara for the ways in which she not only kept my parents safe, but greatly enhanced the quality of the last part of their lives.
Robin Miller
