CHARLOTTE — Kathey Helms has made it her mission to ensure that seniors are not forgotten this holiday season.
She works as a caregiver, mostly in nursing homes, memory care and rehab facilities. She said that her work is her calling and that she’ll do whatever her patients need, even bringing them DoorDash when they don’t like what’s on the menu at the facility.
When she noticed how lonely some were during the holidays, she took to social media with a reminder not to forget about elderly family members and friends.
Last year, she decided to take action, posting on several community pages to ask for donations of gifts for the residents.
By the time Christmas rolled around, she had collected 158 gifts for her patients, from blankets and novels to pajamas and puzzle books.
“I just wanted them to each have one thing, but all of them had a bag or a box,” she said.
She’s at it again this year, encouraging those who are able to “adopt a grandparent.” She says you can do it no matter where you live.
“Go to your local nursing home. See if they need anything, if they’re taking donations,” Helms said. “See what you can do in your community to help gather things and take to them. You’ll make someone’s day.”
Helms said her boss at Amada Senior Care has offered to match all of this year’s donations.
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