Taylor selected as Caregiver of the Year
Linda Taylor (left) was selected as the Caregiver of the Year at the 11th annual Coshocton County Caregiver Appreciation Luncheon that was held Oct. 7 at Coshocton Village Inn and Suites. She received a framed copy of her nominations, a plaque and a gift basket from Oak Pointe Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Baltic. Josie Sellers | Beacon
COSHOCTON – The 2016 Caregiver of the Year was nominated not once, but twice for the honor.
Linda Taylor was recognized for her service to others at the 11th annual Coshocton County Caregiver Appreciation Luncheon that was held Oct. 7 at Coshocton Village Inn and Suites. Nominating her for the annual award were Marla Myers and Beverly Thomas.
Taylor started caring for others at a very young age. Her nomination from Thomas, who is her sister, states, “As long as I can remember, this has been her calling. She would walk up a hill at our home in Tyndal to check on a couple of elderly men at a very young age.” Since then she has cared for her mother and an aunt, helps neighbors, volunteers at Windsorwood and assists at her church. She didn’t even let a massive heart attack in 2014 stop her from looking after others. Just six weeks later she was back to looking after those she cared for.
Taylor was very appreciative of the award.
“I’d just like to say thank you to everyone,” she said. “I really do like taking care of other people.”
The other six nominees for the caregiver of the year award were: Rebecca “Becky” Sutton, Mary Dobson, Margery Lower, Margie Scherer, and Patricia Carpenter.
“Everyone who was nominated is worthy of the caregiver of the year award,” said Pat Lake, the caregiver educator for the Area Agency on Aging Region 9. “We take these nominations to a committee in another county where they don’t know anyone and they pick someone just based on the stories submitted to us.”
In addition to the awards ceremony, the luncheon also included a meal catered by Schumaker Farms, a chance to visit with vendors who offer a variety of healthcare needs and two who also provided mini messages and musical entertainment by John Schmid from Holmes County.
“I thank you for what you do every day,” Lake said to the caregivers in attendance. “What you do is appreciated and please know you are not alone. There are a lot of service providers in this room that can help you.”
She also reminded caregivers to make sure they take some time for themselves.
“It’s not selfish,” Lake said. “You have to take time for yourself. You can’t take care of someone 24-7. You need to give yourself a break and then go back to the good job you do.”
Caregivers in the community are encouraged to come check out the support group that Lake runs in Coshocton. Meetings are held from 10:30 a.m. to noon on the third Thursday of the month at the Coshocton Public Library.
“You don’t have to let me know if you are coming,” Lake said. “You can just show up.”
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