Extraordinary Caregivers

Anita Rogers, BAHS Founder and CEO, recently lost her father, Rabbi Dr. Martin A. Cohen (1928-2026). Prior to his passing, he was cared for by Anita, alongside a dedicated team of women. This week, Anita is proud to spotlight these incredible caregivers as they are now seeking their next positions. Anita gives each of them her highest recommendation and would be happy to speak directly to any family interested in hiring. Learn more about eldercare here.

A Note from Anita Rogers, BAHS Founder & CEO:

I first hired caregivers for my mother and father when my mother became ill. We started with Yaneth, whom my mother adored. Yaneth had experience with her illness and knew how gentle, loving, and respectful to be so my mother could trust her. Yaneth was like sunshine in our lives. My mother was very attached to her, and Yaneth helped her find comfort in someone outside of the family. Yaneth helped during such challenging times. When my mother died, I hired 2 other caregivers to work alongside me, so my father had 24/7 care, while he was still very healthy. He was in his late 90s and required a walker but was otherwise in excellent health. I wanted a team to ensure his safety 24/7 and to maintain a clean environment, and to prepare healthy meals. ����’s��such a gift to be able to hire care before your parent is ill��or requires urgent care. This allows them to build��trust and a routine, and make sure you’ve taken the time to hire the right people without being rushed by a medical emergency. The four women, Yaneth, Cynthia, Paola, and Dawn, who cared for him are��absolutely��extraordinary caregivers,��and it’s hard to express how much they mean to me and how truly phenomenal they are. I was there, with them, taking care of him each day, so I witnessed firsthand��how they went above and beyond, showing my father��genuine love, compassion, commitment, and true dedication.��I am deeply grateful, as was he. He always felt safe, loved, and respected. These girls adored him.

In late 2025, my previously healthy father became ill and was hospitalized with a medication-related lung injury. At that time, I arranged for the caregivers to work their usual shifts ensuring��24/7 coverage��in the hospital room for over a month. I spent most of my days there alongside them and their dedication was extraordinary, as they stayed in the hospital room round the clock tending to his every need with patience, compassion, and kindness. The hospital nurses even said our eldercare team was��better than the hospital staff. They were there, and incredibly attentive. We all worked hard to make him feel comfortable in a hospital setting, which was very difficult for him.

Once he returned home and was bedridden, I added Dawn, an amazing RN, to the team. The caregivers, a team of four led by Yaneth, ensured he was always safe, managed his��medications and oxygen, kept him�������𲹲�,��comfortable, and��free from bedsores, all of this while also��maintaining his dignity. They worked with love, attending to every detail. In addition to caregiving, they performed��high-quality housekeeping��and prepared basic,��healthy meals. They even cooked and served when he had guests, usually 4 times a week, before he became ill. When he was ill and guests came to see him, the team ensured every medical rule was followed. All guests had to wear masks, gloves and get tested for COVID and flu at the door, only allowed in when the test was negative. They managed to help him drink water and eat, when he didn’t want to, but medically needed to. ��They were all incredibly flexible with their hours��and catered to his every need. He consistently felt loved, respected, adored, and most importantly,��he felt safe. The team wanted to be there caring for him, they wanted to support me, as well. They all gave us their hearts and true dedication.

I feel so fortunate that my father had this amazing team by his side during his twilight years. They are truly angels sent from heaven and an incredible dream team.��We called ourselves “Team Martin,” which included the four caregivers, one close friend, and me. They deserve only the best, as they truly are the very best you can find in every way.

Yaneth, Team Leader Home Health Aide and Eldercare & Dementia Specialist

Yaneth was the��leader��of Team Martin. She began by caring for Shelby, Martin’s wife of seventy years, before she passed, then stayed on with Martin afterwards. He was quite healthy and independent at that time, so she helped primarily with housekeeping and cooking healthy, nourishing meals. As Martin progressed and needed more help, Yaneth oversaw everything, from personal hygiene to medication administration.��In Martin’s home and while in the hospital, Yaneth ensured everyone followed��strict safety protocols��to keep him well, including masks and gloves when required, as well as COVID and flu testing for all visitors. Even the hospital staff was impressed by and remarked on her level of cleanliness and diligence.

Anita describes Yaneth as “soft, loving, totally dedicated and loyal, highly intelligent, kind, sensitive, and possessing great integrity and a huge, selfless heart filled with love. She is one of the kindest, hardworking people anyone could ever meet. Yaneth is a rare type of person, a “once-in-a-lifetime” type of person. She is very special.” She became a member of the family to Anita and Martin, and treated Martin with such care and compassion every single day.��Yaneth took charge in the hospital alongside Anita, and the nurses and doctors worked with them to ensure Martin’s comfort and recovery. Yaneth is a phenomenal team leader. She treats everyone who works with her with love and respect. She has no ego, and she completely dedicates herself to her job. Her��dedication��and��loyalty,��her experience and��extraordinary work ethic, are amazing assets for any family. Anita shared that “her warmth, love and loyalty lead everyone, and everyone loves Yaneth…absolutely everyone.” Yaneth has worked for nearly thirty years in eldercare, spending over twenty years dedicated to one��family. She has a deep understanding of dementia and Alzheimer’s patients and has an innate ability to build a bond with them, even those who are struggling with their diagnosis and with aggression.��She prioritizes��building trust��with her patients and ensuring their safety while allowing them to maintain as much independence as is safely possible.��She has experience with cancer, wound care, heart disease, and lung disease. She speaks fluent Spanish and English, is an excellent cook, and has incredible attention to detail. Any client she works for will adore her. She is now seeking��full-time��in-home work and is��flexible to work any schedule, including weekends.

Cynthia, Overnight��Home Health Aide Specializing in Overnights and Flexible Schedules

Cynthia was a bright light, a ray of sunshine on Team Martin, working overnights (13+ hours – she was awake and on call the entire time). Cynthia is��warm, always happy, diligent, detail-oriented, generous, and extremely flexible. No job is too small for her. She handled housekeeping as well as attended to all of Martin’s needs while constantly maintaining a positive disposition, no matter the hour. Her character is always positive – she never complains, everything is a joy for Cynthia. She approaches life with optimism and kindness, which radiates from her. Martin and the whole team could feel her positivity. All care teams will benefit from this kind of enduring and genuine warmth.

Cynthia’s love and care for Martin were extraordinary. He felt safe, loved, and taken care of with Cynthia. Her presence during the nights was a great comfort to Martin. She was constantly there for him; she didn’t even nap. She would assist him every time he got up, and she would log his vitals every night. She handled personal care, laundry, cooking breakfast (and often dinner), and medication reminders. Anita and the team were very strict with visitors, both��in the hospital and in the home, mandating that everyone be tested for COVID and flu, as well as wear masks and gloves. Anita created a firm set of rules and the caretakers followed her lead perfectly with no exceptions. Cynthia’s cleaning methods are both gentle and thorough. This balance of gentleness and thoroughness extended to how she handled Martin’s personal care; Cynthia would tend to him with patience, kindness, dignity, and extreme thoroughness, then moisturize his skin, ensuring he always felt clean, safe, and loved by all. Anita describes Cynthia as “pure sunshine, loving, caring, sensitive, professional, loyal, totally committed, highly intelligent, and adoring.”��In addition to all of this, she is a great team player – she is a hard worker, has no ego, and a wonderful disposition.��Yaneth and Paola loved working with her, and she with them.��She is forever part of “Team Martin.” Cynthia has��years of experience as a HHA (Home Health Aide). She has worked with patients with dementia, TBI, cancer, heart issues and post-surgery, and wound care. She has experience with patients both recovering and terminally ill. She is happy to cook, help with pets and handle housekeeping.��She is now seeking��full-time��work and is��flexible and able to work any schedule, including��long hours and overnights.

Paola, Companion,��Personal Assistant,��& Executive Housekeeper Weekends, Overnights, Flexible Schedule

Paola is a very special, highly intelligent, loving, and educated caregiver. She worked weekends and weekend nights for Martin. Incredibly hardworking, she never took a day off, always arrived early, and was totally committed to “Team Martin”. She would cover any shift that was needed without hesitation. Martin loved Paola and Paola cared for Martin as if he was her father. She is extraordinarily kind, while also being intellectually inquisitive, which Martin loved as he was a working professor of history. He thoroughly enjoyed teaching her while she cared for him.

In addition to being an exceptional caregiver for Martin, she was a personal assistant and executive housekeeper for him. She helped him with physical therapy and assisted him with his work, which Martin loved. She would organize, help him write his books, answer the phone, and care for the many guests that would visit on the weekends, including preparing and serving food for them. Paola is equally fluent in both English and Spanish. Martin spoke fluent Spanish and loved the language, so they spoke mostly in Spanish, despite Paola being a native English speaker. She was such a comfort to Martin and to Anita. She was extremely vocal and protective of Martin during his hospital stay. She was exceptionally careful, gentle, and loving. He felt her love and respect and felt very safe, as she had a lot of experience caring for her own family in medical situations. Paola is a special person. She gives her all, heart, soul, and mind to her job. When Martin was ill late last year and returned home, Anita wanted two caregivers at all times, in addition to herself. Paola covered all the extra shifts, with joy, optimism, dedication, and love.��She is a loving, detail-oriented caregiver with no ego who followed all the rules perfectly.��Anita shares that she is truly good at everything and that Paola’s presence is special and so lovely to have in the home. She is very intuitive and knows when to step in or step back. Anita describes her as “bright, dedicated, extremely special, dedicated, committed, loving, fast and thorough, good at everything – everything she did, she did incredibly well, she worked quickly and thoroughly while always giving Martin love and respect and always keeping him safe,” and went on to say “Paola is a rare gem.”��Paola’s love of Martin meant so much to Anita. Paola’s background is in nannying and teaching before she transitioned to executive formal housekeeping, eldercare, and personal assistant work. She’s��extremely tech-savvy��and excels at��creating and maintaining��organizational systems, both in the home and digitally. Paola is very flexible regarding schedule, ideally looking for part-time work. She is happy to work��weekends and overnights. She is in the process of becoming a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) and she plans to continue on to get a master’s degree part-time, so she is very flexible to work days and nights, part-time or full-time with any two days off to continue with her studies.

Dawn, Registered Nurse12-Hour Shifts, Medical Care including IVs and Ventilators

Dawn is amazing. She is an extremely��experienced registered nurse. Dawn is always��calm, strong, incredibly dedicated, and very professional. When Dawn is around, everyone feels safe – she has that immediate effect. Her calm, loving, and intelligent personality is a gift to have on a team. She can handle any type of medical need with ease and grace. She is truly incredible. Her quietly strong and caring presence was a fantastic addition to “Team Martin.”

Dawn handled anything Martin needed relating to his lung injury and oxygen, and new medical issues that arose. She advised and worked with him with such professionalism and a deep commitment and loyalty. Dawn gives her all: her heart, her soul, her mind, her experience, especially when the medical needs are serious. Dawn can do it all. She is an incredible team player. She treated everyone with equal respect and love. Dawn has no ego, she takes her job extremely seriously, and dedicates herself completely to her clients. The team loved her and followed her lead when necessary. Dawn’s decades of experience as a highly intelligent RN are invaluable. She worked with both Anita’s mother and father, closer to the end of their lives. She joined Team Martin once he returned home from the hospital and was bedridden. She provided��medical care, did��CPR��when necessary, and handled��light cooking and housekeeping. Working alongside her, Anita observed how capable, helpful, and deeply kind Dawn is.��Anita shared that if Martin had come back from CPR, it would have been Dawn that saved his life: “when he stopped breathing she started CPR in milliseconds and had me call 911.��If he had lived, it would have been her who saved his life. She was incredibly fast and calm.”��Anita says “Dawn is��phenomenal, experienced, intelligent calm, strong, incredibly capable and a wonderful, secure presence in the home.��She is completely dedicated to her work and gives her all. She is very quick on her feet, extremely thorough, and excellent with patients.��She can handle serious situations with total professionalism. She is amazing.” Dawn has been a Registered Nurse for over thirty years. She adores her job and loves people; this passion is evident in how much care she gives her patients and in how meticulous she is with every task. She is capable and experienced with all necessary at-home medical care, including��IVs, ventilators, pumps, drains, tracheostomies,��and more. She is looking for a role in eldercare or with any age patient in need of care. She has a��Compact Nursing License, meaning she can work in many states. She is��flexible in terms of schedule and hours, willing to work 12+ hour shifts, and willing to drive to second homes as needed. Dawn is looking for a long-term position. Her��ideal role is for a client who needs long-term care.�� In addition to her nursing and medical excellence, she is happy to care for a client and do light housekeeping and simple food preparation. Dawn can relocate for her ideal job. ����’s��such a gift to be able to hire care before your parent is ill��or requires urgent care. This allows them to build��trust and a routine, and make sure you’ve taken the time to hire the right people without being rushed by a medical emergency. The four women, Yaneth, Cynthia, Paola, and Dawn, who cared for him are��absolutely��extraordinary caregivers,��and it’s hard to express how much they mean to me and how truly phenomenal they are. I was there, with them, taking care of him each day, so I witnessed firsthand��how they went above and beyond, showing my father��genuine love, compassion, commitment, and true dedication.��I am deeply grateful, as was he. He always felt safe, loved, and respected. These girls adored him. – Anita Rogers, BAHS Founder and CEO

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End-Of-Life Midwife

This week, we had the privilege of talking to Martha Roth, an end-of-life midwife. Also known as a death doula, an end-of-life midwife guides individuals and their loved ones through the dying process. They make sure the person’s wishes are heard, understood, and respected. They can help navigate difficult conversations and advise on the options available.

Before transitioning into end-of-life care, Martha spent several decades working as a birth doula and midwife. She recently took the time to share some of her insights on death, dying, and how we can support those we love through this sacred life transition.

“You and I will die. ��This is a given, entirely proper. ��It is a whorl in the thumbprint of the Maker of Life. ��But the manner of our dying is not a given. ��That, with deep labor, is up to us. ��This is one of the life gifts entrusted to us at birth, dazzling as the night sky and burdensome as any vision is of how it all could be.”

“That is a quote from the book, ��who identifies himself as an activist, teacher, author and farmer. He has been working with the dying for more than 35 years.�� His offerings have been a valuable resource for me, particularly this book.

I call myself an end-of-life midwife. I have spent the past 40 years as a doula and then a midwife attending births primarily in homes but also birth centers and hospitals.

I now have the opportunity to use my doula and beginning-of-life midwifery skills for end-of-life care.

We are at a time in the United States where certain conditions have become evident, specifically that there is no sustainable healthcare system in this country and that the business of health insurance has sabotaged the delivery of healthcare.�� This reality along with the aging of the American populace has provided a perfect moment for this midwifery model-of-care to be used to promote an awareness of the obstacles present in caring humanely for the dying.

The focus of this model of care is planning ahead with all those who will be participating in the care to enhance an individual’s life experience through to their dying.

I would encourage all of us to begin having conversations with those we love and who love us well before the need is there.

Over the past few decades a great number of books on death and dying have been published.�� The authors of these books have come at the subject from the angle of their own expertise whether it is spiritual, medical, holistic, religious, personal or psychological.

Regardless of your bent you can find someone who has published a critique from their perspective on how we live well or poorly until we die well or poorly.

We have tremendous resources here in the US. However, these resources are being used to aggressively extend lives with a deep resistance to accepting that our lives are supposed to end.�� It seems to be a moment when we can redirect our resources toward a more humane model of dying.

I am using the home birth model of care because that is what I have been doing. It is true that not everyone desires care in their home.

The majority of people who are asked say they would prefer to die at home and yet a majority of people end up spending their last days or longer in the hospital.

I have been consulted about the conditions that have developed, most commonly around an aging parent.��This is my opportunity to recommend that there be a meeting with all those involved with this person. I recommend that there be an objective, knowledgeable person present at the table.

She will have the answers to specific questions that will likely come up and will make sure that the focus stays on the individual who is dying.

Through my personal experience and what I have learned from others,��how a person dies proves to be one of the most important factors in the health of the relationships of those family members and friends who live on.��

If there are those present who feel they are unable to honor the wishes expressed by the dying person, then they are invited to leave the table without judgment.

Resistance to accepting an unfamiliar path is most often fear-based.��Fear is often present when knowledge is lacking.

Once that person’s questions have been answered and desires have been made clear, then a plan can begin to take shape.

What I know from my midwifery work is that IF there is no plan or there is poor preparation, care decisions will likely be made based upon expediency, habit or fear of litigation often at great cost to the individual and family.

There will naturally be questions regarding time frame, legalities, paperwork, specific laws, etc.

Once the conversation has begun, you can ask specific questions.��Some of these questions help to normalize the discussion.

For example, asking a person what they think they would like done with their body after they die can be very helpful.�� There was one gentleman who said he would like to donate his body to a medical center.�� The family had no idea he wanted to do that and we spoke about the need to plan ahead because there is paperwork that needs to be filled out ahead of time in order to make this donation.�� In this case it not only gave the family a task to accomplish but a certain feeling of gratification that they learned this information when there was time to get the necessary paperwork in order.�� There was also an opportunity for the family to discuss how this information pushed them to rethink what would be necessary for them to do at the time of his death.�� It also brought a moment of sadness as the family members took in the reality that, in time, there would be a body to be handled.

In another case an individual wanted to be cremated on a funeral pyre on her property.�� In consultation with the funeral home it was learned that only one State allows for funeral pyres and she did not live in that State.�� There ensued some joking about how to spirit her body out of State to honor her wishes.

The answer to this question is only part of the point.�� What matters is that the person is able to say, “this is what I want”.�� It can often be a great relief to the family to have information that eliminates any potential disagreements that might have arisen after the death.�� This working together to honor the well-thought-out plans of a dying person can bring together those who might otherwise splinter.

Another useful question that can normalize the planning and bring the family to a place of comfort is to ask the individual what they would like said about them after they die.

Again this is an active task that provides valuable information from the dying person.

The conversation also addresses the practical questions of necessary paperwork, who is responsible for what, is there a full understanding should Do Not Resuscitate and Do Not Transport orders come into play.�� It can be surprising how little individuals actually understand about these orders.

Then there is the question of the right to die with dignity. Recently, there has been progress in New York State regarding an individual’s right to medical aid in dying. The NYS Assembly and Senate have passed the MAID bill. It has been sent to Governor Hochul and awaits her signature.

Until these bills are passed into law, one option individuals can choose to control their own life and death is VSED (Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking).

This is an active choice initiated by the dying person and supported by loved ones.

Many of us have had pets that let us know when they’ve had enough by declining nourishment and hydration. ��We don’t force-feed these animals. ��We hold them, we soothe them, we love them and we thank them for being so smart. ��Don’t we, as humans deserve that kind of respectful care?

Today I suggest that, if you haven’t already, you make a plan to have The Conversation about death, your death, with those who love you and who you love.

Some of you might already be familiar with these resources. There is a national volunteer organization,��, which has a presence in all 50 States. ����It offers comprehensive details on all aspects of end-of-life planning.

Another important organization,��, has been working for over 20 years “to achieve better care and more choices for the dying through advocacy and education campaigns, and free counseling for patients and their families”.

Initiating the conversation is often the most difficult part but once it has begun it will not stop. ��There can be great joy in discussing death and dying. ��It comes with being alive.

And finally as an exercise I suggest that you think about what you would like said about you after you die:

Either write the beginning of your own remembrance or ask someone who loves you to write it.”

If you’d like to connect with Martha Roth, she can be reached at martharoth@me.com.

Further Resources��

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Caring for aging loved ones can be difficult no matter the circumstances. Caring for those with��Alzheimer’s, Dementia, or Memory Loss can be especially hard to navigate emotionally, logistically, and physically. This week, we are sharing some signs that it may be time to seek outside assistance for your loved one. BAHS offers memory care and eldercare services, ranging from companions to Home Health Aids (HHA), Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), and Registered Nurses (RN). Our team of experienced recruiters can help you decide what type of help is best for your loved one.

What Are Some Signs That It May Be Time To Seek Outside Assistance?

Difficulties with Daily Activities

If your loved one is experiencing trouble with basic tasks, such as��dressing, bathing, and eating, it may be time to bring in assistance. The goal is always to give the person struggling the most independence possible, while making sure they are safe. If they need regular assistance with these activities, it is often too much for loved ones to manage, and bringing in a skilled professional can help caregivers better manage their time and keep loved ones safe.

Safety Concerns

Sometimes people struggling with��Alzheimer’s, Dementia, or Memory Loss can cause accidental harm to themselves or others. Common issues include leaving the stove on, falling, failing to lock/close doors and windows, leaving their home unaccompanied and getting lost, and failure to take medications or eat at regular intervals. If you see signs of any of these risks, it is critical to get your loved one help as soon as possible. Often a live-in caretaker can help put your mind at ease, while maintaining your loved one’s quality of life.

Changes in Behavior

If you see a serious change in behavior in an aging or ill loved one, it is likely time to see a doctor and consider outside assistance. Signs might include agitation, confusion, social withdrawal, trouble with language, or inability to concentrate.

Caregiver Burnout

Caring for a loved one is more than a full-time job, often making it incredibly difficult to balance with other aspects of life. Asking for help doesn’t mean you don’t care or aren’t capable—it simply ensures you can provide the best support possible. In many cases, bringing in outside assistance can strengthen your relationship with your loved one by giving you the time to rest, recharge, and be fully present. Instead of focusing solely on demanding physical tasks, you can enjoy meaningful conversations and shared activities that bring you both joy. Professionals skilled in memory care will be able to provide guidance and ensure your loved one receives all the support and resources possible during this challenging time.

General Tips for Those Caring for Loved Ones with Memory Loss

Consistency is Key

As much as possible, try to keep those struggling with memory loss on a regular schedule. This includes morning routines and bedtimes, mealtimes, and medications. Be sure to communicate the schedule with all caregivers to be sure it remains consistent each day. It might be helpful to put written reminders around the home – a calendar in the kitchen, a sign with the day of the week, etc.

Adjust the Home

As loved ones age, it is helpful to adjust the home to meet their needs. Small changes like shower chairs, swapping out unstable furniture for safer models, and adding safety rails can allow the person a little bit of extra independence. You might add extra photos of loved ones around the house, as well as written reminders – a medication schedule in the bathroom, a calendar (with days clearly marked off) in the kitchen etc.

Don’t Forget Independence and Joy

It can be easy to get bogged down in the minutiae of everyday and just focus on making sure your loved one eats and is clean etc. Even when struggling with memory loss, the person you know and love is still there – make it a point to include activities they used to love as much as possible. Read to them, watch old movies, play music, and recount memories. All of these things can help raise their spirits and strengthen your bond. As much as is safely possible, encourage independence. Sometimes swaps like switching from button pants to elastic pants can make it easier for loved ones to dress themselves, and maintain more of their independence.

Be Gentle and Respectful

As hard as it is on the family, aging is just as challenging for the person experiencing it. Don’t forget to be kind and patient, with your loved one and with yourself. If you find yourself rushing or losing energy, it might be time to take a break and ask for help. And remember to always speak to and about the person as though they can hear and process the words you are saying, even if they seem to be asleep or unable to understand. Often people understand more of what is going on around them than is readily obvious to outsiders.

Take Care of Yourself

Caregiver burnout is extremely common, making self-care essential for both you and your loved one. Prioritizing rest, proper nutrition, and personal time allows you to provide better care. Don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it; there are various levels of care available from temporary and part-time assistance to overnight care. Seeking help doesn’t diminish your role as a caregiver; it strengthens it, ensuring you can continue to be present and engaged.

Learn more about our eldercare services here.

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