Amigos Del Valle caretaker Ramona Chavez, left, checks Isabel Naranjo's blood pressure on one of her trips to a senior center to care for senior citizens. Chavez has been with Amigos Del Valle since it was first funded in 1977. Photo by Rebecca Martinez, Community Relations (CRO) Office
"Seniors have a lot to deal with these days and they need an advocate," said Liz Garcia, office manager for Amigos Del Valle, a United Way provider agency.
Amigos Del Valle was established by a group of individuals concerned about the growing dependency of elderly members on the community and the difficulties associated with staying in their homes. Executive Director Dennis Heffner was a member of that group. He said the agency was opened as a way "to keep seniors independent as long as possible."
With a small grant of $11,087, Amigos del Valle began its services in 1977 and, with the help of the United Way, has been reaching out to the Española Valley and its surrounding communities for the past 27 years, providing assistance to elderly residents who need special care and compassion in their everyday lives.
"Our uniqueness is that we are more of a family and friend agency," Amigos Del Valle's Garcia explained.
The agency's clients also are unique. Unlike some other adult-care programs, Amigos Del Valle provides service to all seniors regardless of income. Heffner said he and his staff understand that some adults just need a shoulder to lean on. "Loneliness is no respecter of income," said Heffner.
The caregivers employed by Amigos Del Valle work tirelessly to provide service to all seniors who may need or want it. A service can include transportation to a doctor's appointment or just a visiting session in which caregivers offer an ear to listen to whatever a senior might have to say. "We laugh with them, we tease them, we acknowledge they're still alive," said Heffner.
Caregiver Ramona Chavez concurs. She has been with the program since its inception and has become invaluable to the agency. Heffner recognizes Chavez's efforts to help seniors with needed projects as well as Chavez's efforts to simply make them smile. "She comments on how nice they look. She flirts with the old men," said Heffner.
It is these little gestures that make Amigos Del Valle an indispensable program to residents of the Española Valley. "It's like an extended family for these people," Heffner said. And it is a family that is able to provide home care and companionship to its members.
Amigos Del Valle's clients appreciate the opportunity to reside in their own homes. "The care is so much better. The environment is so much better," Garcia said.
Amigos Del Valle constantly receives positive feedback from the community. "We have a lot of people who call and say 'What would we do without you?' " said Garcia.
Heffner also said that Amigos Del Valle constantly receives visits from appreciative seniors who have found not only residential assistance through the agency, but have also made new friends. The staff and caregivers feel the same bond of friendship with their clients.
"Our caregivers get so attached to these people," Garcia said. She adds that to be a caregiver, "it has to be a gift; a willingness to help people." And the staff at Amigos Del Valle is more than willing to help because, "what you give comes back in full," Garcia said.
Simply knowing that they are making a difference in the lives of seniors keeps the staff at Amigos Del Valle working hard to care for seniors regardless of financial constraints. "I would not have stayed at the program this long if it wasn't worthwhile," said Garcia. Amigos Del Valle gains not only more clients, but also more supporters each day. Donors like the United Way have recognized what a significant change Amigos del Valle is bringing to the community and work to keep the effort going.
"We are all going to need an Amigos del Valle someday," said Heffner.