Aging might be life’s biggest surprise. Even if we prepare for it, the reality shocks us. And virtually no one is ready to ask for help when the time comes.
Ashley Lassberg and Edward Flores
For 30 years, Family ElderCare has provided that help, scaled by staff and volunteers to financial capacity of the clients. Backers joined the caregivers and clients for an anniversary salute on Thursday at the Kodosky Lounge. The view of the park, river and skyline from the donor room at the Long Center provided the right visual reminder for the 100 or so quiet revelers of all the changes in Austin the past 30 years.
Angela Atwood and Grova Jones
Two groups of photographs stood on easels. One set were dignified, gray portraits of the elderly, part of a judged contest called “The Changing Face of Central Texas.” The other consisted of Sarah Wilson’s sensitive color portraits of ElderCare clients — some playful, some resigned — in their own homes. These will hang on the walls of the nonprofit’s new quarters.
Jim Spencer and Carrie Rodriguez
Director Angela Lassberg rose to honor leader Cheryl George, volunteer Ellis “Pat” Craig and community champion Jim Spencer, the face and voice of Family ElderCare’s annual fan drive, which has kept Central Texans from heat harm. Spencer compared our deaths in the recent heat wave (0) to those in the Midwest (more than 80).
I know and admire Lassberg and Spencer. As for Craig, the story of his 18-year guardianship of a particular client is destined to feed an Out & About column some day soon.