Marjie Canfield, a dedicated care companion at Brethren Care Village, has been making a difference in the lives of elderly residents for the past 8 years. After a 16-year career as a bank teller, Marjie took a break from the workforce to care for her ailing father. When she was ready to return to work, Marjie found her calling in senior care, starting as a nursing assistant and eventually joining Brethren Care as an STNA and care companion with our home care team.

In fact, Marjie was one of the first two home caregivers when Brethren Care began the initiative in 2017. “There’s a big need for home care in our community for people who don’t want to leave their houses,” she says. “We started with two and now have 15 women on the team. Our visits are a minimum of two hours, but we can do up to twelve–or whatever people need, really. We split shifts when necessary and our director Robin (Smedley) does a great job making sure we’re able to provide a high level of care for anyone who needs it.”

Marjie’s compassion and attention to detail shine through in her work. She goes above and beyond to ensure her clients’ needs are met, whether it’s observing changes in their health, recommending adjustments to their medication, or simply providing companionship and emotional support. Marjie’s ability to connect with residents, even those with dementia, is truly remarkable. She understands the importance of maintaining a positive attitude and finding creative ways to engage the elderly, from taking them on outings to the county fair to simply watching their favorite TV shows together.

“There’s creativity involved,” she says. “It’s about meeting the person where they are and recognizing their perspective. You don’t have to just ask someone how they’re doing. If they’re not doing well, if they feel terrible that day, you can see it–and they’re going to tell you. Instead, you help direct them toward positivity. ‘Oh, I see you got your hair done! It looks great!’ Or, ‘The sun is shining, let’s go look at how beautiful it is today.’  We keep them moving, doing things, focusing on the positive.”

With a background as a substitute teacher at Dale Roy School and a licensed provider with the state of Ohio Department Medicaid for people with special needs/ developmental disabilities, Marjie brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep empathy to her work. Every day, she says, she strives to help her clients live with dignity and quality of life. Brethren Care Village is fortunate to have a dedicated professional like Marjie on our team, making a meaningful difference in the lives of the residents and their families.

“We try to spoil them,” she says about the people she serves each day, “because they deserve to be spoiled.”