Caregiver Corner: Lynda Marnoni
By Nancy Kennedy
There is joy in caring for others, says Lynda Marnoni, and she experiences that joy every day as a caregiver for Seniors Helping Seniors, a national in-home care agency with a highly specialized focus. Seniors Helping Seniors matches older adults in need of help with mature caregivers who provide services such as personal care, companionship, light housekeeping and meal preparation. Caregivers like Lynda meet the needs of their clients by performing a broad range of tasks that make the activities of daily life easier, safer and more enjoyable.
Lynda joined the Seniors Helping Seniors staff in 2022 when the company opened a regional location, bringing years of diverse human services experience and a profound commitment to caring for others. “When I heard about Seniors Helping Seniors, I was immediately struck by their philosophy of providing personalized and custom care. I believe that this approach is the key to excellent care; care that is tailored to the individual is essential,” Lynda states. “I began working in human services in the 90’s when people were coming out of institutions and the needs were tremendous.”
The clients need help, Lynda says, in small and simple ways, but those small things can make a big difference in the quality of their lives. “I might go grocery shopping with a client or accompany them to an appointment,” she explains. “The clients and their families decide what the tasks will be and they are very specific. We always make sure the client is safe, eating, well hydrated, taking their medications and supplied with everything they need.”
According to Lynda, caregivers are matched with clients by location, personality and background. Their presence provides a sense of safety and a comfort level that reassures the clients. Caregivers also give the family peace of mind. “Many families live out of town and are unable to help their loved one,” Lynda explains, “but they have peace of mind knowing that the person is getting a helping hand from a caregiver who knows them well.”
Most of the Seniors Helping Seniors caregivers are retired professionals who come from a broad array of careers. Like Lynda Marnoni, the caregivers are healthy adults who want to contribute to the community. They have life experience and a spirit of generosity and compassion. “The fact that the caregivers and clients are peers is significant,” Lynda says. “We have common ground. Our shared experiences make conversation easy. I even managed to talk my husband into becoming a caregiver. Being a caregiver is good for me; it gets me out into the community and gives me a paycheck for work that I love. We leave personal concerns at the door and meet the challenges with curiosity.”
Christopher J. Girod, president of Seniors Helping Seniors of Southwestern Pennsylvania, has high praise for the caregivers team. “We do our best to hire the best people, like Lynda, which allows us to provide an exceptional level of care and compassion for our clients.”
Caregiving is an art, and Lynda Marnoni makes it a fine art with her warmth, compassion and skill. She finds deep fulfillment in the connections she makes with her clients. “I meet the client where they are,” she explains. “I build trust and do what I can to understand their needs. I have a strong sense of responsibility for the care of others. I believe that we are all responsible for each other.”
A resident of Mt. Lebanon, Lynda has served on advisory boards and is also an actress who has appeared in films, on stage and in commercials. She is married and has three sons, two grandchildren and two cats.
To learn more about Seniors Helping Seniors, visit www.swpaSeniorCare.com or call:
Seniors Helping Seniors SouthWest (412) 944-2470
Seniors Helping Seniors North East (724) 939-6625