Chelsea Volunteers Give Caregivers 6,500 Hours of Relief

Linda Smith and Scott Ramsay show up every week at the Chelsea Senior Center in Michigan, and their three hours of time are changing lives they may never fully see.

The duo volunteers with Ease the Day, a caregiver respite program that launched in 2023 to support families caring for loved ones who need constant attention. While volunteers help participants craft peace doves from magazine clippings, lead gentle exercise classes, and share tea and conversation, exhausted caregivers get precious time to rest, run errands, or simply breathe.

Linda, a retired nurse who spent 50 years in extended care and hospice, jumped at the chance to volunteer when the program started. After caring for her husband until he passed, she understood the weight caregivers carry. "I heard the buzz and wanted to be part of it," she said.

Scott discovered the program through family members who couldn't stop talking about their volunteer experience. "People who are involved can't help but talk about it," he explained. "They see the impact, and they're having fun."

His three hour commitment each week brings unexpected joy. He greets each participant with warmth, calling out "How ya doin', Slim?" and "How's it goin', Kid?" to friends who've been attending since the program opened. Every greeting earns a smile or laugh.

The program serves participants the staff lovingly calls "Friends" on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Activities range from art projects and seated exercise classes to ukulele sessions and visits to the intergenerational garden. Volunteers don't just facilitate these moments; they join in, forming deep bonds with Friends and each other.

Program manager Emily Nagaonkar shares family updates with volunteers before each session. That quiet exchange reveals how deeply everyone cares about the people walking through those doors.

The Ripple Effect

When caregivers get a break from round the clock responsibility, they can tend to their own wellbeing. That rest helps them provide better care when they return, creating a cycle of support that strengthens entire families.

The 6,500 hours of respite provided in just one year represent countless grocery runs completed, medical appointments attended, and moments of peace claimed by people who rarely get them. Each three hour session multiplies into immeasurable relief for families navigating one of life's hardest journeys.

Linda has learned to embrace the bittersweet nature of the work, knowing Friends may eventually need different levels of care. "I remind myself that we are in the moment of a person's life right now," she said. "This is just one season of their life."

Three hours a week turns out to be plenty of time to make a profound difference.