Angel opens her home to others for Thanksgiving

Palm Beach Post, USA
Suzanna Mahler

Some angels reside right here on Earth.

Visiting Angels, a company that provides home health care for seniors, gave those without family a Thanksgiving to remember.

Phyllis Rosen, the owner of Visiting Angels, found the patients who had no family to spend the holiday with, picked them up and brought them to her daughter’s house in Boca Raton.

“They absolutely loved it,” Rosen said. “They came with gifts for my daughter and for my grandchildren. They were just so happy.

“Seniors are ignored by so many people and for them to be included in a family gathering made them really happy. They weren’t alone.”

Nine seniors ate the traditional Thanksgiving meal with Rosen and her family.

“Let me tell you, these seniors can eat,” Rosen said. “They had a wonderful time. They were so grateful. And now that they’ve met each other, they can socialize at future events.”

Rosen’s mother, who died from emphysema, was the inspiration for the business.

“When we needed help for mom, emotional support for my family, we were at a loss — this was so new to us and we were so vulnerable,” Rosen said. “My goal is to never have another family have to experience what we did. My goal is to support in every way possible, all family members going through difficult times, by lending an ear to listen, shoulders to cry on and vent, and give as much support in all ways as humanly possible.”

Rosen’s mother died in August 2000, but she got to see the Visiting Angels get started that July.

“Had mom not been ill and our experiences so sad and bad, I’d never have looked for a better way to help anyone else,” Rosen said. “I knew there must have been thousands of people who were just as frustrated as I was trying to find good help for their parents.”

Visiting Angels provides meal preparation, housekeeping, runs errands and other care for seniors who want to stay at home.

Caregivers are given background checks before they are matched with patients. Patients choose caregivers with common interests.

“As a result, patients stay with caregivers for years,” Rosen said. “It’s a warm, fuzzy feeling.”