Barren River Family Caregiver wins State Caregiver of the Year

The Barren River Area Agency on Aging Family Caregiver Support was pleased to be informed that one of our very own program participants received the 2006 “ Family Caregiver of the Year Award” for the State of Kentucky. Mrs. Barbara Poole who is a grandparent raising two grandchildren from Rochester, Kentucky (Butler County) received the prestigious award at the Kentucky Healthy Aging-Making More of Life Conference sponsored by the Kentucky Division of Aging Services and the 15 Area Agencies on Aging. The conference was held at the Galt House in Louisville, Kentucky on September 7, 2006. Mrs. Poole received her “Kentucky Family Caregiver of The Year Award” during a luncheon, which featured motivational speaker, Lee Ann Thieman, Author of “Chicken Soup for The Caregiver’s Soul”.  Bill Cooper, Director of the Kentucky Division of Aging Services and  Marla Montel, Commissioner of  Kentucky Human Support Services  presented the award to Mrs. Poole.  

We are very proud to have participants in The Barren River Family Caregiver Support Program like Mrs. Poole. She is a 66-year-old widowed grandparent who has been  raising her grandchildren for over 7 years. She has been very active since the start of the Barren River Family Caregiver Support Program through participation in support groups and trainings. Mrs. Poole received her grandchildren through the tragic loss of her daughter and son-in-law in a car accident. Upon inheriting the responsibility and care of her grandchildren she realized that the oldest grandson had special needs due to Autism. Mrs. Poole did not let this diagnosis get her down, but stepped up to the plate to ensure that he received the best care she could find for him. Mrs. Poole also when money became tight on her fixed income went back to work and trained through the aging networks Title V program. Through her diligence and sacrifice she has provided for these children to ensure that they are cared for and loved while providing for them a nurturing home. She always keeps a positive attitude and takes pride in her role as a grandparent raising grandchildren. Her grandchildren stay active in school and her oldest grandchild now participates in the ROTC at his school. Her great granddaughter also is doing well in school and has been recognized in the ABC club for attendance and good grades. Without the care and concern of grandparents like Barbara Poole these children would be placed in foster care. Mrs. Poole’s sacrifices may seem small to the outside world, but to these precious children their grandmother has done the grandest thing because she has loved them through it all. 

If you would like more information on the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Program please contact the BRADD office at 1-800-598-2381 or 270-781-2381.