Pinay caregiver who worked during blizzard wins award

By Alex P. Vidal

“Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community.” —Anthony J. D’Angelo

A FILIPINO caregiver, Eulodia “Tootsie” Ortiz, who is based in Matawan, New Jersey, has been honored as the 2023 Caregiver of the Year by the Home Care Association of America (HCAOA).

This was announced October 23 by Bryan Mawr, PA/ACCESSWIRE/ Visiting Angels, the America’s leading provider of in-home care.

The prestigious award recognized Eulodia’s “unwavering commitment, exceptional caregiving skills, and dedication to enhancing the lives of her clients.”

Tim McAloon, owner of the Visiting Angels Matawan, said, “Eulodia represents the best of Visiting Angels. Guided by her faith, personal experiences, and a dedication to the dignity of each client she serves, many of whom are military veterans, she performs her duties from the heart.”

He added: “Eulodia is irreplaceable to her clients and their families. She spreads kindness and compassion in every home she enters.”

Having transitioned from a career as a pharmacist in the Philippines, Eulodia’s journey into caregiving was a leap of faith. Her dedication and hard work have not only made a significant impact on her clients but also set a benchmark for caregiving standards at Visiting Angels.

During a winter blizzard, caregivers were calling out sick because they couldn’t get to their cars. Eulodia, up at 4:30 in the morning to dig her car out, received a list of bed-bound clients and those who absolutely needed a visit, and she not only completed visits for all of her own clients over the next two days, but also went to the clients of other caregivers to be sure that all clients who were most desperately in need of personal care received the care they needed, according to her profile as a finalist.

-o0o-

“She truly is worthy of this recognition. Eulodia’s exceptional dedication, especially during challenging times like blizzards, showcases her commitment,” added Kim Trzanowski, Visiting Angels Matawan director of operations. “She not only ensures her own clients receive care but also steps in for others, ensuring all our clients in need receive the assistance they deserve.”

Eulodia’s employers said her approach to caregiving reportedly went beyond just fulfilling her professional responsibilities. She reportedly took it upon herself to ensure the well-being and happiness of her clients, often going the extra mile, whether it’s ensuring a client has a flashlight during a power outage or celebrating a birthday with a client who has no family.

“It is a dream to be chosen from 500 finalists. I love my job. I approach it as if I am taking care of my parents, my grandparents,” said Ortiz. “Caregiving is a calling, and each day I have the privilege to provide love, care, and support to all the clients I help.”

The recognition was a testament to Visiting Angels’ commitment to excellence in caregiving, McAloon said.

The company, he said, believes in nurturing and recognizing the efforts of its caregivers, who play a pivotal role in upholding the brand’s reputation for compassionate and high-quality care.

-o0o-

TABOO MOVES THAT DRIVE MEN LOCO WITH LUST: 1. Try a bit of bondage 2. Give him a peep show 3. Handle his package 4. Have stranger sex 5. Test-drive twisty 6. Plan a sneak attack 7. ONE TIP: “Do it in various parts of your house, since it will force you to accommodate your positions to different obstacles.” (Source: Cosmo Web Poll)

GELIOPHOBIA is a fear of laughter.

NOSOPHOBIA is a fear of becoming ill.

PARASKAVEDEKATRIAP is a fear of Friday the 13^th.

SAVING OUR PLANET. Let’s refresh naturally. Instead of chemical plug-in air refreshers, let’s place a few slices of citrus fruit such as lemon or orange in a saucepan, together with a few cloves. Simmer the mixture gently for an hour or so to refresh the smell of our house.

SAVING OUR PLANET. Let’s make our own polish. Most mass-produced polishes contain solvents that are harmful to the environment. Many of them come in aerosol sprays, which are wasteful and contain harmful gases.

SAVING OUR PLANET: Bake off stains. for hard-to-beat, stubborn stains on our kitchen surfaces, let’s dampen a sponge and apply baking powder, then wipe cleans as normal. The abrasive powder will get rid of most stains, but if the mark remains, let’s try re-soaking the stain with a solution of baking powder instead.

SAVING OUR PLANET: Club stains away. To keep fresh stains from sinking deep into clothes, immediately apply a little carbonated water bubbles up the stain and the salts keep the color from sticking. Then wash as normal.

—Cosmopolitan has uncovered some surprisingly sensitive parts of the body; touching them will get us both insanely turned on. And no, none rhyme with shmenis or shmagina: Sweet Spot 1. The Ultrasensitive Border Around the Lips 2. That Sexy Dip Where Neck Meets Chest 3. The Erotic Pathways on the Sides of the Torso 4. The Pleasure Mound on the Lower Back 5. The Teasing Trail on the Thighs

According to a survey of sex shop owners, cherry is the most popular flavor of edible underwear.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)