With four years of experience, Pauline Wiggins, a Direct Care Worker (DCW) of Muskegon County, recently stepped into a new role as an MSU IMPART Alliance trainer after enrolling in her first training course in late 2023. A champion of person-centered care, Pauline sees her work as a tool, helping people live fully. “I tend […]
When Lori Sutton’s son, Jeremy, was just 14, his world was shaped by the challenges of autism and severe disabilities. With few options available and a fierce love driving her forward, Lori made a bold decision: she helped Jeremy move into his own home on Vail Street in Midland — and soon after, she ended […]
Every day, more than 165,000 Direct Care Workers in Michigan make it possible for people to live with dignity, safety, and comfort. They are caregivers, companions, advocates, and lifelines. And yet, they are too often invisible.
An East Lansing High School classroom buzzed with creativity this week as students participated in a Kaleidoscope Painting Workshop, part of A Caregiver’s Butterfly Garden, a statewide public art initiative led by artist Zahrah Resh and Michigan State University’s IMPART Alliance in partnership with AgeAlive.
In direct care, support often transitions into friendship. For Direct Care Worker Dallas Reim and Mike Hitchcock, this happened quickly, yet quite naturally. “They kind of almost become like a part of your family,” Mike shared, reflecting on nearly two decades of receiving support and services and forming meaningful connections with direct care workers. […]
Before the first butterfly fluttered onto the wall of the Saugatuck Center for the Arts, it began as a single sheet of white paper in someone’s hands. A Caregiver’s Butterfly Garden is a collaborative, evolving art installation made possible by Direct Care Workers, students, volunteers, and advocates across Michigan.
Dan and Jennifer Digmann’s love story is one of resilience, devotion, and the power of direct care. Their journey together is deeply intertwined with their experiences living with multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system. Dan was diagnosed with MS on Valentine’s Day in 2000. Initially, he managed the relapsing-remitting […]
The Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan (AAAWM) recently unveiled its new community training lab, marking a significant step in addressing the growing challenges faced by direct care workforce across the state. Located in Grand Rapids, the center is dedicated to equipping caregivers with essential skills and support, addressing Michigan’s critical shortage of direct care […]
The Saugatuck Center for the Arts has become the proud pilot site for A Caregiver’s Butterfly Garden, a statewide traveling art installation honoring Michigan’s Direct Care Workers. The immersive garden will remain on display through early 2026. Now, the team is actively seeking three new host locations for 2026.
