Critical Lifelines
Portraits & Stories of Direct Care Workers
Henrietta Ivey, Detroit, MI
Henrietta Ivey, Detroit, MI, licensed pharmacy technician, started out as a family caregiver then her paid PCA work grew by word-of-mouth. For her, it is all about the love and compassion she gives, the relationships she develops with her clients, and knowing she’s made someone’s…
Ann Bilyeu, Grayling, MI
Ann Bilyeu, Grayling, MI, mother of 8, began DCW work 18 years ago at an eight-bed adult foster care home for persons with mental illness. It was a challenging beginning but she thought of it as an adventure. She now prefers one-on-one home care and…
Ardith Lee, Williamston, MI
Ardith Lee, Williamston, MI, Certified Nursing Assistant, Dementia Specialist, started out doing PCA work in a hospital neurological unit. When she later worked in a nursing home, she became hooked on working with persons with dementia. “I can’t imagine doing anything else. I have…
Mare Martell, Grand Rapids, MI
Mare Martell, Grand Rapids, MI, has been doing paid DCW work for 3 years and says it makes her “blissfully happy” to be able to serve others. “I would do it for free, however, free does not pay bills.” She loves animals, has a menagerie…
Sarah Bigby, Holland, MI
Sarah Bigby, Holland, MI, Medical Assistant. Has been a DCW for 9 years. She gave it a try because it is in the medical field and offered flexible hours that allowed her to care for her young child. She stuck with it because, “It still…
Jeremy Klimas and Elizabeth Peterson, Grayling, MI
Jeremy Klimas and Elizabeth Peterson, Grayling, MI, live in a full house, blending families and three generations to make ends meet because one income as a DCW is not enough.
Raised in Detroit, Jeremy joined the Air Force, did three tours of duty, one in Afghanistan,…
Betty Keller, Kalkaska, MI
Betty Keller, Kalkaska, MI, is a certified nursing assistant who has been a DCW for 28 years. She talks about the skills needed to be a DCW: technical skills, patience, being able to communicate with all kinds of different people and levels of mental or…
Wendy Martin, Traverse City, MI
Wendy Martin, Traverse City, MI, Certified Phlebotomist, co-owns Crystal Penny Inc. Home Healthcare Company with her mother who is an RN. She worked as a quality automotive engineer for years. Then the recession hit, she was laid off and not sure what to do next.…
Therese Mukarushema, Lansing, MI
Therese Mukarushema, Lansing, MI emigrated c. 2004 from Rwanda where she was a nurse. Now a U.S. citizen, she at first had difficulty finding work and faced racism, discrimination, and ignorance. “Some people treat you like you are from the junk in Africa. They ask…
“Critical Lifelines” is made possible by a grant from: The Archie Green Fellowship at the American Folklife Center, Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20540-4610 and with funding from: The Michigan Health Endowment Fund, 7927 Nemco Way, Brighton, MI 48116
Critical Lifelines Personnel:
- Dr. Clare Luz, Principal Investigator (PI), Director: Age Alive & IMPART Alliance, MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Dr. Marsha MacDowell, Co-PI; Curator of Folk Arts, MSU Museum; Professor, Department of Art and Art History
- Khalid Ibrahim, Co-PI, Photographer; Clinical Research Informatics Technologist, MSU Biomedical Research Informatics Core/Clinical and Translational Sciences and Eat Pomegranate Photography www.eatpomegranate.com
- Katherine Hanson, Special Projects Coordinator, IMPART Alliance, MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine