Help my grandma remain at home rather than a nursing home!

"Sometimes all it takes is one light, one movement, one act of kindness to change a life."

It is this belief in compassion and community that drives me to write to you today.

My name is Alinda Vartanian, a public school teacher in Cliffside Park, New Jersey, and as my grandmother's primary care taker, my goal is raise enough funds to help cover the cost of hiring a night caretaker, Monday through Sunday, from 6PM to 6AM, which can run from $18-$25 an hour. This vital assistance will enable my grandmother to maintain her independence and dignity which she has earned through her lifetime by allowing her to stay in her HOME, where her comfort lies, the environment of her choice where she feels the safest, rather than being forced into more expensive long term care facility; a nursing home.

Currently, Medicaid covers 60 hours of home care each week, from 8 AM to 4 PM; however, this does not adequately meet the comprehensive needs of my medically complex grandmother. Our appeals for additional hours have been denied on three separate occasions. Unfortunately, the care provided by Medicaid is based on predetermined limits rather than the actual needs of the patient.

My sister and I have been devotedly supporting our grandmother’s care, using our life savings and significant portion of our income on caregiving in the hope of helping her regain some independence. As her primary caregiver, I have been experiencing significant physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion managing full-time job while attending to her needs in the evenings. Unfortunately, the cost of the nightly care she requires has become overwhelming and we are drowning without help.

I know this may seem like a significant ask, especially for someone you've never met, but I hope you might consider extending your generosity to help her in her time of need.

Born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey, my beloved grandmother , Isabet Agca immigrated to the United States in 1994. She is a strong-willed and resilient 92-year-old woman who has faced numerous challenges and tremendous hardships throughout her life, including the tragic and unbearable loss of two children. her 27-year-old son, Vartan, due to kidney failure, and her 33-year-old daughter, Nazen, from a brain tumor. These tragedies have left a deep emptiness in her heart, leading to anxiety, depression, and ongoing struggles with congestive heart failure.

In 2022, a battle with COVID-19 severely impacted her health. Her health has declined significantly, culminating in a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. This cognitive decline has profoundly impacted her independence and quality of life. Following a recent hospitalization for an upper respiratory infection, she has experienced further regression and now requires full-time care, similar to what a nursing facility would.

My grandmother doesn’t have a house to sell, a life insurance policy to cash in, or a retirement plan to draw from. Your support could make a profound difference in my grandmother's quality of life during these last years.

We are dedicated to ensuring every donation is accounted for, prioritizing transparency above all. All payments made from donations will be clearly documented.

Thank You

Alinda Vartanian