Gelette Burgess

said, "There is work that is work and there is play that is play;

there is play that is work and work that is play. And in only one of these

lie happiness."

For Bobbie

Evans, founder of Saints Alive, work is more than play, more than happiness

­ it is a calling and a love.

A few years

ago, Bobbie and her husband, Chuck, were faced with the same situation

many older children face ­ having to care for their parents. After

the death of Chuck's father, his mother, "Nana," needed 24-hour

in-home assistance.

"We were

in crisis mode," said Bobbie Evans. "We didn't know where to

turn to first, and we had so many questions."

At the same

time she was faced with helping her father care for her stepmother, who

had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Through her

church, Evans was connected with a local provider of in-home health services.

She hired them to help ­ and then they hired her to help. Knowing

how "traumatic it is to go through and deal with situations while

in crisis mode," Evans embarked on a mission to educate others to

help them be more prepared. She soon realized that helping during this

often trying time could be complicated and emotional. Oftentimes the family

must make immediate decisions without knowing how to get help.

She created

a presentation and began speaking to local community groups and organizations.

Over the past three years Evans has given over 350 presentations to civic

groups, churches, senior groups, senior day care centers, hospitals, doctor's

offices, support groups and businesses.

The birth of

her first grandchild precipitated a decision to retire and spend more

time with her family. Wanting to stay connected, she continued to give

presentations. One thing led to another and, with the encouragement of

her family and friends, she was soon in the beginning stages of forming

her own business as a eldercare consultant. She formed Saints Alive, a

senior referral and community service company.

"The end

of our journey is and always will be the most difficult stage we will

ever go through," she said. "I'm here right now, experiencing

my own parents' end-of-life journey they have been my motivation to share

through Saints Alive Senior Referral."

She named her

business after one of her favorite senior groups, Saints Alive at First

Baptist Church in Jonesboro. "They are one of the most phenomenal

senior groups I have even done a presentation for. They are so loving

and young at heart," she noted.

Regarding the

future, Evans says her main goal is to "launch a unified church mission

in all the surrounding counties."

Repeatedly

she has had requests from caregivers for a "short break" from

watching their parents. There are not any agencies that offer in-home

assistance for less than four hours. Many cannot afford to pay for four

hours, or need a shorter break. Evans has already enlisted some local

churches to participate in her efforts. Church members volunteer to give

an "hour or two" to those less fortunate.

She would like

to see "all churches come together." She is willing to help

get the program set up and to compile a list of those who would like to

volunteer.

Evans is the

mother of five, and an involved grandmother. She is a member of His House

Community Church and in her "free" time enjoys hunting, fishing,

boating, gardening and can be found at the Fayetteville Gold's Gym working

out with her husband on a regular basis.

Evans says

her "love for seniors has been a motivating factor and I feel a strong

calling to make this journey in our life more fulfilling." She continued,

"I am grateful for all the blessings that have bestowed upon me and

I thank God for the opportunity that He has given me, and for blessing

me with the opportunity to share my knowledge with others."

Back

to Prime Timers Home Page