Merle D. Griff, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of SarahCare, is one of the leading authorities on the care of seniors in the United States. Merle Griff saw families struggling to care for aging loved ones without adequate support. There was a need for services that support both the individual and the family caregiver. Over time, that expanded into strengthening community-based care and advocating for services that allow people to age with dignity while supporting the families who care for them.
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She hears families say that their loved one has "returned." A parent who had become quiet or withdrawn begins talking again, engaging with the family, participating in life. One daughter told her, "My father is telling me his old jokes again. I used to find some of those jokes annoying, until suddenly he stopped talking. Now I can't wait to hear another one because it means my father is back."
Griff has been a family caregiver herself, for her mother and her husband. Those experiences shaped how she approaches her work. They gave her a deeper understanding of the emotional journey families face and the importance of helping them understand their options for care and the resources available to them.
Her advice is to stay curious and remember the human side of healthcare. The science and systems are important, but compassion, listening, and empathy are what truly define great healthcare professionals. If you keep the needs of individuals and families at the center of your work, you will find both purpose and fulfillment.
Too often, she says, caregivers are the invisible backbone of the healthcare system. She hopes to see healthcare place greater emphasis on prevention, early-intervention, community-based services, and support for family caregivers. The next generation has the opportunity to build a system that treats caregivers as partners!