Care Comes Full Circle

One day, Laurel Hatch was struggling to put her mother’s earrings back in. 

The tiny clasps had become difficult to manage, and Laurel worried her mom, Linda, would be upset. Linda had always taken pride in her appearance. Even now, while living with two devastating neurological conditions, those small parts of who she is still matter. 

Seeing Laurel struggle, two staff members at Covenant’s St. Teresa Place paused what they were doing and gently helped place the earrings back in. 

It was a simple moment, but for Laurel, it reflected something profound about caregiving. 

“I’m sure they were busy and had a lot to do, but they paused to ensure that she could feel dignified and cared for,” Laurel shared.

Switching roles 

For nearly 40 years, Linda cared for others as a registered nurse in Calgary hospitals while also caring for her family, church community and countless people in need. 

Today, care has come full circle. 

Linda now lives with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), and Laurel has stepped into a role her mother once held so naturally: caregiver, advocate and protector. 

“I have moved from being cared for by her, to being her caregiver and advocate,” Laurel shared. 

Like many families navigating seniors’ care, Laurel balances love, grief and advocacy while trying to preserve the dignity and identity of the woman she has always known. 

Helping caregivers care for our seniors 

At St. Teresa Place, donor support through Covenant Foundation helps caregivers like Laurel create more meaningful moments for residents and families alike. Funding has supported specialized exercise equipment, memory care technology and a wheelchair-accessible bicycle that allows residents to safely experience the outdoors and reconnect with moments of joy and freedom. 

These investments help caregivers support seniors with greater dignity, comfort and connection while also bringing reassurance to families navigating difficult seasons of life. 

“When care is thoughtful, consistent and attentive, even in small ways, it improves not only my mom’s quality of life but also the family’s peace of mind,” Laurel shared.

Extraordinary care worth celebrating 

For Laurel, preserving her mother’s sense of identity and connection is an important part of caregiving. 

At St. Teresa, Linda still enjoys hockey, music, singing and spending time with her family. Her children upload photos and videos onto a digital photo frame so she can remain connected to everyday family moments.  Birthdays and Mother’s Day celebrations continue at her bedside, where loved ones gather to cherish precious time together. 

This Seniors’ Month, Linda’s story reminds us that extraordinary care is often expressed in simple, everyday moments: 

A daughter helping her mother put on earrings. 

Staff members pausing in the middle of a busy day to help someone feel dignified and cared for. 

Families showing up again and again for the people who once cared for them. 

These moments, and the people who make them possible, are worth celebrating. 

This Seniors’ Month, Covenant Foundation celebrates the loved ones, healthcare workers and compassionate caregivers who help seniors experience comfort, dignity and connection every day. 

Your support helps caregivers provide extraordinary care for seniors across Covenant communities. Will you make a Seniors’ Month gift today?