Jaria is the Executive Director of Pendlove Inc. Pendlove Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that has been providing seniors and the mildly mentally ill community with long-term care housing, resources, and services since 1985. Pendlove offers a wide array of programs and services that are designed to improve the health and well-being of the senior community. The programs and services include weekly meals, group classes, social services, caregiving education, family caregiver support, advocacy, and more. Jaria is the founder of My Leading Young Lady Inc., a leadership mentoring program for girls ages 4-18. She is also an author and certified life coach with a focus on long-term care. Her career background includes long-term care, compliance, regulations, safety, training, and development.
How long have you been doing what you do? I started working in the long-term care industry as a part-time volunteer in 2000 and have now been in the industry full-time since 2015.
What types of services does your organization/agency/business provide? We proudly offer a wide array of programs and services that are designed to improve the health and well-being of the senior community. Our programs and services include weekly meals, group classes, social services, caregiving education, family caregiver support, advocacy, and more.
What made you decide to do what you do/choose your field? When my mother-in-law was forced into retirement due to being diagnosed with the mean disease of dementia, I made a heart decision to exchange my IT corporate hat for a full-time career in long-term care so that I could help my husband run the business.
What are some of the most gratifying parts of what you do? Helping seniors and families transition from home care to a long-term care community peacefully and successfully. Putting smiles on seniors’ faces who do not have family support. Providing access to activities and services that are designed to reduce isolation and help keep older adults socially engaged and connected to the community.
What are some of the most disheartening things about what you do? Seeing seniors in long-term care communities who do not have family support. Seeing economically vulnerable seniors who need to be in a long-term care community but are being forced to age in place unsafely because they are not sick enough to qualify for state long-term care assistance/support and they nor their family do not have the finances and resources to pay for long term care out of their pocket.
Do you have any events coming up? Yes, we will be opening our senior resource center “The Love Hub” Mid-March in 2023, where we will be providing weekly meals, group classes, social services, caregiving training, family caregiver support, advocacy, and more. We currently provide 200 meals a month to seniors who live in non-medical long-term care communities through our community feed program, and we are expecting to provide even more access to healthy and nutritious meals to economically vulnerable older adults when our “Love Hub” opens.
Do you have any needs that would help you better do what you do? Yes, we want to encourage potential donors to give any desired amount to the “giving areas” outlined on our “donation” page on our website at www.pendloveinc.com. All donations are tax deductible and donations can be one-time or monthly, it is all up to the donor. However, if a potential donor wants to discuss alternative giving options, they can email me directly at jsharkey@pendloveinc.com.
What main point(s) do you want the readers to take away from this article? I want them to take away that the senior community is essential, and they were relevant yesterday, they are still relevant and needed today, tomorrow, and in the years to come. I want them to take away that planning for long-term care before they need it, will give them peace of mind. Lastly, I want them to take away “That it takes the whole village to help a vulnerable population (seniors, children, families, etc.) in any and every community”.
How can people get in touch with you?
- Email: jsharkey@pendloveinc.com
- Office Phone: 901-744-6327
- Website: www.pendloveinc.com
- Facebook: Pendlove Inc
- Facebook: Jaria Sharkey
- Instagram: PendloveInc
- Instagram: JariaCSharkey
- Linkedin: Jaria Cunningham-Sharkey