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When you arrive at the modest cottage in Hyannis you are treated to a warm welcome. The couple stands together as they have for the last 74 years. They are Holocaust survivors who endured unspeakable tragedies and then went on to contribute goodness and positivity to their fellow survivors and the world. Now they need around the clock support to remain safely together at home.
So begins an Oct. 17 story in the Jewish Journal of Greater Boston about Mr. and Mrs. K, a remarkable couple who have endured unimaginable hardships as Holocaust survivors and continue to live comfortably and independently in their home because of the in-home care provided by Homecare Choices.
The story in the Jewish Journal, a free bimonthly publication, highlights a GoFundMe campaign to raise $100,000 to ensure that Mr. and Mrs. K can continue to live together with dignity and peace of mind.
Mrs. K, 95, survived the Łódź ghetto and Auschwitz concentration camp, while Mr. K, who is 102, escaped to the Polish forest, becoming a partisan fighter before spending years in a refugee camp.
After immigrating to Boston following the war, they met at night school in Dorchester, married in 1950, and devoted their lives to raising their children and supporting fellow survivors.
“Our home was always open to guests who were given free room and board for as long as they needed or wanted to stay. Their generosity and kindheartedness were evident to everyone who knew them. They never sought recognition or praise. They just believed in helping people,” their daughter Roslyn told the Jewish Journal.
Despite facing health challenges – vision and heart issues for him, and moderate dementia for her – this devoted husband has been his wife’s primary caregiver. However, following his recent surgery and hospitalization, they now require 24-hour care to remain together in their cherished home.
“Mr. and Mrs. K are very brave,” Homecare Choices Executive Director Peter Carey says in the Jewish Journal story. “They would carry on without help to remain together, but we are committed to sticking with them. They have lovely children who are doing everything they can, and we have a devoted team of caregivers who are loyal to this special couple.”
Homecare Choices is proud to offer them a 25% discount on care costs. While a Holocaust survivor fund provides some assistance, there is still a significant shortfall – and every dollar donated will go directly to their care, with any surplus allocated to assist other seniors in need.
Those who want to learn more should reach out to Peter Carey by phone at 508-313-2529, by email at petercarey@homecarechoices.com, or use the contact form on the website.
Homecare Choices is a personal home care division of the North American Family Institute (NAFI), a private nonprofit and registered 501(c)(3) charity, which means contribution to the GoFundMe campaign are tax deductible. Donors to the GoFundMe will receive a letter of gratitude, which can be used as a receipt and recognition of the specific gift for tax purposes.