
DATE: Friday, June 27, 1997                 TAG: 9706260160

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 04   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: COVER STORY 

SOURCE: BY PAM STARR, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:  171 lines

MAKING LIFE A LITTLE EASIER FOR OTHERS WHEN PAT CRAVEN WAS NAMED OUTSTANDING CITY EMPLOYEE, IT TOOK NO ONE BY SURPRISE.

TRYING TO FIND someone who doesn't like Pat Craven is impossible.

Her co-workers describe Craven as one of the nicest, most humble people around. Dedicated, caring and compassionate. Goes the extra mile. Willing to do anything for anyone.

It came as no surprise to them that Craven, the coordinator of the Respite Care for the Elderly program in the city's Comprehensive Mental Health Services, was chosen the Outstanding City of Virginia Beach Employee of the Year.

No one could be more deserving, said Mary Ann McLaughlin, a clinician for Older Adult Services who put together the nominating package with clinician Kathy O'Connor. Fifteen people wrote lengthy, glowing letters about Craven for the award, which has been sponsored by the Rotary Club for the past 17 years.

``Kathy and I opened letters at the same time, we were so excited,'' McLaughlin said. ``It shows how much she's admired and respected in the community. People love her and care for her and know they can count on her.

``She is one of the most outstanding individuals I have known.''

It does take someone special to run the respite care program, which places trained caregivers into the homes of impaired older adults so their adult children or other primary caretakers can have a break for a few hours or even a few days.

Since 1981 Craven has personally recruited, selected and trained hundreds of those workers, often answering their questions late at night and lending moral support whenever it's needed.

She also talks to civic groups, organizations and churches about her program on her rare off time and serves on numerous committees and boards.

Judging from the letters that were received, it's not hard to see why Craven was chosen for this award:

She literally works day and night to help the families of older adults care for their loved ones at home . . . The success of the program is due to Pat's extraordinary efforts . . .'' Dee Keenan, supervisor, Older Adult Services.

The essence of caring is truly within Ms. Craven and it shows in everything she does . . . She is a special individual who makes a difference in the lives of those who are fortunate enough to seek her assistance and guidance . . .'' Gino V. Colombara, executive director of the Alzheimer's Assocation.

Pat Craven is one of those people that President Bush must have had in mind when he coined the term ``kinder and gentler nation;'' Pat truly is a point of light for all of those who know her . . .'' Nancy Allan, social worker, Sentara Life Care Corporation.

Craven, 64, was so touched by the letters that she lovingly mounted them in a leather-bound photo album, along with the award letter, congratulatory cards, photos of the awards ceremony in April and printout of the speeches given by City Manager James Spore, Mayor Meyera Oberndorf and other city workers.

``To have my co-workers nominate me like that, wow,'' said Craven from her tiny office in the renovated trailer on Wildwood Drive that is home to Older Adult Services. ``It's really neat. I never expected recognition for doing my job. But if I didn't have the caregivers, there would be no purpose to my job. They all earned this award.''

The caregivers are the soul of Craven's work.

Mostly middle-aged and older women who have cared for a parent at home, they take an intensive 30-hour training course before relieving someone else. Workers are paid $4.35 an hour ($5.35 an hour starting next month) and typically work 10-20 hours a week.

Since 1980 the program has aided 1,434 families and trained nearly 500 caregivers. At any given time, there are about 75 families being helped by 40-50 caregivers.

Craven always finds more than enough qualified caregivers to train for the emotionally demanding work, probably because of how nicely she treats them.

``I return all calls to them first, then the families, then everyone else,'' she said. ``I tell them they can call me anytime they have a problem. I try to be real available for them.''

Valarie Jones, 72, has been a respite caregiver for nine years, thanks to the Craven touch.

``Pat has a special quality of making everyone feel comfortable and needed,'' said Jones, a registered nurse. `She puts you at ease immediately and makes you feel that you're a very important part of the respite program.''

Last month at the Central Library, Craven taught some respite trainees about dealing with depression. As the day wore on, it became apparent that the 8-hour class was turning into a discussion group.

And as Craven shared stories, so, too, did they.

``Ten years ago I got really, really depressed,'' said ``Sue.'' ``I ended up in a hospital. It took two weeks before I realized what was wrong. I finally realized I had been doing nothing for myself.''

Craven nodded her head in sympathy.

``For 30 years I was the preacher's wife - everything I did was for someone else,'' she said. ``I felt guilty to sit down and read a book for me.

``Then one year everything fell apart,'' she continued. ``I got my master's degree, my dog died, my husband had a pituitary tumor and I had surgery. My son came down to help out, but two months later he had cancer.''

The caregivers gasped in unison as Craven smiled gratefully.

``Caregivers have no idea how depressed they are but you can pick it up right away when you come to relieve them,'' she said. ``They may talk to you for an hour before they leave.''

The next morning Craven visited the home of Hugo and Thelma Curl to see how well respite care was working for them. Hugo Curl, 81, has suffered from Alzheimer's disease for 10 years. Thelma Curl, 74, has been taking care of him ever since. Both Curls are retired doctors of education from Norfolk State.

``I use respite two or three times a month,'' said Thelma, watching her husband fidget with the buttons on his plaid shirt. ``I should probably use it more often. They've been wonderful.''

The license plate on the white Toyota Camry that Craven drives fits her perfectly: RSPT LDY.

Seventeen years ago, that license plate would have read WIFE or MOTHER or HOMEMKR. That's how Craven, the third of four children of North Carolina tobacco farmers, saw herself.

She met her husband, Al, in a Baptist church and married him right out of high school in 1951. For five years she worked as a secretary to put him through college. Al became a Navy chaplain in 1960 and they moved around the country several times, finally settling in Virginia Beach.

When their only son, Al Jr., became older, Craven returned to work. The memory makes her smile.

``I was a secretary at Kempsville Junior High, typing suspension letters and hating every minute,'' she said. ``I took classes at Tidewater Community College and left (Kempsville Junior) in 1978.''

A gerontology class turned the tide for Craven. She took a class on the social problems of aging with public health nurse Eileen Ayvazian and Mary Ellen Cox, founder of the M.E. Cox Center for Elder Day Care.

``The professor made us wear Popsicle sticks on our fingers overnight, so we could feel what it was like to have arthritis,'' she recalled. ``We wore film on our glasses and cotton in our ears. It really amazed me.''

After receiving an associate's degree, Craven went on to Virginia Wesleyan for a bachelor's degree in human services.

``I was 48 with a bachelor's degree and nobody wanted to hire me,'' said Craven with a laugh. ``But a while later Terry Jenkins (mental health director) called and asked me to start a respite care program. As a middle child, I'm always keeping peace and getting people together. It was a natural for me.''

Craven worked part time until 1984, when the city hired her full time. One year later Craven started her master's degree in gerontology at Norfolk State and received it in 1989, at the age of 56.

``Yes, I studied gerontology before it was popular and did my thesis on respite caregivers,'' said Craven, holding up a thick green hardbound book. ``But that's it for me. I'm not going for a doctorate.''

Jenkins, her supervisor until recently, said that Craven is ``entirely responsible'' for the success of the program, which is unique to the Hampton Roads area as well as the state.

``Many other programs are medically oriented and use nursing care,'' she said. ``We wanted to be broader-based to keep the costs affordable and attract a larger group who wanted to work with the elderly.''

Much of Craven's spare time is spent taking care of husband Al, who is nearly blind. Craven doesn't work as many extra hours as she used to but intends to stay on for at least another five years.

``There are times it's so hard that I cry,'' she said. ``But with all of us, you feel so good that you have helped another human being and made life a little easier for them. I love it.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos including color cover by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT

Pat Craven hugs Hugo Curl as his wife Thelma looks on. Thelma uses

respite care two or three times a month.

Pat Craven visits with Hugo Curl, who has suffered from Alzheimer's

disease for 10 years.

Craven spends a lot of time in her Toyota Camry, which bears a

personalized license plate.

Graphic

FIND OUT MORE

The Respite Care program helps families with an impaired older adult

take a break in their caretaking responsibilities for a few hours.

The cost is $4.35 an hour or less, depending upon income, and will

be going up to $5.35 an hour next month. Call Pat Craven at 437-6110