Spotlights
Spotlight: How Crystal Cusack Honors National Senior Citizens Day
At Amergis Healthcare Staffing, our team members are at the heart of everything we do. Each month, our Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) board highlights the story of an Amergis employee who demonstrates our core values for healthcare professionals and their patients.
For August, we are celebrating National Senior Citizen Day by speaking with Amergis’ Education and Awareness Subcommittee Co-Chair Crystal Cusack about how she honors the holiday. National Senior Citizen Day is celebrated on August 21st each year to raise awareness about the challenges that affect the aging population and honor their contributions to our communities. As a medical staffing company, our team members have extensive personal experience working with senior citizens in medical settings. This is exemplified by Crystal, who frequently volunteers in hospice care as an “End-of-Life” Doula, often forming meaningful connections with senior citizens in the final stages of their lives. We spoke with Crystal about her time working in hospice care, and how this experience relates to National Senior Citizen Day. Check out what she had to say below!
Crystal’s Path at Amergis
Crystal has been with Amergis for about three years, and currently works in the Time & Expense FFS II role out of Amergis’ Corporate Headquarters office. She started out in an onboarding position before moving into an expiring role, and finally landed in her current Time & Expense FFS II position. Crystal shared that in this position she loves being able to have a hand in many parts of Amergis’ processes, as well as having the opportunity to network with a multitude of different groups on a daily basis.
In addition to her day-to-day role, Crystal is an active member in Amergis’ Diversity and Inclusion initiatives! She currently serves on both the D&I Board, and as Co-Chair to the Board’s Education and Awareness Subcommittee.
History & Experience in Hospice Care
Crystal started off her journey volunteering in hospice care relatively recently, in December of 2023. Reflecting on her start, Crystal shared that she had been looking for more ways to get involved in her community after receiving her master’s degree in public health. One day, she received an email about continuing education for doulas. Initially, Crystal thought that this was referring to a birth doula, as this is how most people associate the term “doula”. However, upon further research, Crystal realized that this education was for an end-of-life doula. Other terms for this type of doula include “death doula,” “spiritual doula,” or “emotional doula.” This intrigued Crystal, who decided to go ahead and earn her End-of-Life Doula Certification from the International Doula Life Movement. From there, she connected with partners in her community, eventually finding Gentiva Hospice and beginning her volunteer journey there.
As an end-of-life doula, Crystal assists with a variety tasks. This can include monitoring the patient’s oxygen levels, holding their hand, helping them get exercise, spending time with them, or comforting them and their family members. Her main goal is to ensure that this transition is as comfortable as possible for the patient and their family. As a military spouse, Crystal knows what’s it’s like to not have family around and how difficult it can be to face challenges on your own. In her role as an end-of-life doula, she acts as the backbone through supporting these families during an incredibly tough time.
Death often brings a huge emotional toll along with it, so naturally being an end-of-life doula can be very difficult at times. Hospice patients typically have around six months to live, and Crystal shared that she has been with many patients shortly before their passing. She recalled one patient, whom she’d spent one day playing puzzles with, and then the next weekend she volunteered, she learned of their passing. Some common practices that Crystal uses to deal with these difficult moments are grounding, allowing herself to feel her emotions, and taking the time to talk with family.
While there are times when this role can be challenging, there are just as many rewarding factors. For Crystal, her favorite part of volunteering with hospice patients is hearing their story! Understanding where they come from, different cultural aspects of their life, and just being able to get to know the life experiences they’ve had has always been a privilege for Crystal. She reflected on one hospice patient who was a manager of a local carnival, often making jokes about how the claw machines are always rigged against the player and encouraged her to never waste money on them. While it may be a small insight to some, to Crystal, it highlighted something big that made up that individual’s identity. Experiences like this remind Crystal that everyone has their own stories, and how interesting it is to be able to hear a variety of different life experiences throughout the patients that she interacts with.
Celebrating National Senior Citizens Day
National Senior Citizens Day focuses on celebrating and supporting senior citizens, along with acknowledging their invaluable contributions to society. As an end-of-Life Doula, Crystal embodies this spirit by honoring and assisting seniors in their later years. Through listening to life stories, connecting with families, and aiding patients in their daily lives, Crystal has gained a deep appreciation for diverse traditions and customs from various cultures. Moreover, Crystal extends her compassionate care to seniors she knows
personally. For instance, she assists her grandmother’s sister, who suffers from nighttime dementia, providing much-needed support and comfort.
Crystal also highlighted the importance of patience in honoring and valuing seniors. As we age, it becomes increasingly challenging to keep up with our ever-changing environment, and certain processes and ways of thinking that come easily to younger individuals may require more time for seniors. For instance, the rapid evolution of technology can be a significant source of anxiety for older individuals. Crystal noted that practicing patience with seniors, especially when they are learning new things like technology, is a meaningful way to honor their experiences and contributions. We can always learn from each other. With different illnesses, they have different needs, so it’s important to understand and take your time.
When asked about how others can celebrate national Senior Citizen Day, Crystal shared that simple, nice gestures can go a long way. It can be as simple as helping a senior citizen at the grocery store or shoveling a sidewalk during the colder months. Crystal also suggested connecting with local organizations, like churches, shelters, or hospice centers, to see if there are any volunteer opportunities that can assist senior citizens. These good deeds don’t have to be limited to National Senior Citizen Day; however, you can help our older population all year round!
Join the Amergis Healthcare Staffing Team and Make a Difference
Amergis Staffing always has a wide range of available opportunities for people who are ready to accelerate their careers. We embrace employees from all different backgrounds and always strive to foster a welcoming work environment by following our core values of:
- Promoting diversity and inclusion.
- Winning with integrity and trust.
- Prioritizing quality.
- Investing in development.
- Championing innovation.
- Driving for results.
Learn how you can join the Amergis Staffing team by reaching out online or visiting our jobs site today.
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