Our DSP this week is Comfort. She has been with Living Well for over 20 years and brings energy and vitality with her to work every day! Comfort is an incredible employee who continuously shows up to provide incredible care and support for the people at our Cope home. Just as her name suggests, she brings comfort to the house.
Colleen Mutzabaugh, Support Director, says, “Comfort has more energy than I ever thought humanly possible. She just goes and goes, and it is a challenge to keep up with her. She takes her responsibility caring for everyone very seriously but that’s not to say she doesn’t know how to have fun when at work.” Indeed, Colleen thinks Comfort is immensely fun to work with but also very dedicated to the work and the role of DSP. She adds, “Comfort has a deep understanding and commitment to all the people she supports at Cope. She really knows the people well and makes it her mission to use person centeredness as her guiding principle when training any staff to work with people at Cope. Comfort truly stands out as an amazing DSP, and I am so proud of her.”
Comfort is a regular at company parties and happily brings the people she supports to gatherings that enrich their lives. She is kind, compassionate, dedicated, and to all who meet her, it is clear she is here to be of service to others. Julie Conrad, Program Manager, says, “Comfort is a great advocate for the people at Cope. She is hard-working and very organized. She is also supportive of her coworkers and seems to be happy to be here.”
And Cynthia Hinojosa, who was a Float Program Manager at the home for a bit, says, “Comfort really cares about the people served and their well-being. She used to have dance parties to get them moving, it was always so fun to see.” You might even remember the dancing, as Comfort is in the video Cynthia put together about the makeshift State Fair they had last summer. She was right there, having a blast and showing everyone what having FUN at work looks like.
We are so lucky that Comfort has dedicated decades of her career to Living Well. Her impact on the quality of life of the people she works with is obvious—she is simply incredible at her job. Direct Support Professionals like Comfort make the work look easy, when we all know it is lots of work, yet worth the time and effort. Congrats, Comfort—we appreciate you!
ABOUT COMFORT
Number of years/months with Living Well: 21 years 9 months
Hobbies/Interests: I love the gym and work out 4-5 days a week. I am also a personal trainer when not at work but am taking a break from that at the moment to concentrate on self-care.
Job Experience/History: I worked at a hotel when I first came to the US, before joining the team.
Favorite part of the job: I love that I get to work with cool staff and wonderful people in the home. Cope is always full of laughter.
Favorite or craziest work story: When one of the people that lives at the house snuck through the garage door and headed towards the road. I immediately went out as if I was running for my dear life to save them. She didn’t get too close to the road, but whew, that was the perfect reminder to be present in the moment and be fully alert to the sounds in the house. I hear everything when I am there.
What is your motivation for coming to work: The people I support, my coworkers and being a natural caregiver. I have worked here a long time and while it is hard to lose someone, I have come to realize that with time you heal, and the memories are lovey.
What made you apply: The passion I have for helping people. Turns out I have the habit of helping others. When I am at the gym or at work, I show people new techniques and ways to achieve better results. I want to help people reach goals and strive to be a better version of themselves. It means a lot to me to help people, in my inner circle and in my community.
What made you stay: I got attached to the people served. It feels like family over here, and holidays are made sweeter when I get to have family at home and at work.
What would you tell people interested in joining the team: The people, staff and company are amazing. I would ask them to think about their home, where they live. In my mind, the first thing we get to decide is does this feel like home—in life, work and love. If it brings peace it is worth the effort. And Living Well is worthy my effort.
When not at work what do you like to do for fun: I love going to the gym, watching movies TV shows and eating great food!
Want to nominate a DSP? Please email jessica.maurer@livingwell.org to nominate a Living Well DSP. Special thanks to Miles and Cheri Cohen for their support of DSP of Week. Want to join them in underwriting our DSP Shoutout Program? Please contact Devan Heinsen at devan.heinsen@livingwell.org for sponsorship opportunities.