Donna began her journey in Human Services in 1983. During the next 35 years she held various positions and formally retired in 2018. She writes on an array of social issues. Donna's relaxation time includes walking her Lab, Roxy, having fun with her seven grandchildren and one great grandchild, writing for Silver Sage, spending time with friends and family. Her last full time position was providing care to her father. Since that has ended, Donna is taking the time to invest in her own self care and interests.
Beautifully Mixed by Donna Scrafano As a young social worker, in the 1980s, I had the grand opportunity to work with a wonderful psychologist. She taught me many valuable lessons. One thing she said continues to resonate in my mind: “God made mixed children extra beautiful because he knew the special challenges they would face.” Read more
“The Book Club” and Me by Donna Scrafano Since I have been sheltering-in, so I’ve been watching a lot of movies. Mostly fun movies. Some movies I’ve seen before. One particular movie I’ve chosen to watch, and I’ve seen several times, is “The Book Club.” I had forgotten just how funny and yet truthful each Read more
When the Cavalry Doesn’t Arrive By Donna Scrafano A former supervisor once told me that if we don’t have expectations of an individual, we won’t be disappointed in them. Simple, right? Not really, especially when one is providing care to a loved one and there are others who could—and should—assist. I’ve written approximately nine articles Read more
THE CAREGIVER by Donna L. Scrafano The definition of “caretaker,” as referenced in the Webster II New Riverside Webster dictionary, reads: “one employed to look after goods, property or another person: CUSTODIAN.” Oh, if only the tasks of caretaking were so very precise, as is this definition. A few years ago, I was asked by Read more
Isolation by Donna L. Scrafano According to Merriam-Webster’s on-line dictionary, “isolation” is “the state of being in a place or situation that is separate from others; the condition of being isolated; the act of separating something from other things; the act of isolating something.” Thanks to the coronavirus, isolation has become part of our society’s Read more
Grief – A Personal Journey By Donna L Scrafano My first exposure to grief came on December 3, 1963. That was the day I had lost my maternal grandmother, twenty-three days before my tenth birthday. I was in fifth grade. Eleven days previously on November 22, the nun who taught us at St. Anthony’s parochial Read more
Having a Voice As a Caregiver by Donna L. Scrafano It has always been important for me to be heard when I felt an injustice was occurring against myself or another. Most appreciated this quality of my personality. Some, of course, did not. For most of my life there has been someone attempting to prevent Read more
Guilt—A Wasted Emotion by Donna Scrafano Caring for a loved one can be, the most stressful job one may experience throughout a lifetime. In addition to the numerous tasks involved and the many, many roles one must play (nurse, doctor, advocate, parent, protector, domestic manager, accountant, chauffer, etc.), there’s also the “guilt” factor. I spent Read more
Orphaned at 65 by Donna Scrafano I recall worrying about my parents’ health when I was in my twenties and thirties. I had a great fear of losing them during that time. Although my parents were seemingly very healthy, my concern about losing them was still present. Maybe this was because my mother lost her Read more
New-Found Freedom by Donna Scrafano Anyone who has ever dedicated their time on a 24/7 basis to care for a loved one knows the amount of freedom that they must sacrifice. After caring for my elderly father for four-plus years, he passed away this summer at the age of 90. After that, I experienced a Read more
