Extra Love and Care for Elders
Chinle Chapter
My name is Angela Lewis, and I am a care coordinator for Ahéhee’ Shí Diné Home Care, LLC.
My job is to go out and check on our members and the providers who care for them. I oversee paperwork and make sure providers are up to date with their credentials. Most importantly, I check on our elders to make sure they are safe and being cared for in their homes.
I have been a care coordinator for quite some time, and I always say that I love my job. I have a lot of love and respect for our elders our grandmas, grandpas, and parents.
I am who I am today because of my grandparents and my parents. They gave me many teachings, and I try to live by those teachings every day.
That is one of the reasons I came to the Navajo Nation Elder Fest. I wanted to be among our elders, share information about how we can better care for them at home, and simply spend time with them.
I love being around our elders because I am still learning from them. Every time I am with them, I learn something new.
To me, events like Elder Fest are important because they give us a chance to support our elders. Sometimes simply talking, laughing, listening, and giving them a hug can bring them joy. I believe our elders want to continue living and enjoying life, and being there for them can make a difference.
One of the biggest needs I see is for our elders to receive extra love and care within their own homes. I believe many of them would rather stay in their own homes and be cared for by people they know and love.
That is why I always encourage younger people and our youth to spend time with their elders and learn as much as they can from them.
Speaking Navajo is especially important to me. I feel that our young people should learn to communicate with our elders in Navajo. Our language helps us understand one another and stay connected to who we are.
Being around our elders, checking on them, talking with them, and simply being there for them is something I believe we should all make a priority.
When I do my home visits, some of our elders tell me that it has been a long time since anyone came to visit them.
Hearing that reminds me how important it is to make time for them.
It does not always have to be something big. Sometimes it can be as simple as sitting with them, giving them a hug, fixing them a good hot meal, or asking how they are doing.
My message to our elders and their families is simple: be there for one another.
Talk with your elders. Tell them how you feel. Visit them often and show them that they are loved. Our elders have so much to teach us, and we should take every opportunity to listen and learn from them.
For me, caring for our elders is more than just my job.
It is something that comes from the teachings and love I received from my own grandparents and parents. I want to continue giving that same care, respect, and love to our elders in my community.
– Angela Lewis, Chinle Chapter, September 2026
