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CONA ELDER LAW HONOR CATHERINE LARSEN AS CAREGIVER OF THE YEAR
Cona Elder Law, a leading elder law and estate planning firm based in Melville, recently honored Catherine Larsen, Holtsville, as Caregiver of the Year in recognition of National Family Caregivers Month. During the firm’s 4th Annual Caregiver Conference held at Hofstra University, Melissa Negrin-Wiener, Esq, partner at Cona Elder Law, awarded her with a plaque and $100 to be donated to Catherine’s fundraising campaign that she hopes will raise $ 75,000 for a wheelchair accessible van.
According to Melissa, “We selected Catherine as a winning caregiver because of her dedication to providing constant care to Annamarie Morganti, a 23 year old woman in Shirley who suffered an anoxic brain injury resulting in quadriparesis. Catherine selflessly put her own needs aside and dedicated herself to Annamarie’s care, which she does with a positive attitude and a loving heart.”
“As a close family friend, I’ve grown to love Annamarie as if she were my own daughter,” says Catherine. Catherine put her own life on hold and gave up a job as a self-employed bookkeeper so she could give Annamarie 24/7 care, which involves 32 different tasks every 6 hours.
Along with all of the physical needs she provides for Annamarie, she also does cognitive training, physical therapy exercises and even entertains her with a comedic flair.
When Annamarie was in the hospital for a year, Catherine moved in and slept on an ergonomic chair. During this time, she became certified to do all of the tasks done by an RN that she now does for Annamarie at home.
With Catherine’s never ending help and devotion, Annamarie is improving. She can now read and communicate with eye movements and her tongue. Shortly, she will be given eye gaze software allowing her to speak through the computer, similar to what Stephen Hawking had.
“Our firm works with many families and sees untold numbers of caregivers who put their own lives on hold to perform the difficult and often thankless job of caregiving for a loved one,” explains Jennifer Cona, managing partner of Cona Elder Law. “By offering the Caregiver of the Year award, Cona Elder Law recognizes, honors and thanks extraordinary and exemplary caregivers who go above and beyond the call of duty and give so much of themselves and their lives to help someone in need.”
Cona Elder Law is recognized as a leading elder law and estate planning firm on Long Island. The firm was ranked the #1 Elder Law firm by Long Island Business News for 4 consecutive years (2012 – 2015) and was a finalist in the 2015 HIA Business Achievement Awards. The firm provides creative advocacy and cutting edge planning strategies and has been featured in many publications including: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsday, L.I. Business News, Investor’s News Daily, USA Today, The Daily News, The New York Post, Kiplinger’s, Reader's Digest and many others. Cona Elder Law attorneys have appeared as guests on WNBC-TV, WABC-TV, CNN-fn, News 12, WLNY News 55 and many radio stations including WOR, WCBS AM, WBAB and WFAN.
For a free Guide to Elder Law and Estate Planning, visit us at www.conaelderlaw.com, e-mail elder@conalaw.com or call 631.390.5000.
