It was a Thursday afternoon. Callie, a specialist in the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay's contact center, answered the line and heard a woman say, "I don't feel well. I don't think you can help me, but I need to talk."

Callie let her talk - and listened.

The caller said her name was Susan, and she was the caregiver for her husband. He was an army veteran, was suffering from dementia and was disabled.

She said no one in the family was helping her. She had hired certified nursing assistants, but they only acted as companions.  They weren't providing the physical care her husband needed. She reached out to the Veterans Administration, but had not been able to connect to help.

Susan was soon connected with Kelli, a care coordinator at the Crisis Center. Kelli realized both Susan and Richard needed help. Richard needed help with his basic daily living needs, and Susan needed emotional and physical support as a full-time caregiver.

Kelli scheduled a conference call with a social worker at the VA, who then arranged for a VA caregiver to visit Susan and Richard's home to assist with his bathing and other essential needs. Kelli then reached out to the Alzheimer's Association, who connected Susan to a caregiver support group, while also setting her up with respite care.

Susan is extremely thankful to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay and refers to the people who helped her as "angels." Today, she is significantly less stressed and feels much better than she did when she made her initial call.

Your support of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay is what allows people like Susan to connect to help when no one seems to care. Many thanks to donors, funders, and volunteers who help provide hope and healing to people in their time of crisis!