the power of peers ARTICLE BY PATTI ZIELINSKI PHOTOGRAPHY BY KAREN KWONG & IRIS MACKINNON
Michael, Maria and Vincent Marino (MuSen Photos by Karen Kwong)
SENIORS HELPING SENIORS PROVIDES VALUABLE COMPANIONSHIP TO LOVED ONES LIVING AT HOME
When Vincent and Maria Marino were looking to launch a business, they found themselves gravitating toward a helping field. In 2021, the Bernardsville couple opened Seniors Helping Seniors in Basking Ridge, which takes a unique approach to caregiving by matching trained companion and personal care professionals who are themselves seniors with seniors in need of assistance. “Companionship from peers is important at any age but it can be an essential lifeline for seniors who live at home,” Vincent says. “A twenty-year-old caregiver cannot build the same type of relationship as someone of a similar age who is relatable and more empathetic.”
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FAM ILY CA R E | PR OFESS I ONAL S E RVI CE S