Meet Our Caregivers

Interests:
Jeopardy, reading literature, watching classic film, historical biographies, discussing politics and current events, cooking/baking, crossword puzzles, trivia contests, walking the beautiful beaches & parks of NYC, discussing psychology, flea markets/thrift stores, Broadway plays , ethnic restaurants, writing.
About:
Peggy grew up in Queens, NYC along with her 6 siblings, devoted parents, and two 2 intriguing grandmothers. Always appreciating hearing about the life experiences of her parents, grandparents, and neighbors, she developed an inquisitive mind and an open heart to support those in need. Peggy has 20 years’ of experience as a caregiver. She was initially drawn to this line of work after caring for a relative, which was both a rewarding and profound experience. After that she realized that supporting others was her calling. Over the years she has worked with individuals with ALS, Parkinson’s, Dementia as well as those on hospice. Peggy is devoted to the social and emotional needs of all individuals she works with. She has a wonderful attitude and enjoys exploring the interests of her Duet clients.

Interests:
The Arts, literature, nature, and community, reading, writing, musical theater.
About:
Tug is a performer and theatre educator with a BFA from Syracuse University and an MFA in Theatre from San Diego State University. He has performed in numerous Broadway and touring company productions, such as The Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Evita, and Chicago. He has also served as a faculty member at SDSU and the Royal Danish Ballet Summer School. Having volunteered with Hospice as a high school student, Tug developed his passion for supporting others. In addition to performing and caregiving, he is a member of the young adult choir at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. He keeps busy by pursuing a career in teaching, directing, choreography, and writing – all of which he hopes makes him a better actor and citizen, and most importantly a well-rounded companion for the seniors he supports. Tug is a reliable presence for the older adults he works with, always ensuring their care needs are appropriately met.

Interests:
Art, nature, outdoor activities, swimming, museums, dance, music, theater.
About:
Lilian grew up on Rhode Island but relocated to NYC to pursue a career in the fine arts. Her lifelong aspirations became a reality, as she now works as a graphic designer whilst continuing to hone her craft balance. Lillian is also devoted to helping others and is motivated by a mantra she connected to at a young age: do something daily to make the world a better place. Lilian’s innate caregiving capabilities, which she cultivated at an early age while supporting her sister, give way to her being a thoughtful and curious caregiver with the seniors she supports.

Interests:
Spirituality, biking, hiking, theatre, music, activism, history, cooking, yoga, and meditation.
About:
Frank is originally from Libertyville, IL, having lived in Chicago before setting down his roots in New York City. An artist and healer, Frank received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Millikin University and studied energy healing at the IM School of Healing Arts. He has spent the last 15 years working on Broadway, instilling in him a strong sense of community. However, the role Frank is most proud of is managing his own mother’s care throughout her cancer diagnosis. Since caring for her, Frank decided to bring his creativity and compassion together through a career in caregiving and has been a welcomed presence in the lives of his clients at Duet. His warmth, sensitivity, and patience have made him a wonderful companion to his clients.

Interests:
Creative writing, dancing, writing poetry, baking, yoga, traveling, performing, running, learning new Languages, creating art.
About:
Shana holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Montclair State University, with a double major in Psychology & Theater. She has spent most of her professional career being a support to others, mentoring special needs students & leading art groups for them, so that they can thrive and feel empowered. Shana is a Certified Yoga Instructor, she enjoys teaching and also applies her yoga skills in all of her work, hoping to help people stay healthy and grounded. Shana is currently on track to getting her book of poems published and enjoys her work in theater. She is compassionate, creative, and joyful, enjoying the work she does to support others in need and looks forward to continuing to enrich the lives of her clients with Duet.

Interests:
Football, music, cooking, movies, video games, anime.
About:
David is a born and bred New Yorker, currently residing in Harlem. He attended High School in the Bronx and from there went on to study at Saint John’s University. With a passion for the arts, David is deeply devoted to music and performance art – finding different outlets for his creative spirit to flourish. And as a natural caregiver, he found supporting his wheelchair-bound father to be extremely rewarding. Aside from providing his dad with all the basic support, David sought out ways to improve his father’s quality of life daily, whether through telling stories, going for walks, or simply connecting through music. David has cultivated a great deal of patience, compassion, and open mindedness not only through his dedication to his father, but also in his many years of working in customer service. He is now able to lend all this experience to the seniors he supports with Duet.

Interests:
Broadway and theater, music and dancing.
About:
Julett was born and raised in Montego Bay, Jamaica, where she worked in the hotel industry as a customer service agent for many years. She was afforded the opportunity through her job to come to America as an intern and ended up falling in love with this Country. Julett’s passion for helping and caring for others was primed at an early age after she supported for her ailing Mother for many years. She has been with Duet since it was founded in 2015 and has been a stellar caregiver for many of CFC’s seniors. She has tremendous insight into how to support all types of clients within varying stages of dementia, as well as other age-related illnesses, making her a wonderful and resourceful companion. She loves hearing her clients amazing stories of love, work, and life, attributing her positive outlook on life to the work with does with Duet.

Interests:
Yoga, tennis, poetry, singing (exclusively karaoke and in the car), watching movies, cooking, especially Mediterranean food.
About:
Nick was born in Buffalo, NY. He lived there until he moved to Ithaca, NY for college, where he stayed for a few years before moving to New York City. Nick’s first experience with older adults was as a volunteer for Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo. Hanging out in the volunteer office with so many current and former patients showed him how comfortable and energized he felt around the population. He loved the stories, the old sayings, their amazing knowledge of books and movies, and their humor. When he arrived in New York City, Nick had missed that work, so he was thrilled to find a place at Duet. He’s loved being among that same energy and humor, while also learning more about the broader eldercare systems as well as the challenges that come with dementia. In his own time, Nick can be found playing tennis, doing yoga, sitting around in the park, and taking weekend trips to places with more plants and dirt.

Interests:
Spirituality, traveling, museums, connecting with people through conversation, walking through central park, reading, theater, Motown music.
About:
Rosa is a Southerner with a genuine fondness for older adults. She spent over a decade volunteering with seniors in their homes and in assisted living facilities. When looking to shift her office-based career, a job counselor suggested Rosa parlay some of her natural talents into finding her next job. Rosa realized that what came most naturally to her was caring for others – it was an innate calling. Luckily, that is when The Actors Fund made a swift introduction to Duet. She was happy to find that there was a home care agency that focused on connecting clients with caregivers based on commonalities and interests. Rosa has worked with her client for over five years, making an incredible impact on his quality of life.

Interests:
Music, chess, reading, writing, film, philosophy, cooking, basketball, world cultures, playing cards.
About:
Wilson was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and has enjoyed living in various parts of country, such as Baltimore, San Diego and Austin, Texas. Upon completing his degree in film at the University of Texas, Wilson moved to New York City to pursue his career in music performance. He developed an appreciation for companionship with older adults at an early age, while he cared for his two great-grandparents with dementia, this instilled in him the love for caregiving. That experience prompted Wilson to find work in a nursing home, assisting the residents with their day-to-day tasks. He appreciates the fulfillment that comes from building meaningful connections with seniors, and he has been a welcome presence in the lives of his clients.

Interests:
Local/national/global politics & advocacy, cooking, bicycles, learning how things are made, audio, plants, animals, finding perfectly ripe avocados at the store.
About:
Brian is a multifaceted artist and craftsman with many hobbies. Early in life, ice hockey took centerstage for Brian. But eventually he became interested in technology and the creative opportunities that it enables. He began to hone his skillsets in photography, graphic design, videography, and industrial design. Most recently, woodworking, music, and cycling have all captivated his attention. In the quest to do fulfilling work that benefits others, while still allowing for freedom to remain creative, Brian found a fruitful opportunity with Duet. He has worked with his client now for almost three years – developing a friendship while providing structured support.

Interests:
Crime dramas, mystery novels, walking, sightseeing, learning new things.
About:
Danette is a lifelong caregiver with a gregarious spirit and a huge heart. Holding multiple healthcare certifications, she has worked with older adults for over 10 years. Her experience as a caregiver extends well beyond the basics, as she is able to form a genuine bond with each person she supports. While her expertise is largely focused on caring for seniors with cognitive change, such as Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, she can truly adapt and connect with just about anyone. Her infectiously positive attitude, coupled with her sense of humor, allow for her to see the best in every situation. She has been a welcome presence with all her clients. Danette hopes to one day become a nurse and continue to provide direct support to those in need.

Interests:
Nature, performance art, photography, animation, cooking plant-based, fashion, healing arts, somatics, dancing, music.
About:
Erik hails from Miami and is an artist and devoted nature-lover. He moved to NYC in 2019 after receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. His work experience ranges from creative production assistance with artists and musicians to teaching and guiding the next generation of artists. In his personal practice, he enjoys experimenting with performance, photography, videography, and drawing. From a young age, Erik has always been a nurturer– cooking and gardening with his grandmothers and looking after the many animals that have come into his care. His personal journey and intuitive nature led him to the arts and eventually to becoming a mentor and teacher for younger artists. Through these avenues, he understood the importance of cross-generational connection. This combination of experience with his innate caregiving qualities have naturally led Erik to Duet, where he offers his warm presence and aid to the lives of older adults.

Interests:
Acting, reading, film, writing, meditation, yoga, theatre, exercise, and spending time outside.
About:
Will is a theatre artist from Washington State. He received his BFA in Performance from the Central Washington University before moving to NYC to pursue his acting career. His body of work has included working on plays, musicals, and short films, while also touring with educational theatre programs. Being deeply curious about the world around him, Will loves exploring new things and connecting with people from all walks of life. And growing up with a brother with Autism, Will became interested in the individualized approach to care. Will’s creativity, kindness, and genuine investment in enriching the lives of others make him a wonderful companion. He has found fulfillment in being able to cultivate meaningful relationships with his Duet clients.

Interests:
Wildlife rehabilitation, piano, camping, food (cooking and eating)/wine (drinking only), travel & culture, tennis.
About:
Pepe is a Wisconsin native and received his Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Wisconsin Madison. His research there focused on how various aspects of aging, psychiatric disease, and sleep affects learning, memory, social behavior, and stress. He is currently a freelance science writer and wildlife rehabilitator, actively engaged in an independent research study in gull populations and how plastic impacts their life span. His research into the effects of aging on cognition has provided him with an understanding of the myriad of cognitive challenges facing seniors, as well as the tools available to help make their day-to-day lives more manageable and fulfilling. Pepe’s caregiving started early, as he was the sole care provider to both of his parents who suffered from chronic lung conditions and lymphoma. Pepe’s kind and empathetic nature paired with his ample experience have made him a versatile and compassionate Duet companion.

Interests:
Volleyball, photography, cooking.
About:
Rose is a driven person with a host of achievements and goals. She is a Nursing School student at the Bronx Community College, and a Patient Care Technician student at Hostos Community College. Aside from her rigorous school schedule, Rose finds time to volunteer, as she believes in the gift of giving back. She is also a math tutor at City College for kids in the High School Equivalency program. With caregiving at the root of both her schooling and volunteer endeavors, it’s no surprise that Rose has been a dedicated and highly compassionate companion to many of our seniors. Her level of care always exceeds both the expectations of the client and family alike, bringing her whole heart to every senior she interacts with.

Interests:
Organizing and participating in parades, art activism, spirituality, nature, camping, music, life coach.
About:
Yana is a Brooklyn based artist who holds a BFA from NYU in Acting and an MFA from The Yale School of Drama in Directing. Yana’s work involves creating interactive performance events that celebrate participants’ creativity.  Most recently Yana worked on a piece with older adults called, “If I Ruled the World”, in which seniors from a local center created and participated in the performance. As a director, she uses her skills to do creative grassroots organizing for social issues that promote self-expression and civil rights.  Another passion of Yana’s is helping others feel cared for and supported. Having worked as a companion for the past six years, Yana finds this work deeply fulfilling as it is rooted in human connection. Beyond her creative and compassionate spirit, Yana’s grounded and empathetic nature make her a valuable companion.

Interests:
Cooking, making, and seeing live theater, social justice and disability activism, politics, watching sports, and playing board games.
About:
Jen is a theater director and teaching artist originally from Ohio. Her work spans directing off-Broadway musicals for young audiences, new play development with The CRY HAVOC Company, and working on Shakespeare with 4th- 6th graders in the Bronx. As a past hospice volunteer and a caregiver for those with chronic conditions and health issues, Jen experienced firsthand the shortcomings and complexities of the healthcare system, and how that directly impacts older adults. A desire to provide support to individuals with unique needs, and empowering them towards their own independent choices, brought her to Duet. When she has the rare spare minute, Jen can be found rooting for The Ohio State Buckeyes, looking for inspiring books for her young nieces and nephews at independent bookstores, making huge pots of soup, or working towards fluency by taking classes in American Sign Language.

Interests:
Running, combat sports, sketching, exploring other cultures and trying new foods.
About:
Joyce received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the Philippines and has more than 10 years of experience working in the medical field. After immigrating to the US, Joyce was drawn back to direct support having tried her hand in various professions. She recognized that supporting others was her calling and effortlessly blended her passion in life to her work. Gifted with a wonderful sense of humor and the ability to disarm just about anyone, Joyce is able to connect with the seniors she supports in a deep and meaningful way. Joyce has been a care-giver with Duet since 2019 and has proven herself to be reliable, empathetic, and dedicated to her clients.

Interests:
Art, holistic healing, environmental justice, Tarot, fashion, reading.
About:
Annabelle is from Maplewood, New Jersey with NYC becoming her home two years ago. She was drawn to helping others at a young age when she was tasked with helping her grandfather who was experiencing cognitive change. She also provides ongoing support to her sister who struggles with communication and processing disabilities. These experiences have cultivated a great deal of compassion and patience within Annabelle. She has a deep understanding of the powerful impact compassionate care can have on others.  This understanding led her to become interested in holistic healing, eventually becoming certified in Reiki II. Practicing reiki has taught her how healing others can be healing for the self, as well, because we are all connected. She also practices transcendental meditation, and works part time as a model and visual artist. Creating art with seniors has been a fulfilling way to bring joy and creativity into people’s lives. Her creative curiosity, warmth, and passion for helping others led her to Duet, where she has made a wonderful difference in the lives of her clients.

Interests:
Cowboy history, family photo archives, cooking, reading, film & documentary, theatre, storytelling, traveling.
About:
Annika is an interdisciplinary artist from Portland, Oregon – having also lived in New Mexico, Spain, and Rhode Island – who has always made room to travel extensively. She moved to New York in 2018 to serve as an assistant for a prominent American artist and worked her way toward creating her own videography work which combines documentary and fiction to create new narratives. Annika grew up as the youngest in a family of writers and cooks. Her mother worked as a hospice caregiver, instilling in her the importance of service and companionship. During college, driven by curiosity and a love of storytelling, Annika began working with intergenerational families to compile oral history archives. She then went on become a caregiver for clients with Alzheimer’s disease. Her compassionate and empathetic disposition made this transition seamless. She eventually found her way to Duet, bringing with her years of experience and a spirit that is highly compatible with caring for others.

About:
Michael grew up in a rural setting north of NYC. He has always found a way to connect with older adults having grown up with four great-grandparents, and was fortunate to have had three living grandparents as he neared 50. After having earned an Associate Degree in communications from NY’s Fashion Institute of Technology, he paused his education to indulge his inherited passion for foreign travel, and then fell into a career as an archivist, addressing clients’ collections of papers, photographs or books. He also worked as a professional assistant, taking on numerous tasks including caregiving – for a decade in one case, for 16 years in another. On weekends, he can be found restoring a 1930s cottage, gardening or studying genealogy.

Interests:
Music, human behavior, the brain, faith, visual art, artisanry, writing, learning, keeping an open mind, the practice of faith and compassion.
About:
Brian hails from Ludlow, VT. After attending Boston University’s School of Theatre Art, he moved to NYC, where he worked in the theater scene – collaborating with innumerable visiting foreign artists, creating his own work, and traveling the US doing and producing shows. Throughout Brian’s life, he has played the role of caregiver to those closest to him and those in need. He was a caregiver to his grandmother and great aunt, a volunteer storyteller for the children who were unable to get to the Children’s Ward Playroom, and the primary support to his mother who was in Hospice until her passing. As a performing artist and mindful spirit, Brian has always had the great ability to make others feel safe and listened to. He has continued to share this offering as a wonderful companion with Duet. Brian’s friendly and warm disposition, creative spirit, and heartfelt dedication make him an invaluable companion.

Interests:
Classical theater, musical theater of the Golden Age, TCM, track & field, photography, history, and social justice.
About:
Dathan holds a BA in Sociology and an MFA in Acting.  He has forged a career in the arts, teaching, and social justice. As an actor, Dathan made his Broadway debut in the ’94 revival of Show Boat, and after that production he went on to follow his passion for teaching. He has taught at Flagler College, Brooklyn College, Syracuse University, Hunter College, City College of New York, Dixie State University and Cornell University. He is an SP for NYU Medical School and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He then spent ten years as an Inclusion and Diversity Public Education Specialist for the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities.  Dathan used his innate caregiving abilities to support his late sister after she suffered a series of debilitating strokes and is now involved in the care of his older brother who is going through rehabilitation. Dathan made his way to Duet through The Actors Fund.  His grounded nature has proved to be a big asset in his work with our clients.

Interests:
Superheroes, science fiction, dance, human development, martial arts, voiceovers, Dungeons & Dragons, video Games, and the performing arts.
About:
Julio is a born and bred New Yorker, influenced by the superheroes he read about during his childhood. Inspired to help others, Julio has volunteered extensively through St. Paul the Apostle Church’s Youth Ministry, where he visited homebound individuals, and he has extended his support to a friend with MS. Julio is now pursuing his interest in the performing arts, while also finding ways to help others. Once Julio found out about Duet, he joined the pool of like-minded individuals and can now continue to hone his craft while also being of service to those in need.

Interests:
Reading, singing, music, swimming, nature, and cooking.
About:
Dwight was born in Jamaica and, at 16 years of age, immigrated to the United States. Spirituality plays a big role in Dwight’s life, and he found that participating in the church’s choir was deeply meaningful to him and the way he connects with others. Dwight recognized his inclination towards nurturing those in need from a very early age. When his grandmother became ill, Dwight quickly stepped in to care for her. As an adult, Dwight pursued a career in teaching, with his first job at the Crossroads School for Child Development where he worked with children who were developmentally delayed. Dwight also spent time in the United States Navy, where he was able to cultivate many valuable life lessons that he has been able to integrate into his life. Dwight’s background, experience, and incredibly caring personality make him a wonderful companion with Duet.