“If you see the need, don’t hesitate, dive right in. There may be some struggle and some floundering but if you are committed you will succeed.” This is the advice that Lisa Zimmerman would like to give to others and makes dear to her heart. Two years ago, Lisa’s father moved in with her because he was suffering from pulmonary lung fibrosis and needed an increased level of care. During his illness there were many times that Lisa felt “I just can’t do this anymore.” During those moments is when Lisa would take a deep breath, tell herself that you can and will get through this, and then keep going. It has been over a year now since Lisa’s father has passed and the experience of caring for him gave her the strength, confidence and determination that she hadn’t known she possessed.
While talking with nurses and social workers during her dad’s illness, Lisa, an avid animal rescuer, realized that the issues of elderly or sick individuals struggling to care for their pets was bigger than she ever realized. In January 2012, Lisa founded Hospets. Lisa meets with seniors, disabled, and hospice patients to determine their pet care needs. Hospets provides and delivers pet food, transports pets to veterinary and grooming appointments, assists seniors with making long-term care plans for their pets and helps to arrange respite care for pets when their owners need to be hospitalized. Lisa serves about 250 pets from around Union County each month.
“At this stage in my life I feel I have finally found my true calling. Everything that I am involved with I am truly passionate about and I feel that creates balance. The senior citizens I meet daily are a huge source of inspiration. I have some senior friends who are bedbound and still have an amazing zest for life. I meet seniors who are dying, yet they still are able to care for others. I meet seniors who have so little, yet would give everything they have to help others.”
In 2013 Hospets has a health initiative for seniors and their pets. In addition to providing their normal services of pet food, transportation to appointments, vet care and respite care they will be providing preventative care for the pets to improve the health and comfort of the seniors, the pets, and the caregivers.
Lisa predicts that in the years to come the need for Hospets services will only grow. Lisa also hopes to continue building a local network of volunteers, service providers, and donors who can help develop this much-needed service to Union County and beyond. “My ultimate life goal is to have the Hospets program become a model to inspire people and organizations to create similar programs nationwide.” For more details, visit www.hospets.org.