Firm Awards Plainview Woman 'Caregiver of the Year' Honor

A Melville law firm has named a Plainview woman as "Caregiver of the Year."

Genser Dubow Genser & Cona, a leading elder law firm based in Melville, recently awarded Ronnie Sherman, 66, with the honor at the firm’s annual Caregiver Conference held at Hofstra University School of Law. Jennifer Cona, managing partner at GDGC, presented Ronnie with flowers and a certificate.

“We selected Ronnie because her caregiving relationship with her mother, Diane Weinshanker, exemplifies the ‘circle of life’ – where mother, Diane, cared for daughter, Ronnie, in an extraordinary way when Ronnie was raising her young children and then many, many years later, Ronnie became the full-time caregiver for her mother,” Cona said. “We should all be so lucky and can certainly learn a thing or two about the importance of family, patience and compassion from both Ronnie and Diane.”

When her mom’s eyesight failed a few years ago she had difficulty walking. Ronnie paid the bills, did the shopping, laundry and took her mother where she needed to go.

Eventually Diane had to go into an assisted living facility followed by a nursing home. Ronnie visited her mom daily, feeding her ice cream and Ensure when her swallowing became labored. Her mother died recently at 88. 

Over the years, Ronnie and her mother traded care-giving roles. As a single mom with two small children, Ronnie moved into the upstairs apartment in the two-family home 28 years ago so she could be near Diane who lived downstairs.

While Ronnie worked as a teacher of the visually impaired at Western Suffolk Boces, Diane took care of the kids.

“I’m grateful to Jennifer for honoring me as a winning caregiver, but I really didn’t do anything heroic,” said Ronnie. “My mom was always there for me and my children, and I’m saying thank you now by giving her the care that is due her and that she deserves.”

The firm, which works with many families and caregivers, offers the award to recognize and thank "extraordinary caregivers who go above and beyond the call of duty and give so much of themselves and their lives to help someone in need."

Genser Dubow Genser & Cona was ranked the No. 1 Elder Law firm by Long Island Business News in 2012.  For more information on GDGC and elder law/estate planning, visit their website at: www.genserlaw.com