For Andrew Talkov and his wife Sara, the choice to move his elderly parents from Massachusetts to Richmond in 2020 was a decision born out of deep love and mutual necessity.
Andrew’s parents were facing a shifting reality.
Andrew’s mother Joan was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2019 and put on home dialysis, and soon after, his father Lenny’s long career of working full-time came to an end during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hoping to provide them with the best support possible, Andrew and Sara purchased a home in Richmond where they could all live together. By 2021, the entire family was under one roof. However, as his father suffered a severe series of health problems throughout 2024 and 2025, the daily demands of caregiving began to stretch the family’s limits.
Having sought counseling services through JFS Richmond in the early 2000s, Andrew was already familiar with the organization’s compassionate presence in the community.
“We’re Jewish,” Andrew said. “We understood that JFS offered home care, so we reached out.”
The family was able to secure and afford these vital home care services through Medicaid, which JFS accepts to ensure high-quality care is accessible to those of all income levels.
Today, JFS caregivers regularly assist the family, providing an essential lifeline that allows Andrew and Sara to keep their professional careers on track and even occasionally leave Richmond for brief, much-needed vacations.
For them, the physical presence of JFS caregivers in their home has translated directly into mental relief.
“I am extremely grateful,” Sara said. “Someone is always there. Every time we need a caregiver, they try really hard to make sure we are not left without help. It’s just great to have peace of mind. Having another set of eyes on them all day long is helpful.”
Andrew echoed his wife’s sentiments, emphasizing how deeply the support impacts their daily lives.
“Knowing that someone is there allows Sara and me to go to our jobs and not worry all day long,” he said “We occasionally are able to go away on vacations. It’s very important to the two of us to have that support.”
For many older adults, the fear of losing independence and having to leave their familiar surroundings is a heavy burden.
“I think that one of the great fears that my parents have is that they can’t be in their house,” Andrew said. “Between me and Sara and the support that we get from JFS, we’re able to keep them in their home. Because they are on Medicaid, there are very few alternatives for us if my parents can’t stay in their home. We’ve seen the options, and they don’t look very pretty. It means everything to them to be able to stay here.”
Through dedicated personal Care Aides and licensed nursing staff, JFS Richmond continues to stand by families like Andrew and Sara’s, proving that with the right community support, growing older at home is not just a hope, but a reality.
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