Janice Robinson has spent her entire life caring for others. She helped raise two nephews who have disabilities, spent 40 years working as a nurse, and once cared for people who had Alzheimer’s and memory loss in an assisted living facility. 

When her husband passed away in 2021, Jancie found herself feeling lonely and in need of community. 

She went searching for a job and found Melwood, a leading employer, advocate and service provider for people with disabilities. From the moment she applied, she knew she had found a home and her second family. 

A Direct Support Professional for Melwood for three years, Janice brings her nursing experience to her job supporting adults with disabilities and works out of Melwood’s Waldorf campus. There, she is assigned to two individuals: Cynthia, a woman who is non-verbal and requires a liquid diet, and Kathy, a participant who has been utilizing Melwood’s services for nearly 50 years. 

Janice provides Cynthia and Kathy a sense of stability, comfort, and calm—in addition to supporting their needs throughout the day. Together, they go on outings into the community and participate in Melwood’s many activities and programs. During a recent fashion show requested by Melwood participants, Janice participated right along with Cynthia and Kathy. 

“I enjoy this work. They need the help and I love working with our participants,” Janice said. “They are like family to me.”