Haims: Giving to others can be life-changing

Giving is an interesting concept. People give to others for many reasons — emotional, social, and psychological. I believe that in giving of ourselves to others, even in the smallest way, we often find that our own burdens become lighter, our hearts bigger, and our lives infused with meaning and purpose. Essentially, giving taps into our innate need for connection and purpose. 

Generally, not only do I love what I do, but I also love and appreciate the people with whom I work. Over the past couple of months, I’ve been asked by a few new caregivers how and why I started Visiting Angels. Although I’ve been asked this many times over the years, this time, something was different. I think the epiphany came to me this weekend, after the Alzheimer’s Walk. 

After the walk, I met up with a new owner of one of Visiting Angels’ larger franchises. We sat for quite a while, having great conversations about business and operations. But it was our discussion about life’s path and what brought us to become Visiting Angels owners that made me reflect on things as I drove home. 

It dawned on me that often, when people reach a stage in life where their children are grown, their careers have slowed, or they’ve already achieved financial success, they begin to seek a deeper sense of purpose beyond personal achievement. At this stage, they might find themselves asking, What now? Giving of one’s time and helping others becomes a meaningful answer to that question. It allows one to repurpose their energy, skills, and experiences toward something with a lasting, human impact. It carves out space in our lives for something greater than ourselves that no material gain can match. 

While many young people give of themselves and their time in beautiful and important ways, age seems to have a metric in this kind of giving. With age often comes more flexibility, fewer day-to-day obligations, and a clearer sense of what really matters. This opens up both the time and emotional capacity to contribute deeply and intentionally to others, not out of obligation, but out of choice, gratitude, and reflection. 

If you didn’t know, giving and acts of kindness trigger the brain’s reward system, releasing feel-good chemicals like dopamine and oxytocin. There’s also a social element: giving builds trust, strengthens relationships, and earns respect within communities. Whether it’s love, guilt, joy, or justice, something deeply human pulls us toward generosity. 

I’m not a religious person, but I thank the powers that be for guiding me to Colorado, a career with Visiting Angels, and employing such giving and fabulous caregivers. What has made this journey so meaningful is knowing that I am surrounded by others who feel the same way. The caregivers at Visiting Angels aren’t just employees; they are people with incredible hearts, each carrying a deep passion for helping others. Together, we share a profound and abiding gratitude for the opportunity to serve within our valley. 

It’s a privilege to be invited into people’s lives during such personal and vulnerable times, and we don’t take that lightly. There’s an unspoken bond between us, rooted in compassion and fueled by purpose, that makes this work not just fulfilling, but truly life-giving. 

As I reflect on this path and all the people who walk it with me, I want to extend my deepest thanks to every professional caregiver and family caregiver who gives of themselves to support others as they age. Your strength, acts of kindness, patience, and presence make a profound difference in the lives of those you care for. Whether you’re clocking into a shift or showing up for a loved one out of pure devotion, your efforts matter more than words can express. You are the heart of what it means to give, and the soul of what makes this work so powerful and fulfilling. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.