At Learn2Care, we value the voices of family and professional caregivers who show us that a life of service can take many forms — and that the heart behind the work matters as much as the work itself.
We spoke with Robert (Bob) Marzullo, a caregiver with First Choice In Home Care in the Greater Seattle area. Before caregiving, Bob spent 30 years in a Catholic religious community, 25 years as a priest, and 14 years as a hospital chaplain. He brings that same spirit of presence and service into the homes of the seniors he cares for today.
Here is Bob’s story, in his own words.
Well, right now, I’m retired at 76 years old. And mine might be a bit longer than most because I became a caregiver here in the Seattle area when I moved north to marry my wife Nancy 21+ years ago and left the Catholic religious community I had been a part of for 30 years and a priest for 25 years and a hospital chaplain for 14 years in county and public hospitals in Southern California.
When I began working as a caregiver for seniors here in the Seattle Shoreline area, I found it similar to what I had done as a hospital chaplain for 14 years; basically, I was a priest and hospital chaplain/caregiver for patients in the hospital. And, in a county/public hospital, you get the people private hospitals won’t take.
I found being a caregiver was basically similar to what I did as a priest and chaplain, but I was going to them in their homes, not a hospital.
So, if you’re asking what’s helped me along the way, here’s what I’d share with a new caregiver:
First, get training and certification in the field. Because of my background in ministry and my work as a member of a Catholic religious community for 30 years, as a priest for 25 years, and as a chaplain, I feel that getting training in your field and learning is like getting fed a favorite meal: you grow and become better. Education and training are FOOD for the HEART, MIND and SOUL.
Second , keep yourself updated in your field: I have been a priest, chaplain, and husband now for 21 years with my wife Nancy and our grandkids (through her adopted daughter).
Third: daily prayer and meditation. This is good for the soul, putting myself and those I care for, serve, and love in the hands of God.
Fourth: BE ACTIVE (physically and mentally). Like being on LinkedIn!
And what I do at home now (my wife Nancy still works for the Shoreline, Washington, school district) is work around doing chores around the house and care for our two cats (Ackerley and Lily, whom I dearly adore), and we also have a five-year-old bearded dragon, Buddy! Plus, since we live at the north end of the shoreline, we sometimes get surprise visitors on our front and back lawns — rabbits! One guess who is my favorite character on Looney Tunes (which I still love to watch!)
Robert is a caregiver with First Choice in Home Care in Bellevue, WA, serving the Greater Seattle Area, hired by individuals and families under Washington State's COPES program. He brings thirty years of experience in ministry, chaplaincy, and mental health/counseling across county and public hospitals, churches, mental health settings, and nursing home facilities, including crisis counseling, grief counseling, and geriatric counseling using Carl Rogers' person-centered approach. He has a multi-year background working with African Americans, Hispanics, people with disabilities, and geriatrics with compassion, and holds 18 years of specialty experience in Spiritual Care, disability support, mental illness, minority cultures, and geriatric counseling - he was commissioned a Christian Minister on July 11, 2013, by the Federation of Christian Ministries.
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