Eric’s Story

“Time flies when you’re having fun,” says Eric, reflecting on the 4 to 6 months he has been a part of GuildCare Albany.

Eric owned a Ford dealership for 31 years and gave it up once his father retired. He decided he wanted to help people, so he worked for the Ronald McDonald House and, later, drove clients for the Healthcare Consortium, which Eric says was his “favorite job.” He shares what it was like to be the only person the clients saw all day, “Just to have somebody sit there, 90 years old, and say, ‘thank you,’ you know, ‘I don’t know what I do without you,’ and almost everyone said that. So, I took that to heart, and I told jokes.” 

Eric had a stroke, and his life changed. He could not walk or talk. He was in a nursing home where a doctor encouraged him to exercise, and he did. “So, I exercised on a bike, five days a week, and took two days off, but I did it, and, you know, I could walk. And it’s a miracle because I was like, “This doctor said …. I may not walk; I may not talk.”  Eric was able to walk and eventually talk again.

Though Eric wanted to return to work, it was not meant to be. He was concerned about staying home. “I’d get up, go downstairs, sit on the couch, watch TV, go to the bathroom, and [go] back to bed. I just have to do something. I am used to doing.” Eric shares. 

A New Beginning

“I was going to another program, but it just wasn’t me. Too boring. [Then] I walked into GuildCare.” Eric recounts that first day vividly, still amazed by the warmth he felt from staff and clients. “I met everybody, and everybody was so nice to me… they said, ‘Hi, Eric!'” “You couldn’t put a price tag on it.”

Purpose and Connection

Eric looks forward to coming to GuildCare. Despite the challenge of rising early — “I hate getting up at 5 am … it’s hard when you’ve had a stroke”—he wouldn’t trade it for anything. “If I had my choice, I’d stay in bed. But I enjoy it too much.” The days are full, and the activities are meaningful. Physical therapy strengthens him; educational talks teach him something new. Even bingo brings a sense of joy, making him light up and feel useful. “I’ve called bingo before … I used to have a great voice. It’s still good!” he jokes.

When staff noticed Eric’s love for conversation, his energy, and his knack for people, they found ways for him to participate even more. Whether calling games, learning from a speaker from Hannaford, or chatting Rangers hockey with one of his favorite staff members, Office Manager Tina Quigley, Eric is never bored. “It’s fun … you just feel part of the group. You feel part of something.”

More Than Care: A Community

Beyond the activities and care GuildCare provides, Eric treasures the human connection most. “They care about you. I can’t explain it, but it’s like they’re giving back the care I used to give others when I worked.”

Having spent time helping people with his work at Ronald MacDonald House and the Healthcare Consortium, Eric knows how impactful small moments of kindness can be. He feels it firsthand when he walks through GuildCare’s doors each morning. From nurses who carefully manage his medications to friends like Lucy, who claims he’s “the greatest,” every day offers a reminder that he is seen and valued.

Looking Ahead

The therapy programs at GuildCare hold a special place in Eric’s heart. Years ago, a doctor warned him he wouldn’t walk or talk again unless he worked for it. It wasn’t a future Eric was willing to accept. He worked hard, using exercise bikes and therapy to defy the odds. Today, at GuildCare, physical therapy keeps him moving forward. He shares, “The benefit of this place is they have a physical therapy department.” Eric’s determination shines through: “I’m ready to go back to work … but I can’t. So, this is like a vacation.”

For Eric, GuildCare is more than a program. It’s a community. It’s a purpose. It’s joy. “That’s what I like about being here. [You are around] people who understand what your problems are … [and] they care about you. That means something to me.”