Matthew Soper
SYNERGY HomeCare of Chicago
What makes a good caregiver? Someone who is reliable and attentive, kind and compassionate? Absolutely. A good caregiver is someone who understands the needs of the person who they are caring for and assumes the responsibility with genuine support and concern. Being a caregiver is not an easy task. It requires a patience and strength that not everyone is equipped with, but there are thousands of incredible people in this world who take on that role every single day.
With all of the hard work and time that caregivers put into their jobs, it can be a challenge to name a single Caregiver of the Year. Of course, we want to recognize all of the caregivers who go out of their way to help care for and bond with the people whom they are responsible for…but we can only choose one person to hold the Caregiver of the Year title each year.
This year, we have chosen a remarkable caregiver who exemplifies what it means to be a caregiver and who has gone above and beyond to build a relationship with his client and friend, and has left a lasting impression on many.
The title of this year’s Caregiver of the Year award has been handed over to the more-than-deserving caregiver of AJ Arkebauer. AJ has cerebral palsy and needs assistance in his daily living and Matt Soper has been taking on that role for roughly two years.
Matt and AJ spend their time exploring their downtown community and going to the movies. But their favorite pastime is watching Game of Thrones, which they never miss.
As the weather started changing, Matt realized that to venture out together, he may need to carry AJ – which he related to two characters in their favorite show, Hodor and Bran. Matt and AJ immediately started working on an innovative endeavor of creating a Game of Throne’s costume. For this year’s C2D2 Expo in Chicago, Matt and AJ attended in inspiring and custom-made Game of Thrones gear, equipped with a straight-out-of-the-show wheelchair for AJ. Watch the video here.
The costume gained much attention and praise at the Expo – so much so that the two have been asked to join a Game of Thrones cosplay group that travels throughout the Midwest.
Matthew Soper is a positive and motivating role model and symbolizes exactly what the role of a caregiver is. He creates positive solutions to everyday concerns and brings the light and support to not just client (and friend), but to his family and community. He is inspirational and more than deserving of this year’s Caregiver of the Year Award.
Congratulations to Matthew Soper – Winner of the 2019 Caregiver of the Year award and the runners-up from SYNERGY HomeCare of the Lowcountry.
2nd Place – Maria Senee
3rd Place – Lawrence Adegbule
