CABS Gala: Recognizing the Weight of Family Caregiving

Cynthia Bailey stood on stage at Park Lane New York on Oct. 14 to receive the Caregiver of the Year award from CABS Health Network. The event, titled the 2026 Circle of Care Awards Gala, focused on the theme "Care at the Center" to acknowledge the personal sacrifices involved in caring for aging parents. Bailey, a model, actress, and entrepreneur, was honored for her role as the primary caregiver to her mother, Barbara Ford Morris.

In her acceptance speech, Bailey addressed the difficulty of balancing a parent's need for independence with the necessity of medical support. She emphasized that caregivers must protect their own well-being while ensuring their loved ones do not feel diminished. "Caregiving should not depend only on having family close by," Bailey said. "Compassionate care is something we can all offer: a phone call, a ride, a meal, or simply sitting with someone for a while." She urged the audience to ask directly what a person needs and to listen to the answer.

The need for such recognition reflects the scale of caregiving in the United States. A 2025 report from the AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving estimated that 63 million American adults provided ongoing care to a relative with a medical condition or disability in the preceding year. This figure represents nearly one in four adults. The report notes that these responsibilities often extend beyond elder care and frequently result in social isolation for the caregiver.

CABS Health Network, an organization with roots in Bedford-Stuyvesant dating back more than 50 years, provides home care and care management services across Brooklyn and greater New York City. The gala served as a fundraiser for initiatives focused on food access, disease prevention, and community outreach. CABS President and CEO Sherly Demosthenes-Atkinson stated, "Care is not simply a service we provide. Care is a promise we make." She argued that fulfilling this promise requires practical support for families and the workers they employ, including opportunities for exhausted relatives to rest.

The evening also recognized professional caregivers who work largely outside of public view. Maribel Jones, Mireille Anelson, and Anselma Trinidad received awards for their roles in caring for longtime client Inez Harvey. Inez Harvey's son, Gary Harvey, presented their awards alongside Demosthenes-Atkinson. Bernedette Quick was also honored for 28 years of dedicated caregiving work.

Bailey's remarks extended the conversation to include neighbors and community services as essential sources of support for older adults without nearby relatives. The organization noted that daily well-being often depends on factors beyond medical examinations. The gala concluded with a focus on the human aspect of aging, emphasizing that older adults retain preferences, friendships, and personal histories that extend beyond their medical needs.

CABS Health Network supports its mission through community outreach and direct care services in the New York area. The organization encourages public engagement through its website, cabshealthnetwork.org, where individuals can find information on how to support its ongoing initiatives.