“Women Making A Difference”
September 30, 2020
Tabetha Smith
Tabetha Smith, manager of the Cassville Habitat for Humanity ReStore
Caden Swearingen
Tabetha Smith, 47, of Cassville, was born and raised in Alaska and moved to Barry County over thirty years ago. After working at the Habitat Restore for over five years, she recently became the manager.
"Habitat has always been a part of my heart," said Smith.
Smith, the youngest of six children, wore a lot of hand-me-downs and grew up going to second-hand stores.
“We got by with what we could,” Smith said.
Five years ago, Smith saw an ad in the paper for a position open at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Cassville and decided to apply. When she arrived at the store, she discovered that the previous manager had just walked out, leaving the store short-staffed. Smith was offered a job on the spot.
While working at the Restore, Smith joined the Habitat for Humanity of South Barry County Board, where she became vice president of the board a year later. Two years later, she became the new manager of the Restore.
“During my time at the restore, I’ve gained so many friends who have become like family, she said.
“Being able to help people during hard times and is very rewarding,” she continued. “It’s amazing to see our community come together for those who are in need.”
Tabetha Smith, 47, of Cassville, was born and raised in Alaska and moved to Barry County over thirty years ago. After working at the Habitat Restore for over five years, she recently became the manager.
"Habitat has always been a part of my heart," said Smith.
Smith, the youngest of six children, wore a lot of hand-me-downs and grew up going to second-hand stores.
“We got by with what we could,” Smith said.
Five years ago, Smith saw an ad in the paper for a position open at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Cassville and decided to apply. When she arrived at the store, she discovered that the previous manager had just walked out, leaving the store short-staffed. Smith was offered a job on the spot.
While working at the Restore, Smith joined the Habitat for Humanity of South Barry County Board, where she became vice president of the board a year later. Two years later, she became the new manager of the Restore.
“During my time at the restore, I’ve gained so many friends who have become like family, she said.
“Being able to help people during hard times and is very rewarding,” she continued. “It’s amazing to see our community come together for those who are in need.”
Katherine Setzer
Katherine Setzer, director of Senior Life Solutions at Mercy Cassville, is passionate about serving the mental health needs of older adults.
Sheila Harris
Katherine Setzer, of Washburn, is the director of the Senior Life Solutions program at Mercy Cassville.
After graduating from high school, Setzer attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. After working as a retail manager in northwest Arkansas for five years, she realized she’d rather be in a position where she could help others, so she shifted gears and entered the medical field. After first working as a medical assistant - with the goal of eventually becoming a clinic or hospital manager - a move from Bentonville to Washburn prompted yet another shift.
After accepting a position with Senior Life Solutions six years ago, working in the mental health field has become her passion.
A mental health program for older adults, Senior Life Solutions partners with rural hospitals across the U.S. to offer outpatient group therapy sessions for residents struggling with depression, anxiety and other mental health issues – issues which are often age-related.
“Our typical patient,” Setzer said, “is age 65 or older, although we accept younger patients to our program, too. Often patients are referred to us after being diagnosed with a chronic illness which leaves them unable to function as they once did. Under those circumstances, it's easy for depression and anxiety to set in. The mission of Senior Life Solutions is to get life-coping skills to them to help them age gracefully.”
Although Setzer herself is young, she has had experiences in the past which allow her to relate, now, to older adults struggling with depression and anxiety.
“Because of my own background, I’m able to empathize with patients and say, ‘I imagine you feel like this, this, or this,’” she said, “and patients respond to that. I’ve had many people tell me that my voice is very calming. When you can genuinely relate on some level to what a patient is going through, it puts them at ease.”
According to Setzer, depression is the primary motive for the referral of most patients to the Senior Life Solutions program.
“Depression,” she said, “has tripled in the United States since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and, with it, the rate of suicide has increased.
“Suicide is the third leading cause of death in ages 15 - 19, and the tenth leading cause of death when all ages are included,” she continued.
“In reference to adults ages 55 and above, 58% percent of those who committed suicide had visited their primary care physician one month prior to doing so,” she said.
According to Setzer, personnel at Senior Life Solutions are trained to use standardized evidence-based tools to screen for depression, anxiety and overall wellbeing.
As the director for the Cassville Senior Life Solutions team, Setzer works with a licensed therapist, a registered nurse, and a board-certified psychiatrist.
“I educate the community about the program,” Setzer said, “to identify potential patients. Then I meet with them for a free consultation and screening to discuss the program and see if we can help them. If I think we can help them, I set them up with my team to begin the therapy process.”
Setzer said patients can be referred to Senior Life Solutions by a healthcare facility or a family member, or they can initiate the enrollment in the program themselves. To make a referral, or for more information, call 417-847-6042.
Katherine Setzer, of Washburn, is the director of the Senior Life Solutions program at Mercy Cassville.
After graduating from high school, Setzer attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. After working as a retail manager in northwest Arkansas for five years, she realized she’d rather be in a position where she could help others, so she shifted gears and entered the medical field. After first working as a medical assistant - with the goal of eventually becoming a clinic or hospital manager - a move from Bentonville to Washburn prompted yet another shift.
After accepting a position with Senior Life Solutions six years ago, working in the mental health field has become her passion.
A mental health program for older adults, Senior Life Solutions partners with rural hospitals across the U.S. to offer outpatient group therapy sessions for residents struggling with depression, anxiety and other mental health issues – issues which are often age-related.
“Our typical patient,” Setzer said, “is age 65 or older, although we accept younger patients to our program, too. Often patients are referred to us after being diagnosed with a chronic illness which leaves them unable to function as they once did. Under those circumstances, it's easy for depression and anxiety to set in. The mission of Senior Life Solutions is to get life-coping skills to them to help them age gracefully.”
Although Setzer herself is young, she has had experiences in the past which allow her to relate, now, to older adults struggling with depression and anxiety.
“Because of my own background, I’m able to empathize with patients and say, ‘I imagine you feel like this, this, or this,’” she said, “and patients respond to that. I’ve had many people tell me that my voice is very calming. When you can genuinely relate on some level to what a patient is going through, it puts them at ease.”
According to Setzer, depression is the primary motive for the referral of most patients to the Senior Life Solutions program.
“Depression,” she said, “has tripled in the United States since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and, with it, the rate of suicide has increased.
“Suicide is the third leading cause of death in ages 15 - 19, and the tenth leading cause of death when all ages are included,” she continued.
“In reference to adults ages 55 and above, 58% percent of those who committed suicide had visited their primary care physician one month prior to doing so,” she said.
According to Setzer, personnel at Senior Life Solutions are trained to use standardized evidence-based tools to screen for depression, anxiety and overall wellbeing.
As the director for the Cassville Senior Life Solutions team, Setzer works with a licensed therapist, a registered nurse, and a board-certified psychiatrist.
“I educate the community about the program,” Setzer said, “to identify potential patients. Then I meet with them for a free consultation and screening to discuss the program and see if we can help them. If I think we can help them, I set them up with my team to begin the therapy process.”
Setzer said patients can be referred to Senior Life Solutions by a healthcare facility or a family member, or they can initiate the enrollment in the program themselves. To make a referral, or for more information, call 417-847-6042.
