Ambassador Hugues Sanon is pictured with Jennifer Ellman of Dunkirk and she was given a Humanitarian Award from the United Nations.

Jennifer Ellman of Dunkirk has worked for the Office For the Aging’s Caregivers Support Program for 18 years.

She regularly assists clients who need assistance with family members who have dementia or Alzheimer’s.

No matter who needs assistance she will do what she can to help cut the red tape and get the help needed. After helping one client out who lives in Jamestown, she later learned that he is an ambassador, working with the United Nations, and was given an award for her service.

One day a person from Jamestown reached out to Ellman to say that his elderly mother had been living with his sister but could no longer care for her so she dropped her off in Jamestown with little warning.

“He had nowhere to go and really didn’t know what to do,” she said.

Ellman said the Jamestown man told her that he was going to have to stop working to care for his mother.

The woman was not on Medicaid.

Ellman was able to get the woman assistance so she could have a lifeline button for safety, get her enrolled in a day program, and get paid staff to care for the woman in the house.

“In a few months, we got her turned around and safely placed into an assisted living facility,” she said.

After working with the Jamestown resident, she later learned that he is Ambassador Hugues Sanon, the Special Envoy/International Relations to the United Nations for the Council for Justice, Legality and Peace. He is also the International Ambassador for the Foundation for a Drug Free World.

“I was floored,” Ellman said.

Sanon was so thankful for how Ellman treated him, not because of his title, but because of how she treats all her clients, that he nominated her for an award.

“She was so compassionate, so passionately involved. She was always checking, asking how my mom is doing. … She was personally involved, not knowing who I was. She didn’t know that I was a very powerful man in the world, because I travel to many countries in the world. She didn’t know that,” he said.

Ellman later received a letter from A Time for Truth Foundation, Inc. stating that she had been nominated by Sanon to be his VIP guest and recipient of the Global Humanitarian Leadership Award. “This prestigious recognition celebrates your steadfast commitment to improving the lives of elderly individuals in New York state, particularly within Chautauqua County,” the letter read.

Ellman and her 20-year-old daughter Madison went to New York City to the United Nations.

“When he said VIP guests, he really meant it. I was sitting there with all the other diplomats. My name was lit up on a board in front of us. It was just a really neat experience,” she said.

Ellman said she appreciated seeing the different cultures represented at the United Nations.

“We sat with people from Columbia and there were all these different countries. … I got to meet a prince from Austria,” she said.

Later she received the Enhanced Multi-Disciplinary Team Award of the Year from Chautauqua County and received an award from County Executive PJ Wendel for her service in helping combat elder abuse.

“It’s been a heck of a year,” Ellman said.

The awards collectively honor what she does for the Office for the Aging, the Enhanced Multi-Disciplinary Team, NY Connects, classes she teaches for caregivers, and the caregiver support group that she runs which meets monthly in Fredonia.

One of Ellman’s main focuses is to support caregivers in their roles, to make sure they’re equipped with the tools needed and to ensure that they don’t fall into the anger trap and become abusive.

“I tell them you’re not in this alone I’m with you for the ride, things are going to change and I’m here on the journey with you,” she said.

Ellman said those who need assistance as a caregiver can call NY Connects at 716-753-4582. And you don’t have to be an ambassador to get the assistance you need.