TUPELO, Mississippi—North Mississippi Medical Center Hospice recently honored Mollie Prather of Ripley as Caregiver of the Year.

Mrs. Prather is caring for her husband, James, who has Alzheimer’s disease and now requires total care. Mrs. Prather has learned to use a lift system to transfer her husband to and from his bed, recliner and wheelchair.

Mr. Prather is non-verbal and has not spoken in some time. In a letter of support, someone wrote, “Caregiving can be lonely at times, but Mrs. Prather doesn’t let that get her down. She takes meticulous care of Mr. Prather.”

She purees her husband’s foods and feeds him his meals with a syringe. On most days, she takes her husband outside for some fresh air and sunshine. She will even wheel him around their property sharing about the changes of the season and new flowers their grandchildren planted.

Mrs. Prather also made sure her husband received his COVID-19 vaccine doses and boosters, driving him wherever needed to receive them.

Mrs. Prather has been diligent in caring for her husband of 58 years. She makes sure visitors wear a mask and that anyone visiting from out of state is tested for COVID-19 prior to arriving. “She never complains about his care and always has a smile on her face,” said a member of the hospice staff. 

Together, the Prathers have three children, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

For more information about NMMC Hospice, call (662) 377-3612 or 1-800-THE DESK (1-800-843-3375).