Man recognized as ‘caregiver of the year’

WILMINGTON — Not many people have what it takes to give back to those in need every day. But one Wilmington man does and is now a local celebrity.

John Dutille was just recognized as the caregiver of the year by his company. But he sees his work as providing companionship and an extra hand to elderly folks who just can’t run the errands and keep up the house like they used to.

Dutille spends his days as a caregiver doing laundry, washing dishes, feeding the cat and making the bed — all for the elderly who can’t do these everyday things for themselves.

Dutille works for Home Instead Senior Care in Wilmington, and was just chosen from more than 50,000 candidates nationwide as the caregiver of the year.

This is an honor Dutille never expected, because for him, care giving comes naturally.

“There is a lot of gratification knowing that you can come in and can quietly do the job they used to do, without intruding on their privacy, because they are used to having their own security and independence at home,” he said.

This award is the highest care-giving honor within Home Instead Senior Care.

Dutille says he hopes to continue care-giving until he is elderly himself someday, and can’t give anymore.

Dutille started care-giving at a young age when he took care of his grandfather with Alzheimer’s, and his best friend who suffered from brain damage after a serious car accident.