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“Caregiving 101” Press Biography
Starr & Bob Calo–oy
Authors, Columnists, Radio & TV Show Hosts, Marriage Teachers & Counselors, Speakers, Eldercare Advocates
Starr & Bob Calo–oy were both born and raised in San Antonio and have been joyfully married for 29 years. They have 10 children who all live in the San Antonio area and all of them have a rich life with Jesus.
They have consistently worked together in their every endeavor; preaching, teaching believers and helping to promote evangelists through media and fund–raisers to set up & participate in crusades in other countries. They were heavily involved with Operation Blessing, Pat Robertson’s ministry, from 1981 to 1989. During this time, they traveled to numerous cities in Texas, Mexico and Central America, preaching, praying for the people and handing out food and supplies to the poor and teaching them to farm.
When they came back from the mission field, in 1989, they asked the Lord what He wanted them to do. It was only 2 days later, that Linda (a good friend who owned and operated a board & care home which was full to capacity) called to ask them if they could accept an elderly, retired preacher with Alzheimer’s disease, into their home for full time care. They had never done anything like that before, but prayed together on it and the Lord said yes. The next day, they accepted their first of many patients to come over the next 18 years.
Starr & Bob worked side–by–side every day, giving baths, changing adult diapers, feeding elderly adults and all the while, reading, attending seminars and learning as much as they could about dementia.
The Lord healed their marriage when they got back from the mission field and they began attending Nova Shalom at the suggestion of another couple whom they had known to live in strife every day of their lives. After attending 3, 14 week classes, Starr & Bob became group leaders for The University of the Family (formerly known as and then Marriage Ministries International). They taught a 14 week marriage class, 2–3 times a year (The Married for Life course) in their own home, for 18 years.
They still minister to married couples in their home, helping them to develop a more meaningful relationship with the Lord, thereby improving communication with each other. Every year, they teach two, 16 week classes (which they wrote the curriculum for) in their home for 6 couples at a time.
From 1989 to 2006, they owned and operated “My Brother’s Keeper Elderly Care Home.” They specialized in the care of terminally ill patients and people with dementia until August 31, 2006 when Starr’s mother went on to be with the Lord. They cared for her in their home the last month of her life. Now, they are full–time writers and speakers.
In addition to caring for the elderly in their home, they have given in–service training for doctors, nurses, the staffs of hospices and home health agencies, sharing tips and unique ideas for caring for people with dementia. Starr also gives private consultations to individuals on how to start and operate a successful personal care home as well as helping family caregivers set up their home for care.
Starr is past Vice–President of San Antonio Residential Care Homes (SARCH) and was the creator, editor and publisher of their newsletter from 1998 through 2001. She is also past Vice President, editor and publications director on the board of The Final Draft, the newsletter for the San Antonio Writers Guild. She is a columnist for SAWorship.com as well as a freelance writer for the San Antonio Express–News and is listed as the local Alzheimer expert for all the San Antonio major news stations.
In April 2004, they released their first book, “The Caring Caregivers Guide to Dealing with Guilt,” about their experiences while operating their personal care home. This book is about the undeserved guilt families experience when they turn the care of their loved ones over to someone else. It was written so that the medical field can benefit by empathizing while at the same time making it easy for the non”medical professional to easily understand its content.
In November 2006, they released “Hospice Care at Home/A guide to caring for your own dying loved one at home.” This book provides the family caregiver with all the information necessary to keep their loved one in their home through death rather than sending them to a more institutional setting.
The number of hurting family members she was ministering to on a daily basis had escalated to the point that she had to start turning them away so she could provide the quality care she was known for. This was the main reason she decided to write her next two books; so she could help a greater number of caregivers. In January 2008, she released 2 new books, “Caregiving Tips A”Z, Alzheimer’s & Other Dementias” and “Caregiving Tips A”Z.”
Starr & Bob currently host a one”hour, weekly radio talk show in San Antonio (“Caregiving 101”) and now have their own weekly TV segment (also titled “Caregiving 101”) on a popular local Sunday morning talk show (CBS affiliate). This will pave the way for their ultimate goal of hosting the first national television talk show on a major network for caregivers. They are presently working on their demo.
Starr & Bob have a spectacular marriage and wonderful family life with their 2 children (who still live at home; ages 10 & 12) which they attribute to their deep and prayerful relationship with Jesus Christ who brought them through many valleys. They pray together on everything, many times daily and teach couples to do the same. They have attended Faith Outreach (Pastor Charles Flowers) for 25 years.
Starr and Bob speak at conventions, seminars, civic clubs, and health care facilities and make television and radio appearances always lifting up the name of Jesus and what He has done for them.