Feature image: Randi Metcalf, COO
Randi Metcalf, chief operating officer at CareLink, has worn many hats since joining the agency only a year and a half after graduating from college. She has now been a part of the team for 17 years.
CareLink is a nonprofit agency with the mission to provide resources for older people and their loved ones. It offers services such as information and assistance, in-home care, Meals on Wheels, family caregiver support and more.
“I loved the mission, loved what we did,” she said.
Metcalf started at CareLink as a social worker doing home visits and assessments.
After two years, she moved over to the development department and also worked as the former CEO’s executive assistant. She said in those positions, she was introduced to and became familiar with every aspect of CareLink’s operations.
“I just got a really well-rounded view of the agency,” she said.
A few years later, she was promoted to vice president of development. While in the development department, she helped start CareLink’s big fundraising effort, Cupcakes for Goodness Sake, which brings together local professional and amateur bakers who make confections for the community to sample.
“We wanted it to be something fun,” she said.
In 2020, Metcalf moved to the COO position. The role entails overseeing all the programs and even the facilities at the three buildings CareLink has, she said.
“All of that lives under this role,” she said. “I kind of touch everything other than [human resources], finance and development.”
CareLink is a one-stop shop for caring for oneself as one ages or for a loved one or neighbor to help assist an older person. Even if something is not covered in one of CareLink’s many programs, the organization has staff on call to connect people with outside resources, she said.
“We have our hand in a lot, but we also just know everything,” she said.
Metcalf said she spends her days keeping a pulse on what is happening and troubleshooting issues that arise. The best part of the job, in her opinion, is when she can see new needs being met by the CareLink team for the community it serves.
One example is the urgent needs fund, which can be used for anything clients may need and not be able to afford.
“They might choose to pay their electric bill over getting a medication,” she said.
With the fund, CareLink can provide people with money to cover surprise costs they may not have the money to pay for themselves.
Metcalf said she is also proud of the organization’s transportation department, which provides a door-to-door transport service that can help older individuals get where they need to go, such as doctors appointments, even if they have mobility issues.
CareLink also has a Meals on Wheels program that provides dietitian-approved meals Monday through Friday to any seniors 60 and older who are homebound and unable to prepare meals. The free program is funded by donations and grants.
Another program is Bone Appétit, which provides dog food and care services.
“Though it actually serves an animal, it’s for the older person who has them as their companion, their lifeline,” she said.
Metcalf has a dog of her own which she enjoys spending time with to recharge after a long day at work. She also likes to make time to exercise.
Beyond that, to sustain herself through difficult days, she loves to hear success stories from her coworkers.
“Recharging is talking to staff and hearing what they have going on, hearing the good stories,” she said.
Metcalf also said she has to find the lighthearted moments.
“You have to laugh,” she said. “You have to find humor in everything.”
Further on in her career, she plans to continue working for CareLink and to continue to meet the ever-evolving needs of elderly Arkansans.
“Senior centers back in the ’70s and ’80s, they were playing bridge and bingo,” Metcalf said. “Seniors now don’t look like seniors. They don’t act like seniors. I want to make sure that we’re aware of that, responsive to that and able to meet that need, whatever it’s going to be. This requires us to constantly change, constantly educate ourselves and keep a pulse on what’s going on with the population we serve.”
