From Recovery to Renewal — Susie Schuster’s Journey at Nazareth Home

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — When Susie Schuster arrived at Nazareth Home’s Highlands campus in February, she was unable to walk or speak clearly, her thoughts foggy and her memory scattered. Now, just a few months later, she’s talking with ease, laughing with neighbors, and confidently navigating her days. It’s a transformation she credits to family and a community that truly cares.

A St. Louis native, Schuster has spent her life in service to others. Inspired by her parents who were both social workers, she earned a graduate degree in social work and built a career spanning child protective services, elder care, and work on Native American reservations.

“They [Native Americans] were so down to earth,” she said of her time on the reservation. “They taught me a lot. It was a whole new way of life.”

After her husband passed away about 20 years ago, Schuster remained in Arizona, where they had built a life together. But in November 2024, everything changed. Friends found her unresponsive on the floor of her home. She had a severe fall, and as a result, sustained a concussion. Though doctors were unsure of the cause, the result was significant trauma, requiring brain surgery and an extensive recovery.

Her sister, Sheila, who lives in Louisville, coordinated care across multiple states and eventually helped bring Susie to Nazareth Home.

“At that point, I didn’t think I had any choice,” she recalled. “But Sheila knew this place [Nazareth Home] and said it would be the best fit.”

Schuster began her recovery in memory care.

“It was comfortable, and I was safe, but I knew I needed more interaction. I told Sheila, ‘I need to be talking to more people.’”

That honest conversation led to her transition into a more social setting at Nazareth Home in May, where her recovery accelerated.

“I started sitting at tables, chatting with others, choosing what I wanted to eat from the menu, just participating in everyday life again,” she said.

Alongside therapy at a local speech clinic and the support of her caregivers at Nazareth Home, Schuster found her words returning.

“The staff here never rushed me. They didn’t finish my sentences. They just waited, gave me space to speak, and encouraged me every step of the way,” she said. “I’ve had many people help me, my family, friends, and the people here. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

Today, Schuster walks the halls with confidence and jokes with staff. Her journey reflects the power of community-based care and the role Nazareth Home plays in helping individuals not only recover but thrive. Schuster, who once lost her voice, now shares her story with hope and clarity.

She’s even thinking about returning to Arizona one day. “That’s still home,” she says with a smile. “And now, I feel like myself again.”