Caregivers Concern

While my aunt was still able to live in her home, the owner of a caregiver support agency came to visit with us. Aunt Jennie understood if we hired an assistant, she would be able to continue to live alone in her home as long as possible. She was prepared for the visit. She had an early breakfast, dressed herself and made sure the house was tidy. After pleasantries were exchanged, this polite lady began sharing the essential facts about her company and the relationship between families, clients and the staff. There was a brief question and answer period. I had spoken with her earlier to determine if this would be a “good fit” for our situation. The visitation was one of the final determining factors. Aunt Jennie listened carefully to the conversation and answered questions if asked. The most important outcome of this visit was my aunt’s response after the visit ended. She asked me, “How did I do”? I told her, you did a great job. I never considered she thought she was being carefully observed. This was not only about determining if we wanted this agency to send her staff to support us. To Aunt Jennie, she thought she was on display to impress all of us. Throughout the various stages of her dementia, she always wondered, “How did I do”.