"Age only matters if you're wine, cheese or scotch" -Anonymous
Services
What I can do for you
- Provide social support/connection
- Assist with general upkeep - laundry, dishes and other 'light' housekeeping
- Grocery shopping
- Cook meals/meal prep *
- Provide entertainment - board games, puzzles, word games, listening to records/music, bird watching, movies, etc....
- Technology support
- Provide an extra 'set of eyes' on your loved one
- Engage in meaningful conversation or be a sounding board
- Pick up/return library material
- Help with organization
- Help pack up a home
- Assistance with pet care
- Promote a normal routine
- Travel companion
- Pen pals program
- Watch a 'snow bird's' home in the winter
- 'Pet therapy' **certain restrictions apply
- Overnight stay **certain restrictions apply
What I cannot do
- Dispense meds or any other medical services
- Bathing
- Incontinence assistance
* I have found meal preparation to be a huge problem....it could be for many different reasons; lack of motivation to cook for yourself alone, deterioration of taste buds as we age, never learned how. It doesn't matter the reason, but it is problamatic however, because it can lead to malnutrition.
Having visits gives time for reminiscing, which is a great way to tap into well preserved memories. It also gives time for venting or talking about fear and loss. Sometimes those topics might be uncomfortable or awkward to do with family. Either way, curbing social isolation by maintaining personal interaction ia vital. It can improve quality of life, even if only for an hour. It makes a difference.
I am not limiting myself either. I can also help non-elders who are temporarily out of commission from an accident/injury or surgery. Or I can watch a home for a 'snow bird' - rotate lighting, water plants, etc...