No matter our backgrounds, our education, religion, or political affiliations, we all have something very special in common: our loved ones. This is often times a parent or a grandparent but can also include extended family members such as aunts & uncles or cousins living in different parts of the country. A loved one can even be a friend from work or a neighbor you check in on from time-to-time. We are all bonded over our love for these special people in our lives and the hope that when the time comes, they will be looked after properly when they can no longer look after themselves.
My name is Kelly Willardson and I am the Relations Manager here at Avenue Home Care. The photograph you see above is of my maternal grandparents on their wedding day on January 5th, 1951. It’s hard to believe that almost 70 years has passed since this photo was taken! What a life they went on to live! But time is cruel and it has a way of creeping up on you when you’re not looking! My Grammy will be celebrating her 87th birthday this month and my family just made the hard but ultimately necessary decision to move her into a long-term residential living facility where she receives help dressing, bathing and walking. Her mind is that of a twenty year old but her body is slowly failing her. It’s devastating to witness.
Oh how grateful we are for caregivers! They have been my Grammy’s HEROS over the past few weeks since she has begun her new life in her new home. We have seen first-hand the important everyday role they play in making sure my sweet grandma is looked after properly and with dignity. What a relief and a blessing it has been to all who love her.
I share this experience with you because I want you all to know that you are not alone in this journey. We at Avenue Home Care understand how scary it can be to entrust the care of your loved one to a stranger and allow them into your homes and into your lives. We want you to know that we are here to guide you through this process and leave you comforted knowing that your loved one is in the best possible hands.
“It’s Personal for Us.”-