I contacted Chris Gerardi with Home Helpers to provide help for my father,
who lives alone in his home but did not feel he needed someone to assist
him. The challenge was to find the right caregiver and process of
introduction to make my dad feel comfortable that he was not giving up his
independence by having a caregiver visit him. Chris took the time necessary
to meet with father and discuss the situation with him directly so that my
father was part of the decision making process. We were able to ease the
transition by starting out with a unit for dad to have to call for help if
he could not get to the phone or if he fell and needed emergency assistance,
Chris was able to provide this service with a Direct Link unit. After a few
weeks Chris specifically recommended a caregiver that he felt would match
well with my dad's personality and needs. Kathie was brought in to meet
father prior to getting started to make sure he felt good about it. Kathie
is exceptional and could not have been a better companion for dad. We
started with a few hours a week so dad would not be intimidated by the
change.
As dad's care needs increased, Chris stayed involved to provide additional
assistance, even staying with dad himself sometimes to make sure he was OK.
When we realized that it would be best for dad to move to a facility Kathie
continued to assist us with much needed support since I do not live close to
dad. This was truly a great experience for my dad, who has become attached
to Kathie and appreciates her help. For me it has helped to alleviate the
stress associated with caring for my dad from a long distance. I highly
recommend Home Helpers and Chris Gerardi if your family needs a caregiver;
they really are concerned about the quality of life for their client
families. read more