Client Profile for Couples Home Care: Frank and Susan have been married for decades, the kind of couple whose lives are so intertwined that the thought of living apart feels unimaginable. When Susan was diagnosed with dementia, Frank did what he had always done: he stepped up. With help from their adult children, he became her primary caregiver, determined to keep their life together as normal and comfortable as possible.
For a while, it worked. But as time passed, Susan’s needs grew, and the weight of caregiving began to take a toll on Frank in ways he hadn’t anticipated.
The Challenge: Caring for Two Aging Parents
Frank is a devoted husband, but he’s also aging, and the physical demands of caregiving exceeded what his body could safely handle. A fall at home was a sobering wake-up call.
Tasks that he had once managed without a second thought were more difficult, and personal care like bathing had become not only physically challenging for Frank, but uncomfortable for their adult children to assist with.
Their children wanted desperately to help, and they did, showing up on weekends to handle tasks like laundry, cooking meals, and tidying up the house. But with full-time jobs and families of their own, they couldn’t be there consistently during the day.
The gaps in home care support left Frank and Susan in a difficult position.
Because of Susan’s dementia, she couldn’t be left alone, which meant Frank’s world had quietly begun to shrink. A man who was always social and engaged in his community found himself increasingly isolated, putting aside the activities and connections that brought him joy.
And when he did step away, even briefly, he was weighed down by guilt.
Susan’s dementia, while progressing, had not advanced to a stage requiring full-time facility care. The family was united in their belief that staying home together, close to family and in a familiar environment, was the best path forward for them both for as long as it was safely possible.
What the family needed was consistent, compassionate, and professional home care support that could bridge the gaps and give everyone peace of mind.
The Solution: Couples’ Home Care
After connecting with North River Home Care, the family realized they had found exactly what they were looking for: compassionate caregivers trained and certified in dementia care, who were also able to assist with daily tasks, and who were genuinely skilled at engaging with clients like Susan in meaningful, affirming ways.
North River Home Care couples’ care service recognizes that when one partner needs support, everyone is affected. Their team developed a care plan that addressed the needs of the whole family.
Caregivers now provide consistent daytime care for Susan, giving Frank reliable coverage and the freedom to step away without worry. They assist Frank with personal care, including bathing, addressing a need the family had struggled to meet with both dignity and comfort. They help keep the household running by managing laundry, light housekeeping, medication reminders, and meal preparation, relieving the adult children of tasks they had been scrambling to keep up with.
And just as importantly, they have taken the time to truly get to know Susan: her personality, her preferences, and the best ways to connect with her.
The Outcome: The Ability to Stay at Home Together
The difference has been, in the words of the family, remarkable.
Frank has reclaimed pieces of his life he had quietly let go. He drives to his appointments, reconnects with friends, and participates in the activities that keep him mentally and emotionally well – and for the first time in a long time, he does so without guilt. He knows Susan is in caring, capable hands.
Susan has also benefited enormously. The consistency of familiar caregivers who understand her needs and engage with her with compassion and warmth has contributed to a noticeable improvement in her wellbeing. Their presence brings routine and stability to her day in a way that fluctuating family schedules simply couldn’t replicate.
For their adult children, the relief is profound. They can visit their parents as a son or daughter again, and not mostly as an exhausted backup caregiver. And the whole family agrees: North River Home Care’s team has become nothing short of part of the family.
North River Home Care has been serving families across the South Shore and MetroWest regions of Massachusetts since 2007. We offer personalized, non-medical home care services – including specialized dementia and Alzheimer’s care and couples care programs – designed to help clients remain safely and comfortably at home. To learn more about how we can support your family, contact us today.
