Mrs. Robson is a 92-year-old widow with Alzheimer’s disease. In her younger years, she was a schoolteacher and raised three children. She and her husband married at 20 years old and enjoyed a 60-year marriage.
She was an avid hiker, gardener and enjoyed reading. She loves her home, which overlooks a nearby park, and she has lived in the same neighbourhood for the past 40 years. Although very independent, Mrs. Robson needs some care and supervision; she can no longer make meals, drive and is a little unsteady to shower by herself. Some of her children’s concerns include Mom getting lost on one of her walks or having a fall in her home.
Before her diagnosis, Mrs. Robson and her children discussed her future and she expressed her desire to stay in her home for as long as possible. Although Mrs. Robson is eligible for home support services through the local health authority, her current income level provides the option for hiring privately.
There are several important decisions seniors and their families face when more help is needed to allow an aging loved one to stay in their home. Hiring a private caregiver to provide home support services and other household management tasks is often at the forefront.








