HomeWell Clients

After an operation to alleviate a stomach tumor, Mardette Sanders knew she would need help around the house, especially in those first few weeks of recovery. That’s why Sander’s daughter hired a HomeWell Senior Care Personal Assistant.

“I was very grateful, since I wasn’t thinking too straight myself about what I would do when I got home and so forth,” Sanders said. “I was awfully glad she did that.”

Carol Edgar, HomeWell Care Manager, visited Sanders while she was in a rehabilitation clinic, in order to get to know the new client and explain the HomeWell service.

“It sounded good to me,” Sanders said. “I knew I wouldn’t be able to handle it myself without somebody washing clothes, making beds, all that.”

In early March, Sanders was back home following the surgery and rehabilitation process, and her HomeWell Personal Assistant, Judy, was at the door the next day.

“I’m so glad she was here,” Sanders said. “It’s security, really.”

The HomeWell client had been experiencing dizzy spells since her surgery, so she used Judy’s visits as safe times to practice moving around without a walker.

“I could walk around and know that she was her in case anything happened,” Sanders said. “It gave me a chance to test out my legs and that sort of thing.”

Having the “safety net” of a HomeWell Personal Assistant was a huge help and comfort to Sanders during her initial recovery period, as Judy took care of chores around the house, from cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms to making the bed, doing laundry and vacuuming.

“I didn’t have enough energy, and I had a few aches and pains, so I couldn’t do it myself,” Sanders said. “A lot of the housekeeping was out of the picture for me.”

The HomeWell client also was unable to eat anything but puréed foods following her operation, so Judy was on hand to send everything through the blender before serving it to Sanders.

“She stood by when I was having various bath rituals,” Sanders said. “She also stood by when I took my first shower alone, in case I could take an arm or something like that.”

Now that the HomeWell client is through the toughest period of recovery, Judy’s visits have dwindled from several days a week in the beginning to once weekly. Sanders said she may continue with the HomeWell service if she finds that daily chores too challenging on her own.

Dorothy Jaeger: Still Laughing at 93

It doesn’t take long for Dorothy Jaeger’s sense of humor to emerge. At age 93, the Homewell Senior Care client still loves to joke around, poking light fun at everything from her age to her need for assistance.

When asked what she likes to do for fun, Jaeger is quick to respond (with a hearty laugh): “I’m 93 — I don’t play much,” she said. “I do crossword puzzles.”

Since May 2007, the senior has been paired with Homewell Personal Assistant Delia Pearsall, who works with her from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Jaeger lives with her daughter, who provides care in the evenings and on weekends.

“I’m practically bedridden; I don’t get up much,” Jaeger said, laughing once again. “Delia makes me something to eat and brings it to me, and if I want something to drink she brings it to me. She’s awfully good to have around.”

According to Pearsall, Jaeger is far more independent than she lets on. However, the Personal Assistant is on hand to help the moment she’s needed.

“I prepare and plan meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” Pearsall said. “I do a little light housekeeping, like laundry; I sweep and vacuum, make sure the place is clean and free of clutter. I pretty much just assist with daily living.”

Assisting others is nothing new for Pearsall. Prior to joining the Homewell team, she spent 17 years working in various realms of care.

“I’ve worked in nursing homes, adult family homes, with hospice, with quadriplegics and with the mentally disabled,” she said. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. What I want to do is care for others — I love it.”

Pearsall said she especially enjoys her work with Jaeger and Homewell Senior Care, as she’s been able to build a real relationship with her client.

“Dorothy’s so bright and very humorous,” Pearsall said. “She’s also spiritual, and I connect with people like that. “I like making a difference in her life,” she continued. “I like making her feel better.”

Besides assisting Jaeger in the basic activities of daily life, Pearsall and her client also like to have a little fun together. A couple months ago the pair took up knitting, but when Jaeger’s fingers began to get cramped, they went back to working the crossword puzzles.

“Delia’s great for me to have around,” Jaeger said. “I love having her.”

Meet the Olsons

It was 1942 when they met at a dance in St. Louis, Missouri. A year later, the couple was married. Today, 95-year-old Juanita Olson and her 92-year-old husband Carl Olson have been together for more than six decades.

“He was in a Navy uniform the first time I met him, at a dance during the second World War,” Juanita said. “After the war, he chose to attend the School of Optometry in Chicago — we were married by then, so I went with him.”

During his time in the Navy, Carl’s ship had docked in a Seattle port. While the vessel underwent maintenance, Carl took the opportunity to explore the city of Seattle by bus, and he fell in love with it.

Remembering the lush green city, Carl Olson eventually moved to Washington state and started an optometry practice of his own. The couple settled into a Seattle suburb, where they have stayed for nearly 60 years. It wasn’t until 12 years ago that Carl retired from his optometry practice.

“He loved his practice and his patients so much, he waited until he was 80 to retire,” Juanita said.

The couple has two children, a daughter and a son, who are now 58 and 52, respectively. The kids take pride in helping their parents, by looking after the house or running simple errands.

“My daughter is the one who found out about HomeWell and suggested we get in touch with them,” Juanita said.

After Carl began suffering memory loss in recent years, 95-year-old Juanita found herself taking full-time care of her husband, with assistance from her adult children whenever possible.

“We just needed help,” she said.

For the past six months, two HomeWell Personal Assistants have been helping the Olsons out twice a month, with an additional day of service once every three months.

“I have the young lady come and take me grocery shopping twice a month, and a young man comes to sit with my husband while we’re gone,” Juanita said. “Every three months or so, they also come so that I can go to my dentist appointments.”

According to Juanita, the consistent assistance is an integral part of her life.

“I couldn’t get along without it,” she said. “I can’t go shopping because I don’t have the vision for driving, and at 95 years old, I don’t think anyone would want me driving if I could.”

Fortunately, Juanita hasn’t let age or lack of a driver’s license prevent her from reaching out for help and companionship. Besides her children and the HomeWell Personal Assistants, Juanita receives visits and helping hands from her church pastor, as well as members of their congregation.

“We can’t make it to church anymore,” she said, “but the pastor comes and visits us.”

It’s important for Juanita to maintain solid bonds, to help support her as she cares for a husband with dementia.

“He has a hard time understanding words,” she said, “and a hard time choosing words to express himself.” However, Juanita is determined to continue caring for her husband in their own home — with help from their kids, the community and HomeWell Senior Care — for as long as possible.

“We own our own home here, and we’ve been in this house for almost 60 years,” she said. “I’m not putting my husband in a home — I’m going to take care of him for as long as I can.”