When Maddie* suffered an injury and lost her eyesight, she knew just what to do. Maddie called her friend Jenny Ragsdale because she knew Jenny helped senior adults in and around Charlottesville live independent lives as part of Care is There. She wanted Jenny on her care team because she was sure that Jenny would know how to help.
Maddie worked with a therapist who helped her learn to use a blind stick to navigate her home and community. Jenny and Maddie contacted the Virginia Department of Blind and Vision Impaired (VDBVI) who helped Maddie set up systems by which she can organize her home to more easily move around.
Jenny has been there for Maddie as she learned to navigate the world without sight. Jenny helps Maddie complete tasks at home, such as opening her mail, writing checks for bills (which Maddie signs), responding to emails, downloading podcasts, gathering tax documents, ordering groceries, and helping with Maddie’s car maintenance. Maddie’s appearance is very important to her and Jenny has helped Maddie organize her clothes and outfits that she likes to wear by adding puff paint to the labels so Maddie can tell them apart.
Jenny assists Maddie as she lives an active life in the community. They grocery shop together – Maddie pushes the cart and Jenny steers. Jenny helps Maddie get to the local hospital so she can volunteer – Maddie holds babies who need caring affection and spends time with patients who need someone to talk to. With the help of Jenny and other friends, Maddie still takes part in community exercise classes, eats out, and socializes.
Maddie’s children are grown and will be living lives of their own soon but Jenny has helped them get passports, apply for Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and helped with their car maintenance. Maddie is focussed on launching them successfully as adults, while she prepares for eventual successful living on her own. Jenny helps Maddie get her dog to the veterinarian and pick up the food and supplies her dog needs.
Jenny is committed to helping Maddie live the life she loves and being that extra set of eyes when needed.
*Name changed for privacy.
Do you need help managing the care of an elderly loved one in Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Staunton, Culpeper, or Waynesboro, Virginia?
Contact us at Care is There Geriatric Care Management 800.434.1633 or info@careisthere.com. We offer geriatric care management, support for independent living, assisted living enhancement, Aging Life Care™ services, and peace of mind for long distance caregivers.
AGING LIFE CARE™ is a trademark of the Aging Life Care Association. Only ALCA members are authorized to use this term to identify their services. See the Team page of CareisThere.com for a list of our associates, and look for the Aging Life Care logo on the bio pages of our ACLA members.