Courtesy of Cyndi Allison aka “Grill Girl”
When THA Group Independent Life at Home’s (ILAH) Director of Client Services Patsy Grainger recently visited one of the company’s clients, she was greeted by the heady smell of warm country ham biscuits fresh from the oven. “You must have some!” Mrs. P insisted of Patsy. So Patsy gleefully made a purchase of two dozen biscuits, to which Mrs. P added a bonus homemade cinnamon Danish.
Making ham biscuits is a ritual that Mrs. P and her ILAH caregiver execute each morning; the community depends on them for these tasty breakfast morsels. Mrs. P has quite a following for the biscuits she sells from her home. In fact, if she is away from her residence, she places a note on the door instructing patrons to take what they want from the freezer and to place money in a designated nearby envelope. Isn’t it grand that the honor system still thrives in this small Southern community?
Of course, there is financial reward in biscuit making, but more importantly, the activity keeps Mrs. P, who is ninety-three years old, energetic and spry. She is a former ballet instructor who at one time had over eighty students under her purview. She knows the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle.
In fact, after the kitchen is clean, Mrs. P’s caregiver takes her to and from the local gym for daily exercise. Until recently, her caregiver waited until Mrs. P had completed her regimen. Then the routine changed. Mrs. P asked her caregiver how she passed the time as she waited for exercise class to end. The caregiver indicated that she didn’t do much of anything during the brief waiting period. “Well,” Mrs. P told her, “You will need to bring your clothes and exercise with me, then!” So now, after starting the day with friendly conversation and kneading dough, the two women suit up and hit the gym. Mrs. P’s caregiver says she feels great and has even lost some weight!
The rapport the two women have may not fit the picture of what one envisions of an elderly person and a hired caregiver. Mrs. P and her caregiver’s bond is special, as is each ILAH Private Duty Caregiver / Client relationship. Every patient comes to the company with a unique set of needs, and Patsy and her staff strive to develop a care plan with a hand-selected caregiver to meet and exceed the client’s expectations. For each client, the term “Independent Life At Home,” carries a different meaning. Lucky is the caregiver for whom ham biscuits and a healthy body are fringe benefits of helping a ninety-three year old maintain her independence!
