We are getting to welcome two new caregivers this week. That means I am getting to break two new helpers in. It is good in that it gives me the opportunity to review what we ask of them and can make needed revisions. It is challenging in that I am not great at supervising others and really don’t like having strangers in my home. I am going to have to call on all my patience as I get things set up and running. I just keep telling myself that it is a temporary situation and that once they are trained all will be well. At least I hope so.

Change can be difficult for my husband too. Meeting new people and letting them into his circle of support is not always easy. We have had caregivers who came one time and he told me “never again”. We have had people he tolerated but didn’t really connect with. We had one woman who put in earbuds and didn’t hear him when he called for assistance and another who stepped outside to make private calls leaving my husband alone for extended periods of time. We both need to be able to trust that whoever comes is caring for him appropriately and keeping him safe.

In the three years we’ve had in-home care, we’ve gone through close to a dozen different people. I am hoping that these two new caregivers will bring a positive attitude and engage well with him. We shall see because regardless of what I think, his opinion matters most. He has to be comfortable with whoever we hire or it just won’t work. And I really need for it to work.