Deciding to get help for mom or dad is a difficult choice that many children of aging parents face.

Alexa Forigo, Care Designer at Nurse Next Door discusses that decision.  "We commonly see individuals come to us after an accident or health crisis in need of help. Being proactive with home care can be the key to preventing a crisis from occurring in the first place. If you’re starting to feel that you or a loved one is losing their independence, such as having trouble cleaning, struggling to shower alone or just feeling isolated at home, it is likely the right time to consider putting some extra support in place."

Nurse Next Door also realizes that there is no one-size-fits-all solution.  Says Forigo, "Options to care for your loved ones vary - there is both private and public home care, long-term facilities, or in some cases family members can take on the responsibility. In our experience, when family members provide care without outside support, it often leads to burnout. The choice between a company like Nurse Next Door and a retirement residence is a very personal one.  We know that seniors prefer to stay at home, especially in a time when being at home is the safer option. Our caregivers can provide everything a retirement home can, but in a familiar and comfortable setting."

Obviously, there are other home care services available; Forigo explains what sets them apart.  "Our top priority at Nurse Next Door is facilitating what we call Happier Aging. This process includes our Perfect Match system, which ensures our clients receive a caregiver with the appropriate training to meet their needs, and is a great personality fit as well. Our free Caring Consult is an opportunity for our Care Designer to meet the whole family and find out how we can help in every facet of your life. If mom loves playing Dominoes, we’ll find a caregiver who can’t wait to play Dominoes with her! We also offer 24/7 client support, so you’ll always get a real person on the phone to answer your questions."

Nurse Next Door has been proudly caring for Airdrie seniors for more than a decade but has faced brand new challenges with COVID-19.  They've been been working hard to adapt so that they can continue safely caring for the most vulnerable population, while adhering to government guidelines.

“It’s been an interesting challenge” says Forigo, “We responded quickly to introduce new safety protocols for both our clients and caregivers. This enabled us to continue to provide uninterrupted service to our existing clients as well as new families.”

When asked if it's still safe to continue home care during COVID-19, Forigo responds, "With the right home care agency, it absolutely is!  Nurse Next Door uses the appropriate PPE, continuously monitors the health of the entire team and ensures that clients rarely see more than one caregiver. We’ve been very fortunate that not a single client or caregiver has tested positive for the virus, and I believe this is due in part to our strict dedication to the health and safety of our seniors and caregiving team."

Nurse Next Door welcomes any questions people in the community might have and encourage those in need, or their family, to call their office or visit online.