Two adult siblings were doing their best to be there for their parents. One lived overseas, the other interstate. Both had demanding work and family lives of their own.
Their parents were living in a comfortable Sydney retirement community, with activities, amenities and health services close by. But when their mother needed hip surgery, the everyday gaps became harder to manage. Their father, who was living with dementia, could not simply make his own way to visit her in hospital.
We began with a conversation involving the whole family. Everyone had the chance to explain what was worrying them, what was already being taken care of and where an extra pair of hands could genuinely make a difference.
We arranged for a dedicated Life Producer to spend time with their father three times a week, usually for two or three hours. Some days that meant a walk by the beach to watch the surfers, followed by coffee and cake. Other days it meant a haircut, groceries or simply having someone familiar to spend time with.
We also visited their mother in hospital, bringing clean clothes, a few treats and the opportunity for a good chat. We helped arrange a hospital visit so her husband could see her, and kept the children informed about the practical arrangements as her return home approached.
It was never about replacing the family or the health professionals around their parents. It was about providing a trusted, non-medical presence in the spaces between, particularly when the children could not be there themselves.
As life settled into a new rhythm, the visits became less frequent. The relationship remained. Sometimes knowing there is someone nearby, who knows your parents and will answer the phone, makes all the difference.
