Home Care Success Story Fairhope, AL
- Mike Dunbar
- Jun 12, 2025
- 3 min read
Sally's Story
Living Situation: Alone in her longtime home; widowed. Family Support: Two adult children living out of state
Background
Sally is a 78-year-old retired elementary school teacher who has lived in the same home for over 40 years. Her late husband passed away six years ago, and she has since lived alone. Her two adult children live in different states and visit as often as they can, but they are unable to provide daily support. Over the past year, Sally has shown increasing signs of memory loss, confusion, and disorientation. After a formal evaluation, she was diagnosed with moderate-stage Alzheimer’s dementia. Her family became concerned for her safety after she wandered outside at night and left the stove on unattended. Although Sally values her independence and is emotionally attached to her home, it's clear that she now needs consistent in-home support to remain safe and well.
Challenges
Cognitive Decline: Sally often forgets appointments, struggles with medication management, and experiences occasional episodes of agitation or anxiety.
Safety Risks: She has left the oven on, misplaced personal items, and become confused about how to use household appliances.
Nutrition & Hygiene: Sally sometimes forgets to eat or showers irregularly, leading to hygiene issues and noticeable weight loss.
Social Isolation: Living alone with dementia has led to increased feelings of loneliness and confusion, particularly in the evenings (“sundowning” symptoms).
Financial Planning: Her family was initially concerned about the affordability of care, especially since Sally is on a fixed retirement income with modest savings.
Solution: A Custom Home Care Plan with Alethia Senior Care
Alethia Senior Care worked closely with Sally’s children to create a personalized care plan tailored to both her needs and their budget. Because Alethia offers flexible pricing with no service minimums, the family was able to choose only the support Sally needed without paying for unnecessary extras.
Customized Care Plan Highlights:
Daily check-ins (4 hours/day, 6 days/week): Caregivers assist with bathing, dressing, meal preparation, medication reminders, and light housekeeping.
Safety monitoring: Caregivers ensure that appliances are used safely and provide supervision to prevent wandering.
Cognitive engagement: Structured activities such as reading, puzzles, and memory games are included to keep Sally mentally stimulated.
Companionship care: Caregivers engage Sally in conversation and accompany her on short walks, helping reduce feelings of loneliness and anxiety.
Family updates: Alethia’s caregivers provide regular updates to Sally’s children via phone and email to maintain peace of mind and ensure transparency.
Cost Breakdown
The average hourly rate for home care in the region ranges from $25 to $30/hour. Based on Sally’s selected schedule (4 hours/day, 6 days/week), her monthly cost is approximately:
96 hours/month × $27/hour (average) = $2,592/month
This is significantly more affordable than full-time memory care facilities, which can range from $4,500 to $6,000/month, and it allows Sally to remain in her beloved home with a higher quality of life.
Outcome
Within a few weeks, Sally began to thrive with the structured support of Alethia’s compassionate caregivers. She’s eating regularly, staying clean and safe, and enjoys the company of her caregiver, whom she now considers a friend. Her family feels relieved knowing she is well cared for, and the flexible plan ensures her care can be scaled up if her needs change in the future.
Conclusion
Sally’s story illustrates the importance of personalized, budget-conscious in-home care for seniors with dementia. At Alethia Senior Care, we believe that every individual deserves dignity, independence, and support—on their terms. With our "Home Care, Your Way" approach, families like Sally’s get peace of mind, and seniors get to live safely and comfortably where they belong: at home.
Comments