About Muriel

Muriel F. worked with my mother, from August of 2018 until her passing in February of 2021. During that time Muriel became part of our family and she and I have remained friends to this day. When my mother came home from the hospital after hip replacement surgery in July of 2018, her apartment was chaotic and in disarray and within 48 hours not only was everything neat, safe and tidy but my mother, father and I felt instantly reassured that my mother was in capable experienced hands. In addition to my mother’s physical injuries and limitations she also suffered from Alzheimer’s Dementia. While I have the highest praise and appreciation for Muriel’s execution of physical tasks; cleaning, bathing, hygiene, supervision of physical therapy exercises, food preparation - changing and cleaning my mother, it was the less quantifiable, but equally important emotional connection and support that she consistently provided for my mother, in the last two and a half years of her life. Muriel accompanied my mother on all her medical appointments which gave me great peace and relief as I worked full time. Because she spent the majority of my mother’s waking moments with her during the week, and closely observed her, she was able to give my mother's doctors accurate, relevant information about her physical and mental health. During the final two and a half years of my mother's life Muriel observed the change in her mental and emotional state due to her Alzheimer’s, and was sensitive to even subtle differences and changes. For example she understood the times of day my mother was more or less receptive to conversation, company and activity. Muriel anticipated changes in my mother’s appetite, digestion, food preferences and toileting issues, and adjusted her care and strategies accordingly. When my mother was able to walk Muriel encouraged and supervised her daily walking and physical therapy to maintain her mobility. She gave her daily medications, prepared her food, and when my mother was walking and sitting, sat with her and talked to her while she ate. Muriel conceived, executed and maintained a schedule based on my mother’s needs that optimized her functioning, happiness and overall well-being; consequently my mother had great confidence in, and love for Muriel. It was always Muriel who noticed the changes in my mother first and was able to keep me apprised and make helpful suggestions about issues with her memory, mood and daily functions. I understand that these are rare qualities in a caregiver and would not be possible if Muriel was not genuinely concerned and intellectually curious about the vagaries of Alzheimer’s and its effects on my mother. She always researched and learned new techniques to effectively connect with and comfort my mother through the progression and sometimes baffling manifestations of her disease. For the two and a half years Muriel worked with us she never missed a day of work, even during heavy snowstorms. This is especially remarkable because the majority of Muriel's time with us overlapped with Covid. This never deterred her, and she attended to my mother with the utmost care and precaution to keep her and all of us safe. Muriel was cheerful, pleasant, responsible, responsive and was extraordinarily respectful of my mother and father’s relationship dynamics, home and dignity. She was always positive and reassuring to my mother, father and I. My mother passed away in her home on February 17th 2021. Muriel, along with me and my husband were present with her in her final hours. She was there with us until, literally the end. Muriel was the last person my mother recognized and I truly believe gave her comfort in her final hours of life.