Do you have an upcoming wedding to attend?
Would you like help to make sure that the elders in your family gets the support and assistance they need?
Would you like to be able to relax at the wedding knowing that your elderly loved one is comfortable and attentively cared for during the celebration?
“I’d just like to say how glad I was to have Toni there looking after my Elderly Mother at my niece’s wedding yesterday. It was a mammoth effort getting Mum dressed and ready for the ceremony and Toni was fantastic.
The whole family appreciated her support, especially Mum.
I certainly couldn’t have gotten Mum to Wollongong and thus, the wedding without Toni.”
Mrs P’s Daughter – unsolicited feedback
At Daughterly Care we love weddings. More than that, we love being able to help elders attend a wedding and be included in this special family event.
Whether you are organising the wedding or attending one, there is a lot of juggling required to organise yourself and family members on the day. Assisting elders to get ready, travel to and from, as well as attending to their individual needs during the event can be an additional complication that most people particularly family members and main carers just can’t manage.
The testimonial at the beginning was from a very grateful daughter and mother, plus the entire family greatly appreciated the private elder care service Daughterly Care was able to provide.
You don’t have to put yourself under additional pressure on the day, nor feel guilty and leave your elderly loved one at home due to the lack of resources.
Older Australians, particularly elders and seniors who are frail and who are living with dementia such as Alzheimer’s Disease or Parkinson’s Disease get easily stressed if they are rushed or have to do things that are out of their normal routine.
They need extra time and patience to cope with the changes required around a special event. Our Hourly Caregiver or Live in Carer can take the time and give the reassurance that is needed to provide beautiful personalised private care for your family member or elderly loved one without overwhelming them.
If the elder has a form of dementia, they may feel the chaotic vibes that often surrounds a wedding and it might unsettle them. This could cause the grandmother or grandfather to withdraw or become non-compliant with what is being asked of them.
Even if the elder doesn’t have a form of dementia, the changes required for the day may be too tiring for them to cope with on their own and too difficult for a family member or carer to manage on top of everything else they need to organise on the day. After all, you want to be able to enjoy the day and have time to speak to guests, friends and other family or relatives.
Our Hourly Caregivers and Live in Carers are highly knowledgeable and experienced in caring for elders. We have a real passion for giving elders the time they need, the respect they deserve and the opportunity to be comfortable.
Elders adore family celebrations, such as a wedding or monumental birthday of a grandchild and should have the freedom to attend these special events or celebrations for their mental well-being and inclusion at any social event or function.
Typically our role, as a carer can include any or all of these duties:
Getting ready
1. Assistance with grooming, bathing / showering and selecting an outfit;
2. Help with toileting and getting dressed;
3. Preparing and cooking a healthy meal or snack;
4. Reminding and prompting with medication;
5. Transportation to the ceremony then to the reception.
At the wedding
1. Guidance to meet and greet other guests, as well as family members and guests;
2. Assistance with toileting throughout the wedding ceremony and reception;
3. Navigation of the wedding venue and ensure the family member or elder is seated in the correct area;
4. Assist with photo opportunities with the bride and groom, as well as the rest of the family, close friends, relatives and guests;
5. Enable socialisation with extended family members, friends and communication with wait staff;
6. Assistance with eating such as, cutting food into smaller pieces and location of beverages and food;
7. Ensuring the family member or elder has sufficient fluids throughout the day;
8. Ensure medication is taken when required, during the wedding and reception;
9. Guide the elder to walk (or dance!!!) safely, for instance bringing and pushing their wheelchair.
Returning home
1. Take the family member or elder home when they are tired and leave the wedding reception when it suits them;
2. Prepare for bed by brushing their teeth or having a bath;
3. Assistance with changing into night wear and setting themselves into bed;
4. Friendly chat about the highlights of the wedding day;
5. Toilet assistance before and during the night.
Just some of the other events or celebrations our clients have used our private care or in home care service for:
- Attending the opera / theatre / concert / ballet;
- Attending birthday parties;
- Visiting the Art Gallery for an exclusive exhibition or opening preview;
- Attending sporting events of particular interest to the elder or another family member actively playing a specific sport;
- Travelling interstate or to regional areas, or overseas by plane or a cruise boat.
Daughterly Care Hourly Caregivers and Live in Carers can organise basic catering needs for the following social events:
- Playing cards with friends i.e. poker or blackjack, bingo or bridge;
- Going to brunch, lunch, afternoon tea or dinner with family and friends.
Don’t miss out on living a joyful life for you or your elderly loved one!
I think this is wonderful idea. Most elderly I have spoken with are reluctant to attend if family cannot take them as they would feel they are imposing on you to be there for them. They don’t want to be a burden or too much trouble.
Fantastic idea.
Yes Wendy it’s a shame that Elders have had to miss such special events as weddings. Family connections are so important so it’s good to know we have a special service to keep families together. Thanks for sharing Wendy.
I have had the pleasure of taking an elderly wheel-chair bound lady to the wedding of her grandson. Seeing the joy she got from talking to and socialising with family members and guests, including a great great nephew from USA, gave me so much pleasure. It was a privilege to have shared the enjoyment of the occasion with her.
The lady resides in a Nursing Home, so the staff had helped her dress before I arrived. I took her by taxi (I couldn’t take her in my car as she was in a wheelchair) to the ceremony in the Botanic Gardens and pushed the wheel chair around so that she could socialise, but, as most people knew her they tended to approach her. I made sure that she was sitting where she could see the brides entrance and see the couple during the ceremony. Afterwards, I stayed with her making sure she had a drink and some snacks. As the reception was going to end late, the family requested that she be taken home at a specific time. I had to take her back to the Nursing Home early, much to her disappointment.
Even though she had to leave early, this lady had a FABULOUS time and thoroughly enjoyed being there at her grandson’s wedding.
Hello Veronica,
Thank you so much for sharing such a lovely story. Your presence obviously made the wedding extra special for everyone. Creating wonderful memories is a priceless gift and I am sure everyone appreciated your kindness.
Compassionate care for a loved one or a client, is really only possible if the Carer regularly practices and maintains a healthy level of Self-Compassion and creative Self-Nurturing which regenerates the “fuel” necessary for the continued nurturing and caring of another.
Absolutely Moira couldn’t agree more. We all need to fill our own cup first before we have anything to give to anyone else. We really appreciate your comment, thank you.
I think this is a great idea as the family can have their loved one cared for at their special family celebration and know they are safe and have the company of their own personal carer, while the family are involved in the celebrations.
The carer can also inspire and encourage the client, in the enjoyment and participation of the event and attend to their individual needs.
All can relax and enjoy themselves and each can have their own fun and joy without worrying about their loved one.
All involved can thoroughly enjoy their special day safely and supported. I have attended some outings with clients and their families and I was happy that my role alleviated some of the pressures of the day for the client and their family.
It’s lovely to see you understand how your role can benefit not only the person you are caring for Christine. Thanks so much for sharing.
I have worked in Age Care for a very long time,and over the years seen some very happy and grateful families where carers have taken a whole load of stress off the families looking after mother or grandma. I’ve heard some wonderful stories from families who have stated that they would not have enjoyed themselves at the function so much if it was not for the carer.
That’s lovely to hear Kathleen and thanks for sharing.
I think this is such a special service to provide for a special occasion. I have provided this service and it is amazing how happy this makes the bride as well as the whole family to have the elder family members there and know they are enjoying themselves. In my case the family waited until the meal and speeches were over, they had seen the cake cutting and the bridal waltz, then the elderly grandparents were happy to go home. They even had a last photo taken with the bride as they got in my car. My loveliest memory was how they chatted all the way home about the wedding and the grandmother with dementia talked about the beautiful dress and the brides lovely smile. Well worth the effort for everyone!
What a wonderful experience Lucille, thanks so much for sharing with us.
It’s just great to know that the cared with this client has their best interests at heart to keep the family safely intact on a day of joy without pressure. Good work Lucille