Meet a REAL Elkhart County Client

"I wouldn't want her any place else."
Nadine says about her mother.

At 93 years old, Mildred has a sharp personality and a witty sense of humor that will keep you on your toes. Living with her daughter Nadine, an interview with both Mildred and Nadine illustrated their unbreakable bond and countless memories they have together.

Despite 10 years living with Alzheimer’s disease, Mildred still recalls her time spent growing up on a farm in North Dakota, along with the memories of milking cows and dressing her farm cats in doll dresses. She also treasures her time spent teaching grades 1 through 8 in a one-room school house before settling down with her husband and being a stay-at-home mother.  Having lived a fulfilling life as a wife and mother, Mildred’s favorite pastimes were travelling the entire continental U.S. (except Maine and Mississippi) and going to church every Sunday with her family.

As Mildred’s primary caregiver, Nadine has a lot of input on the caregiver’s perspective in a situation such as this one.  “I am very grateful to be able to continue my job and still have her here.”  With a home care aid that comes Monday through Friday and respite hours on Friday evenings and Sunday mornings, Nadine and her husband are able to keep full-time jobs to support their family. Mildred, Nadine, and her husband are thankful for REAL Services and what the organization has done for them.  “The idea of keeping families together is so important.  And most of us can’t do that without support,” Nadine says as she praises REAL Services.

Mildred has been living with her daughter Nadine for 10 years and they have been receiving assistance from REAL Services for about 2 ½ years.  Bathroom modifications, a lift chair, and home care aids have greatly assisted their care plan goal of keeping Mildred in their home for as long as possible. 

“I wouldn’t want her any place else,” Nadine expresses.  REAL Services works diligently to accomplish a client’s goals and provide support in every type of situation.  In this remarkable mother-daughter relationship, REAL Services has been able to assist in continuing to strengthen the deep connection Mildred and her daughter Nadine have.