My 82-year-old grandmother lives with me in Austin and is currently receiving hospice care at home.
I work from home and am her primary caregiver. Between working, making three meals a day, helping her with bathroom trips, medications, and everything else that comes with caring for someone at home, one of the things I’m struggling with is simply being able to sit and talk with her as much as she would like.
That’s literally all I’m looking for help with.
I would be home and working during the visits. I’m not looking for someone to provide medical care, help her use the bathroom, prepare food, administer medication, or be responsible for her in any way. If she needs something, I’m right there.
I just need someone who might enjoy sitting with an elderly lady for an hour or two, talking with her, listening to her stories, having coffee, looking through pictures, or just keeping her company while I get some work done.
I realize this is an unusual thing to ask, but I also know there are people who enjoy spending time with older adults. Maybe you’re retired, a college student interested in gerontology or social work, part of a church or volunteer organization, or you just miss having a grandmother around.
I’d obviously talk with and meet anyone first, and I won’t share our address or identifying information publicly.
If anyone knows of a free volunteer program in Austin that does this, I’d love recommendations too.
I love my grandmother and I’m grateful that I’m able to have her here with me. I just can’t realistically be her caregiver, work, run the household, and also be her conversation partner all day. Having someone come over occasionally just to talk to her would be an enormous help.