My mom was 42 when I was born, so I was always surrounded by older relatives, including cousins. She moved into a granny flat on our property and spent her last five years with me until her death at the age of 91. I fulfilled the roles of caregiver, driver, “nurse,” companion, and mostly nurturer.

I realized then the importance of independence and keeping her interests alive. After her death in June 2014, I decided to take a gap year. I packed a 23kg suitcase and left for England to work as a caregiver. I cared for clients with various conditions: dementia (Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, Korsakoff syndrome), Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, stroke survivors, and general elderly care, to name a few. What was supposed to be four months turned into nine years! I loved it! Making a difference in my clients’ lives brought me such joy!

After a few years of caring, I combined my 25 years of experience as a recruiter with my newfound passion and became a recruiter for a care agency.

Now back in South Africa, a friend in Germany asked me to advise her sister in the UK on how to best manage the care of her parents-in-law, who reside in Pretoria. The situation was far from ideal, and it was obvious they needed help. I put a care plan in place, and the feedback has been heartwarming!

Then another childhood friend, who lives 1500 km away, called me for help when her mother (who has dementia) fell and broke her hip. That was when the penny dropped for me—a lightbulb moment!

I want to offer my services and expertise to bring peace of mind to those who live far away by looking after their loved ones, just as I cared for my mom.

The value of keeping our older generation at home for as long as possible is immense, especially in cases of dementia. A familiar environment, personal and sentimental belongings, nearby friends, the same doctor, and church—all contribute to a long list of benefits.