Tina helps Mary as she uses her walker. Tina prefers to help Mary herself because of past issues with hospice nurses.

“When you have another personality in your home that also has a caregiver background or experience, you really have to find somebody that meets your personality,” Tina said. “It would be best for somebody that’s coming into someone else’s house to just sit back and take in the aura of the house and then see where they fit in.”

Another frustration Tina deals with is waiting around for help to arrive, because rescheduling and being on time is constantly an issue. Tina said it is irritating because she is always on standby and therefore cannot make any appointments or leave the house in case a nurse shows up.

“My life is on hold,” Tina said.