90-Year-Old Blossom Regains Her Independence With Home Care

After 25 years working as a teacher in New York, Blossom decided it was time to retire and move to Florida, where the winters were milder. A proudly independent woman with a daughter living abroad, Blossom created a new life for herself in Palm Beach, Florida.

“It was important to me that until my daughter eventually moved to be closer to me, I had a routine where I was in charge. I needed to drive myself to wherever I needed to get to, whenever I wanted to go there,” Blossom said.

After establishing herself on Florida’s east coast, Blossom started to notice a gradual decline in her mobility and reaction times. Then, at the age of 77, she fell and broke her hip. Fiercely independent, she worked hard to recover and was soon back on her feet, going about her daily life. Two years later, she fell and broke her other hip. It was then at age 79 that she started to think about bringing in some extra help.

“The recovery time when you get to my age takes a little longer, so my daughter helped me to research the very best in-home care providers in Florida. Sonas was at the top of the list. They’re the reason why Jennet came into my life, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Jamaican-born Jennet moved to America in 1988, first to New York City and then to Florida. Before she became Blossom’s daily caregiver, she provided long-term in-home care for two others.

“I came to America to build a better life for me and my family, and it turned out that I could do that with a career — helping others to have a better life!” Jennet said.

“I’ve cared primarily for two people before Miss Blossom; my longest was eight years with one lady. They become family. You see them everyday and you do the everyday things that they, and you, need to do to live. I just think of it as regular living because that’s what it is.”

When asked about her daily routine with Jennet, Blossom paints a picture that mirrors the regular comings and goings of millions of Americans her age.

“I get up. Jennet helps me get dressed, and we have breakfast together. Then we’ll go for a walk. Sometimes we’ll take breakfast or lunch downstairs and eat outside. It’s important to keep busy and that’s exactly what Jennet helps me to do. After lunch we’ll go to the supermarket, visit with neighbors, keep our appointments, prepare dinner, catch up on the news and then it’s time to get ready for bed,” Blossom explains.

Blossom lives in an independent living community, with drivers available to take residents to the shops, doctors appointments, family engagements, outings with friends and more.

“I help Miss Blossom get to and from her doctor’s appointments and when we’re out, we sometimes grab lunch or dinner together. There’s a nice spot on the beach that we’ve been to and it’s good to see the ocean and get the fresh air,” says Jennet.

When asked what her favorite thing about home health care, Blossom’s reply was instant and sincere.

“It’s Jennet — she gave me my life back.

When you can’t see as well as you used to, you stop doing the regular everyday things that you enjoy because they get difficult, even impossible, and sometimes scary. Because I have Jennet’s help, I can still do all of the fun things — go and get my hair done, go to the bakery at Publix to get the yummy cakes they bake — whenever I want to!

When you get to my age, the most important things become clear: companionship and independence. I’m not going to stop doing things just because I’m 90. Jennet is great company and she keeps me going by doing the things I enjoy.

She’s pretty much family at this point, and I couldn’t imagine a life without her helping me every day. Her care has changed my life by helping me keep my life just the way I want it. I’d recommend her and Sonas to anyone without hesitation, especially if you want to keep on doing what you like doing.”

Jillian Miller BSN, RN

Director of Nursing at Sonas Home Health Care

This blog was reviewed by Jillian Miller BSN, RN — Director of Nursing for Sonas Home Health Care’s Tampa Bay market — for clinical accuracy. Jillian Miller has been a nurse for 16 years — working primarily in pediatrics. She believes the best part of working with the pediatric population is when you see smiles from clients when you first enter the room. She loves seeing the difference you can make in families’ lives while providing the best care possible for them.