The medical and companionship services Mildred Bachman receives from Personal Touch Home Care allow her to continue to live with her son Michael.

Mildred’s fall was the first of several health problems that resulted in her moving into Michael’s home. “It’s nearly impossible to envision the amount of stress and upheaval bringing an elderly parent into one’s home can be—especially when it was a sudden, unexpected event with multiple layers of health issues involved,” he said.

After his mother started living with him, Michael realized that other health problems and her diminishing memory were going to prevent her from returning home. Unsure where to turn, he started researching home care agencies. His research led him to Personal Touch Home Care. “They really just seemed to have their act together,” he said. Personal Touch offered a unique blend of medical services and companionship. “So many of the other agencies were just focused on medical needs, and that wasn’t really what I was looking for,” Michael recalled. “I needed some degree of health services, but I really also wanted social and companionship services.”

Personal Touch assessed Mildred’s needs and devised a care plan that focuses on improving her quality of life. “They have helped her maintain her independence and continue doing the things she was already doing.” Michael said. With the help of her aide, Andrietta Allen, Mildred does puzzles, sketches and takes regular walks. She also received physical therapy and has regained full use of her wrist.

“After Personal Touch started helping us, things got so much better,” Michael said. “So many of my biggest fears about my mother living with me turned out to be non-issues.” He added, “Something that seemed insurmountable and impossible became a routine, then actually enjoyable.”

Today, Michael and Mildred are both comfortable and happy with their living situation. It still requires a lot of work from Michael and his partner Jerome, but with the help they receive from Personal Touch, they are able to maintain busy work schedules while Mildred enjoys the hobbies and activities she has always loved.

Earlier this year, Mrs. Diehl decided to move to Mifflin Court Assisted Living in Shillington, PA. Her move was motivated by the desire to be closer to her lifelong friend, who lives in nearby Reading. “I had moved back to Allentown, where I grew up, after my husband died, but as family and friends passed away, I found myself alone,” Mrs. Diehl said. When her friend suggested that she move closer, she did not hesitate. She explains, “We’ve been friends for 51 years, and I’m very close to her daughter too. I knew they would take care of me.”

Mrs. Diehl also knew she would adjust quickly to a new community. An outgoing personality was essential in her line of work. She was a salesperson for her entire career. At age 16, Mrs. Diehl started as a sales clerk in a local department store. Later, her she opened a specialty store with her then-new husband and became an adept lingerie buyer.

When their store closed, she took her skills as a buyer to another department store, where she worked until her retirement. Working in the fashion industry offered unique opportunities. “It was fascinating work. For most of my career, I went to New York once a week-right down to the fabric markets, and I was always there for a couple of days for the opening of the season,” recalls Mrs. Diehl.

During her frequent trips to the city, she always made time to visit the theater and loved to sample the city’s many culinary delights. Back home, she spent her spare time designing and sewing much of her own wardrobe.

After retiring, Mrs. Diehl was able to devote more of her time to her pets. She notes, “I’ve always had dogs, but since retiring, I have had more time to spend with them.” Finding a retirement community that would appreciate her current, four-legged companion was essential.

Mrs. Diehl wanted to be closer to her friend, but it is only when she discovered that Mifflin Court welcomes dogs that she knew she was ready for a move. “The community allows dogs now, but Sammy is the first one here,” she says. Being first is just fine with Sammy, who “gets loads of attention.” Mrs. Diehl continues, “The community cat always runs away from him, but everyone else loves Sammy.”

Mrs. Diehl has no shortage of new friends either. “Everyone here is so nice and congenial. I have made lots of new friends,” she says. She and her new friends keep busy with a wide range of activities, including weekly entertainment in the community and local bus trips to a wide variety of destinations. Games, activities, and sewing classes are also on Mrs. Diehl’s schedule. Best of all, chores are not a part of her daily routine. She laughs as she says, “I don’t make the beds if I don’t want to. I just live here and enjoy it, and the maid service and all the staff take care of everything else.” She concludes, “This is the right place for me!”

Luckily, Sammy agrees wholeheartedly. “He practically drags me down to sitting room, so he can be with everyone,” she says. Mrs. Diehl has no problem obliging his demanding nature. After all, “Sammy is a king here,” she notes matter-of-factly. Sammy is certainly not objecting to the royal treatment, and Mrs. Diehl is happy to have found a community where they both feel at home. The king and his most loyal subject found the perfect palace.