The Power of Compassionate Caregiving

To Whom It May Concern,

It is my privilege to recommend Shanen Baures to you and your household as a primary caregiver. Shanen provided outstanding in-home care over a two-year period for my 92-year-old mother, who lived with advanced dementia in the last two years of her life. Shanen always displayed a high level of professionalism and dedication to caring for my mom, consistently maintaining high ethical standards, irrespective of the circumstances. She provided elder care, companionship, as well as end of life care and counselling. Shanen was also an ordained minister, which my Christian mother found to be reassuring.

Shanen has a business, “The Journey Within”, which offers many of the services that my mother benefited from. Caregiving is not simply a job to Shanen, it is a ministry. The welfare and happiness of my mom and her other clients was/is of utmost importance to her. Shanen’s proactive approach to caregiving and client care was very much appreciated by my family.

While caring for my mom, Shanen performed a variety of activities. She assisted my mom with bathing, dressing, and administering medications. Shanen prepared meals and cleaned mom’s bathroom. She also changed the bed linen and took care of light housekeeping duties. Shanen made sure mom did her exercises every day and talked to her even when her mood fluctuated. In addition, she took my mom for walks around the neighborhood to allow her to get fresh air regularly. Shanen was also attentive to mom’s psychosocial needs. She read the Bible with her, played games, completed puzzles, and watched her favorite TV programs. Shanen was a wonderful companion for my mom, and she spent meaningful time in conversation with her to help keep mom’s mind as engaged as possible.

Shanen was always positive and upbeat while encouraging my mom and supporting her through her health challenges. She loved to serve. My mother was able to feel comfortable and respected during her interactions with Shanen. In my observation, Shanen always felt at ease with my mom and family members, showing compassion and patience with mom’s increasing needs. She was able to create a safe environment for mom and communicate professionally with me about the needs of my mom. Shanen demonstrated an ability to work effectively in an often-challenging situation. Because my mom’s cognitive ability and moods frequently changed, Shanen’s tolerance for challenging situations was tested frequently.

I found Shanen to be a reliable, compassionate, and skilled caregiver who had my mom’s best interests at heart. During the two years that she cared for my mom, Shanen became like one of the family. My mom’s dementia journey was difficult at times and every day would bring a new challenge. Shanen’s presence allowed my mom to live with dignity in our home when she had her extended visits from Kansas City, Missouri. The tenderness and gentle skill with which my mother was treated by Shanen was extraordinary.

Shanen’s health care knowledge, skills, and personal dispositions enabled her to address mom’s personal needs very effectively. She always communicated with my mom in a kind and respectful manner. Shanen was able to recognize the physical and mental health needs of my mom and was able to provide the necessary assistance and support at all times. She provided emotional support and reassurance to my mom during each of her visits. Shanen demonstrated an ability to establish an excellent rapport with my mom. She was genuinely interested in helping mom and provided excellent care in a consistently positive and skillful manner. Shanen was self-assured and calmly handled the stress associated with caring for an elderly client with advanced dementia. Her ability to think quickly on her feet, assist mom during somewhat difficult and chaotic situations, reflected the quality of her service.

Amidst the challenges of caregiving for mom, I often observed many blessings. For example, I witnessed Shanen and mom develop a special bond. Shanen’s caregiving encouraged mom’s resilience to her health challenges and inspired her to live her best life each day. Mom’s strength inspired me every day! Shanen’s compassion stands out remarkably; her display of empathy and patience while caring for my fragile mom was truly commendable. These qualities, I believe, make her an asset to any family needing in-home care for a family member. Shanen continually sought to work towards enhancing the experiences of my mom.

We found Shanen’s fee structure to be reasonable given the services she provided. Therefore, I do not believe you will find a caregiver with more competency, authenticity, and integrity than Shanen, nor one that is more trustworthy. She is completely dedicated to furthering the healing process of anyone in her care. It is clear that I think very highly of Shanen and recommend her without reservations for employment or any other endeavors she chooses to pursue.

Sincerely,

Barbara