Ro & Steve

A few years ago we were enjoying the chaos that is life raising three girls under the age of eight. Days and weeks were going by in a blink, carrying us in the familiar whirlwind of school, activities, weekend plans, and work too. It was a natural blend of laughter, exhaustion, and (at times) frustration–reminding ourselves to stop and smell the roses along the way. The world of senior living and care was not on our radar. Things are different now. Our parents, Rosemary and Steve, were faced with the onset Alzheimer’s and Lewy Body Dementia respectively. Seemingly overnight we were thrust into a position of helping our parents navigate the respective battles ahead of them. We needed to care for them now and that was scary. Before long, it was clear they needed ongoing, professional care–more than we could provide as a family. It was one (of many) overwhelming points along the way. We felt intimidated, isolated and uncertain. How were we supposed to determine what the best care situation is for Mom or Dad? Should they be at home? Or should they move into a community? The process of touring senior living communities and searching for home care agencies struck us as surprisingly frustrating. It was an inherently sad and difficult thing to be doing because it was out of necessity. We wanted to learn about the experience of others, and being already on thin emotional ice, we needed it to be easy. It Wasn’t Easy. Or Transparent. We were trying to educate ourselves and understand what our options were–in practical, not academic terms. Yet we found ourselves having to wade through marketing spin and fend off sales pressure at what seemed like every turn. To us, very little about the process seemed transparent. Through offline resources and lots of luck, we were fortunate to meet people who’d been through it before us…and nothing was more valuable than those connections. Nothing informed our understanding and decision making process more. The problem is we couldn’t find this authentic information easily online–without strings attached. Whether you’re searching for senior living or care for yourself, a parent, grandparent, spouse, or friend–we’re trying to make it easier to learn from the experience of others. Named for our parents and built for you, Ro & Steve is here to help.