When It Clicks: Home for the Holidays
Welcome to “When It Clicks”, a new series from, me, JoeyCo Founder Alison. I listen to customers every day and I hear all the time about ‘that moment’ for each of them. It comes at different times with different personal circumstances - but each customer has one - that moment when JoeyCo just clicks as the right option for you. I am sharing a series of these moments that I hear about all the time, in the hopes that one might resonate with you. To be transparent, I wrote these, but I tried to embody the perspective of the prospective Hosts I talk to while maintaining the privacy of their particular situations. And please remember, when it clicks for you, I am just a call away.
This time, I wrote from the perspective of an adult daughter, Mimi, as she processed new information on a visit home for the holidays. This is Mimi’s story about her dad Harold.
Last Christmas, visiting Dad’s house felt different. The porch light was burnt out, making the familiar walk to our old front door feel somehow off. Inside, unopened mail and magazines sat in piles. When I went to drop some spam in the recycling bin in the garage, it was overflowing – “When is recycling day, can I take this out for you?” He ignored my question and dismissed me with a wave.
I was struck by the quiet. Mom had always been chatty, but since she passed, it seemed Dad was going in circles a bit. The changes were visible in ways that were hard for me to appreciate from afar, but seeing him in his environment made me reconsider. He insisted he was “fine” and nothing was new. And maybe he was, but the lonely pack of hot dogs in the fridge (and nothing else) gave me a pit in my stomach.
The Moment Adult Children Face
If you're reading this, maybe you've experienced the pit in your stomach when visiting your parent and noticing:
Tasks or items piling up around the house
More isolated lifestyle
Hesitation and resistance to asking for help
Signs of self-neglect (e.g., empty fridge or new unhealthy routine)
The hardest part? Knowing how to help without undermining his independence. Every suggestion I made was met with "I'm fine" or "I can manage." I understood – Dad had spent his life being capable and independent. Anything I found online seemed like it was for someone sick with a serious illness. He was still perfectly healthy, but I worried about that day something would inevitably go wrong. Who could I call from states away? I traded concerned whispers with my siblings.
Ho Ho Hope
I grabbed a beer with my high school friend Alyssa, who was also back in town. She shared a similar story about her father last Christmas but with a hopeful ending. She told me about JoeyCo, a service that matches older adults who have extra space in their homes with carefully screened university students to live with and work for them.
At first, it sounded too good to be true - Dad didn’t need an aide, he needed a little young energy and pep in his step. But as Alyssa described how her father's Joey helped with daily tasks, becoming a genuine source of relief, I felt a spark of hope too.
Getting Dad On Board
Approaching Dad about JoeyCo required sensitivity. Instead of suggesting it as a solution to problems, I shared Alyssa’s story and asked if he’d talked to her dad lately. To my surprise, Dad was intrigued by the idea of helping a local student too. “And maybe that recycling could go out, too”.
Three months later, the change in Dad’s demeanor – and my peace of mind from afar – is life-giving. His Joey, Adam, has become an integral part of his routine. The porch light is back on, the recycling moves in and out weekly, and most importantly, Dad’s fridge and calendar are full again. Adam drives him to the Elks every Tuesday evening, and they often share meals and stories from their day.
Give Your Family the Gift of Peace of Mind
As adult children, we often struggle with the shift when Mom and Dad seem a little ‘off’. Balancing our parents' independence with their safety and social well-being. We want to help but are told not to overstep. We worry but don't want to nag. JoeyCo offers a middle ground – a way to ensure our loved ones have support while maintaining dignity and independence. It was such an unlock for my dad to feel like he could give back to Adam - it wasn’t just about helping himself, it was to help his community too.
The best part? When I visit Dad now, instead of deflecting questions about managing daily tasks, we can make our own memories. This year we are arriving early and entering my son in the town holiday soap box derby and Dad is building the car with him.
Getting Started with JoeyCo
JoeyCo provides practical support to get everything set up properly and is with you every step of the way while hosting a Joey. Through our thorough matching process, we ensure each Joey is compatible with your parent, creating partnerships that benefit both parties.
Not sure how to pitch to your parents? Here’s a few ideas:
Sing the benefits of getting annoying daily/weekly routine tasks off their plate, like taking out trash and recycling
To do list piling up? Basic household maintenance is a breeze with someone to delegate to consistently.
Listen for driving concerns - evening transportation is a snap with a Joey.
Great hosts love to give back - maybe your mom is looking for a new way to help youth in her area?
Consistent frustration in the parent/child relationship as you offer to help with technology? Suggest someone else (a Joey) to troubleshoot the latest snag.
If you've noticed changes in your parent's home or lifestyle, know that there are options that don't require big expenditures or loss of independence. Many families find JoeyCo enhances their financial picture in retirement and helps defer expensive options like senior living and other in-home support. Call Alison today to learn more about how JoeyCo can give you and your family some peace of mind and enhance your dad’s best years yet.
