Every day, nonagenarian Ken Jewett takes a mile-long walk on his hobby farm in Mulmur, flanked by his dogs and trailed closely behind by his caregiver Jaime Dauncey in a John Deere Gator in case he gets tired and needs a break.
The duo were connected through Right at Home Canada, Georgian Triangle, a Collingwood-based organization that, last month, celebrated its 10th anniversary of connecting seniors with care so they can age in their homes for as long as possible.
Dauncey was first paired with Jewett about five months ago. When sitting with them in Jewett’s living room, the two exchange smiles and laughter.
“We’ve become very good friends. She’s not a caregiver; she’s a friend,” Jewett told CollingwoodToday.
“Ken’s become like family to me,” said Dauncey.
Nancy Esson and Adrienne Wood started Right at Home Canada, Georgian Triangle in June 2014.
“We knew each other because we worked together in the sporting industry. In home care, at that time, there was really no one in this area outside of the government service, which we knew was starting to fail,” recalled Esson in an interview.
The duo met with a few different agencies that offered a franchise option to get a business going, and decided to go with Right at Home. The organization boasts more than 600 locations across Canada, the U.S. and internationally.
“We liked them because at that time they’d been around for about 20 years and were very established,” she said. “We saw the need in this community for good quality home care that’s consistent.”
Currently, Esson estimates she employs about 100 caregivers, and over the past 10 years has taken care of about 3,000 families. The organization offers a spectrum of services, whether a senior requires round-the-clock medical care, or just some assistance running errands or preparing meals.
The Collingwood franchise has held the title of the No. 1 office in Canada for number of care hours for multiple years.
“It’s been an educational journey for us to learn about what people want and listen to retirees in our communities, and be able to tailor our specific services to what people want,” she said. “We’re going to continue to grow with the needs of the people in our community.”
Esson said at the forefront of her mind is making sure caregivers and clients are appropriately matched with a gentle approach. She said her work also includes education, so seniors can better understand how to navigate the health-care system.
“The health-care system is not what people think it is,” said Esson. “Aging is not a pleasant experience for most people, and many are reluctant to get care because they really want to be independent.”
“The idea of staying home is very present in people’s minds,” she said.
The idea was definitely at the front of Jewett’s mind when he contacted the agency. The now-93-year-old grew up in Forest Hill Village in Toronto. He spent much of his career working in the paper and frozen foods businesses, and upon his retirement he started the charitable foundation Maple Leaves Forever. The foundation advocates for and supports the planting of native Canadian maple trees.
Jewett and his wife Edie bought their 100-acre hobby farm in Mulmur 22 years ago. When COVID-19 struck, the couple sold their condominium in Toronto and moved up to the farm permanently.
Jewett was raised on a farm, and said farming is a way of life for him and brings him peace.
“I built this house. I love the house. I love the property, and being on the land,” Jewett explained. “This is where I’m going to go, right here.”
Jewett first became familiar with Right at Home when he hired them to help Edie at their home during her battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Edie succumbed to the disease in 2022.
“I’d heard good things about them and they were recommended to me,” said Jewett. “They provided care for my wife and were wonderful back-up for us. I have a degree of independence.”
On a typical day for Jewett, he gets up, bathes, gets dressed, and heads to his kitchen for breakfast. He downloads the National Post and the Globe and Mail to read the headlines.
He takes medication for chronic back pain, and then, after lunch, he takes his daily walk around his property. On his walk, he may pass the three cows he keeps as pets, as well as a pond, countless trails, trees and nature that he holds close to his heart.
“My heart doesn’t get proper oxygen, so I can walk about 50 yards, and then I have to get my breath back. I do a mile in 50-yard increments,” he said.
In the afternoons, Jewett will take a nap or read, or do work on various projects. After supper, Jewett will play backgammon with his groundskeeper Mike until it’s time to go to bed. Dauncey prepares all of Jewett’s meals, organizes his medications and helps him with whatever he needs throughout the day.
“He’s a very busy 93-year-old. He goes on a lot of outings too,” she said with a laugh.
Dauncey started working for Right at Home earlier this year, and works for Jewett Monday through Friday weekly, staying in his guest house on those days. After a long career as a professional wrestler travelling the world, she decided she wanted to turn her attention to a new career path.
“I retired from that in 2016. For a few years I was just doing soul searching, about what would make me feel fulfilled and happy,” she said.
Dauncey had taken care of her mother for a time who’d had a bad hip issue, which made her think it was something she wanted to explore further as a career.
“I thought, there’s a job for that? I had no idea this world existed,” she said. Dauncey went back to school to become a personal support worker and worked at a few different nursing homes before settling into a position with Right at Home.
“I’ve worked for several different health-care companies, and I think Right at Home is the best I’ve ever worked for,” said Dauncey. “Ken’s an excellent match for me. He helps me as much as I help him.”
For more information on Right at Home Canada, Georgian Triangle, click here.
