No place like home: A family’s journey to care and connection with Dovida 

14 years ago, Kate Gray’s dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. For the family, the diagnosis came like a bolt out of the blue and marked the beginning of a long journey shaped by resilience, love, and a deep commitment to keeping their dad at home. 

“For about 10 or 11 years he was doing really, really well and then Covid hit,” says Kate. “Initially, we tried our hardest not to have help in the house. My mum really felt like it was a big step to take. 

“Eventually, Dad’s health had declined so much that after a lot of discussions and tears, we decided that the time was right for us to look for some support.” 

That help came in the form of Dovida, which had been recommended to Kate by other families she knew. 

“Everybody who I’ve met in Dovida has left a positive impact on me,” says Kate. “From the initial visit by Alice, Dad’s Care Manager, we felt comfortable, we felt heard, and we felt that she understood our needs as a family.” 

Family support 

For Kate and her family, the most important thing was that their dad was treated with kindness, respect, and dignity, but the support Dovida provided extended to herself, her mum, and her sister.  

“Knowing that the same person is going in every morning gives us the peace of mind to be able to go about our lives. We know that Dad’s carer is someone he feels comfortable with, and he also has the utmost respect for my dad,” says Kate.  

“He also has the utmost respect for my mum and what she wants to continue to do for my dad. He adds a bit of a fun element as well. They’ll go for a walk together, they’ll sing songs together, he’ll do the exercises with my dad. It’s really important that despite everything that my dad is going through, he’s still treated with dignity and he’s looked after.” 

Consistency is key 

As Kate’s dad’s Parkinson’s progressed, he also began to develop dementia, and familiarity became essential. 

“At the moment we have somebody coming in every morning for an hour… we’re very lucky that six out of the seven days it’s the same person,” Kate explains. 

“When you’re letting someone share those intimate moments, it has to be somebody that you can connect with. It was really important that we found the right person to be able to fit into the family.” 

Special moments 

For Kate, keeping her dad at home for as long as possible is the top priority and, crucially, what he wants 

“Our dad has and always will be such a central part of our family, we’re very close. He was just one of those dads that everybody wanted as their dad. He had a lot of conversations with me after he was diagnosed, and his wish was always to stay at home for as long as possible.” 

Staying at home means that Kate’s dad is still an active part of family life and can share in special moments, whether simply going for a walk or being visited by his granddaughter. 

“He has a little two-year-old granddaughter who is the light of his life and all of our lives. For him to be able to be able to spend time with her in the place he’s called home for 53 years is something we all cherish,” says Kate. 

“Who knows when the time will come that we’ll have to make more decisions, but for the moment, we are delighted to still have him at home with the support that we receive on a daily basis.”