He’s the only thing that can break 87-year-old Shediac resident Marie Therese Redeuilh’s concentration, and he does so, time and time again, whenever the mood strikes. Hard at work in “her office,” a cheery table overflowing with a variety of books, situated next to the window, she’s deep in a novel. However, the story will have to wait for now, as CB, her beloved calico cat, has something entirely different in mind.
CB loves attention, Marie Therese’s specifically, and often interrupts her when she’s reading, as well as when she’s working on her laptop, jumping up on her desk and getting in the way of things. She spends a chunk of her time emailing loved ones, sending daily notes to her son and grandchildren, as well as engaging in regular Zoom calls with them, despite how often they see each other in person as they live just down the road in Moncton. It’s not uncommon for her son to receive a nonsensical message or two, comprised of a string of strange, incoherent combinations of letters, due to CB inadvertently hitting send on a draft, during his quest for belly and ear rubs.
“My cat is like a king, he gets a lot of attention,” says Marie Therese.
Someone else Marie Therese is always more than willing to put her book down for is her dedicated caregiver, Claudia, an employee of Kindred Home Care, who supports her a couple of days a week. A caregiver for almost a decade, Claudia loves the opportunity to help others and develop deep connections with them. The friendship and companionship she’s able to cultivate with her clients, like Marie Therese, makes her job that much easier, she says “I was very close to my grandparents and still am today,” says Claudia. “That’s helped me create connections with older folks. Having home care creates a bond and a personal connection that you won’t usually see in a larger care home, for example.”
The duo looks forward to their weekly errand day, and after bidding farewell to a disappointed CB, Marie Therese and Claudia hit the town of Shediac together, gathering needed supplies for the week ahead. Every two weeks they make a critical stop at the Shediac Public Library where Marie Therese chooses new books, going through, on average, eight per month.
“It keeps my mind sharp and my spirit occupied,” she says.
Running errands also gives Marie Therese and Claudia an opportunity to chat and share stories of their respective lives. Originally from France, and having also lived in Quebec, Marie Therese and her family moved to Shediac from Scoudouc in 2018. Her husband, Jacques, died in February 2023. He was an architect but developed a passion for painting while they lived in Sainte-Julie, Que. Marie Therese’s home’s walls pay homage to his talent, and look similar to an art gallery thanks to his various works, as well as those by her father-in-law who also painted, brightening the space.
In her career, Marie Therese also worked as a caregiver, offering support to people who were unwell, and seniors. This has given her a deep understanding of the importance and impact of the service and support she receives from Claudia and Kindred Home Care.
“I love tranquility, having companionship from my cat every day, and the visits from Claudia is exactly what I need to keep living in my home for as long as I’ll be able,” she says. “For the moment, the help that I get is just what I need, and I’m very grateful for it.”
Kindred Home Care helps seniors remain in their homes for as long as possible. We provide support to individuals in the areas of personal care, activities of daily living, and home management. Our standard of care makes us stand out from the crowd.
