Caring for individuals living with dementia or Parkinson’s is not just about managing symptoms—it’s about preserving dignity, honoring identity, and finding humanity in every interaction. Dementia care, for example, requires patience and a mindset shift: the ability to respond as though you’re hearing a client’s story for the very first time, even if it’s the tenth retelling.
This simple yet powerful act communicates respect, validation, and kindness in a world that can often feel confusing or repetitive for the client. Parkinson’s care, on the other hand, demands both physical support and emotional sensitivity.
Since mobility can change drastically from one day to the next, caregivers must approach each moment with gentleness, flexibility, and an unwavering commitment to comfort. Both journeys remind us of the unpredictability of life—much like Forrest Gump’s famous “box of chocolates”—and underscore the need for compassion as a constant.
At its core, the heart of dementia and Parkinson’s care is about showing up with patience, empathy, and the kind of kindness that restores trust and connection.
To shed some light on the same, we interviewed a home care industry expert to bring her perspective on the heart of dementia & Parkinson’s care.
Carol Rose is a hands-on administrator coordinating client care, scheduling, marketing, and relationships. Unlike large agencies, she remains personally involved in every case—something families consistently appreciate.
Carol leads a team of about 30 independent contractors across Tucson, proud to back “the cream of the crop” in providing personal care, transportation, companionship, hospice, and 24-hour services.
Her guiding mission: deliver quality care with dignity by treating each client as family—making a difference, one person, one moment at a time.
Let us now delve into what she has to say about the heart of dementia & Parkinson’s care:
I treat every person – as if they were part my own family, and always with dignity & transparency! One way is that when we take someone to a medical appointment, we stay with them for that time being, so we don’t leave them, and there is never a need to call us back, and have to wait.
There are a whole host of problems with that approach. This makes us stand out, and give our Service that “personal touch”.
Emergency calls are a regular occurrence and I have a HIGH success rate in managing. I just look to the schedule, and sometimes move some staff to another case, and go down my list of contractors, to cover. Usually, I’m able to make the magic happen to cover such emergencies.
Working with clients living with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s is a regular part of what I do, and I’ve gained extensive experience in this area. With dementia care, the key is to respond as though you’re hearing a client’s story for the very first time—every single time.
Even if it’s repeated, this approach ensures they feel respected, valued, and treated with kindness and dignity.
With Parkinson’s, support is often physical, but equally important is being gentle and patient. Because the disease can make even the simplest movement unpredictable from one day to the next, our role is to create comfort and ease, meeting them exactly where they are.
In both cases, I’m reminded of Forrest Gump’s line: “Life is like a box of chocolates—you never know what you’re going to get.” Every day brings something different, and our responsibility is to show up with compassion, flexibility, and care.
I use the phonebook, but I believe word of mouth is the best driver of referrals. As they say, “Bad news travels fast, but good news travels twice as fast.”
I treat caregivers with dignity and respect, and generous pay. Most people stay with me for a long time, and I do treat them “like family”, as The Red Rose is a small woman-owned company, and we have been around since 1996.
In caring for people with dementia and Parkinson’s, technical skill matters—but it’s the human connection that truly heals. As Carol Rose shows us, it’s not enough to “do care”; we must be care—showing up with patience, respect, and genuine presence.
Whether it’s repeating a story with kindness or helping someone move with gentle support, those moments build trust. In a world full of unpredictability, caregivers become anchors of stability and dignity. At The Red Rose, Carol and her team remind us that every client is more than a diagnosis—they’re a story, a person, someone who deserves compassion in every interaction.
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