Caregiver Spotlight: Laurie R. 

Welcome to our Caregiver Spotlight series, where we share real stories from the caregivers who make self-directed care possible.

Nine years ago, a stroke changed everything for Jeffrey. Today, he lives at home in Fairview, Pennsylvania, supported by Laurie, a direct care worker who has been by his side ever since. 

A day in the life of a caregiver can look different for everyone — and from one day to the next. It can look like getting someone up, fed, and settled. Some days, it can also look like keeping up a cherished routine or favorite tradition. For Laurie, both matter: the familiar moments that keep Jeffrey comfortable, and the activities that keep him engaged. Her story is a reminder that caregiving isn’t just about completing daily tasks. It’s about the people at the center of them. 

Step into Laurie and Jeffrey’s world for a day. Watch here.

Laurie’s days are built around helping Jeffrey through his routines. “In the morning, you know, we get up, get breakfast, get medications, get settled for the day, [get] washed up and whatnot,” she says. From there, the day can go in a lot of directions. “In the afternoon, maybe we have appointments. Maybe we’ve decided to do some kind of other caregiving that we didn’t do in the morning. We’ll go for a ride sometimes. And then there’s everything around the house with laundry and dishes and all that.” 

Some parts of the job take patience. “Specifically, on a daily basis, I help with making sure that we have clean clothes on — that can be challenging some days,” she explained. “Getting him to take his medications and also getting them all ready. Sometimes it’s a couple hour process.” 

For Laurie, success takes effort. “A really good day for us is he eats and eats what is presented in front of him, which is what he wants anyway,” she says. “A good day is he takes his medications in a timely manner. A good day is him coming out and walking outside and engaging.” 

Knowing Jeffrey so closely is part of what makes Laurie good at her job. That familiarity helps her notice what’s working, what isn’t, and how to make each day go more smoothly. 

“The bond that we’ve built. Companionship and trust,” Laurie says. “You know, we’ve been through a lot together.” 

Shared interests give Laurie insight into what keeps Jeffrey engaged: “We like trivia, so sometimes we’ll go and compete in trivia, and he always surprises me with the stuff that he remembers.”  

For Laurie, part of caregiving is creating a space where Jeffrey can just be himself, which supports his wellbeing just as much as his physical care. “I can provide him with a specialized environment just for him to feel comfortable in, that he doesn’t have to compete for resources or TV.”

While Laurie’s day-to-day is built around Jeffrey’s needs, PPL provides the technology and administrative support that allows her to focus fully on what matters. 

“PPL is very easy to work for. The app is very easy to use,” she says. “I don’t have any trouble getting ahold of somebody when I have an issue or anything like that.” 

For Laurie, it comes down to not having to think twice about the logistics. “[Having the Time4Care app] right on my phone. It just makes it easy. And anytime I’ve called customer support, they’ve always been Johnny-on-the-spot about things.” 

Laurie’s story is a look at what self-directed caregiving can look like day to day: real routines, real challenges, and real relationships.  

Want to see a day in Laurie and Jeffrey’s life? Watch here.

PPL is a financial management services provider focused on self-directed care. PPL supports roughly 50 self-direction programs across the country, has helped facilitate more than 700,000 participant and caregiver relationships, and has processed over $10 billion in goods and services payments. 

PPL handles the administrative side of self-direction, including payroll, taxes, enrollment paperwork, and compliance, so participants and personal assistants like Laurie can focus on caring for the people who depend on them. 

---

Continue reading: More stories from Caregivers