Jon is eighty years old and lives with dementia. His wife of fifty years, Jacqueline, is his devoted caregiver and shared their story to help others understand the journey they’re on together.
“Jon worked for the post office before he retired,” says Jacqueline, “but he would describe himself more as a pilgrim and a poet — he had business cards made indicating his titles. He wrote daily throughout his life and self-published two books. Jon is a Formula One and car enthusiast as well as an audiophile. Presently, his greatest pleasure is being with his children, their spouses, and his five grandchildren.”
Facing the Challenges of Dementia
In November 2023, Jon was diagnosed with dementia, which has progressed quickly. He also has an essential tremor, a condition that causes involuntary, rhythmic shaking. This has affected his fine motor skills and made it difficult for him to eat and drink independently.
Over time, Jon has become fully dependent on Jacqueline for daily care. The constant responsibility left her exhausted, and she realized she needed help.
Getting Support Through Remote Care Monitoring
On the recommendation of her doctor, Jacqueline contacted Ontario Health atHome. A social worker visited their home, confirmed Jon’s decline, and noted his tendency to wander — a major concern for Jacqueline.
Jon was then referred to the Toronto Grace Health Centre’s Remote Care Monitoring (RCM) program. In early January 2025, he was enrolled and received a pendant that provides 24/7 monitoring for off-premises wandering and a way to communicate in case of a fall.
When the Pendant Made All the Difference
Jacqueline first discovered how vital the RCM program’s monitoring was when Jon wandered outside the 500-metre geofence set up around their home.
“A few weeks after Jon received the pendant, he wandered past the geofence. I had my phone turned off, but my daughter Jaya, who is also a priority contact, received the alert. Just by chance, a friend of hers who knew Jon well saw him walking beyond the geofence and called her. Jaya called me on my landline, and immediately after I turned my cell phone on, I got an alert. With the help of the RCM client services representative, we were able to contact him on the pendant. Eventually, we tracked him down, and then my daughter picked him up. A few tears were shed that morning.”
Learning the System
Jacqueline later learned another important lesson about the pendant’s use.
“You need to call the RCM client services team when you’re going to pass through the geofence. I had thought we could leave the pendant at home when going out together — after all, Jon was with me. That’s not a good idea. One day I took him to Costco; fortunately, he was wearing the pendant. While we were there, he needed to use the bathroom. I didn’t see him come out, and I panicked when I couldn’t find him. Then I realized I could call him on the pendant. I did and Jon answered. I asked him to describe his surroundings and that’s when I realized he was by the exit door. I was then able to find him.”
Balancing Care and Independence
Jon is currently on a waiting list for long-term care, but Jacqueline hopes to keep him at home as long as possible. She has hired a private caregiver to give her occasional breaks and understands that more help may be needed in the future.
“It’s helping Jon and I stay in our home. We have an oak tree in our backyard we planted forty years ago — it’s the same age as our son Jacob. Dying in place is our goal, for both of us.”
— Jacqueline
Written by: Gerry Condotta