When a Family finds a perfect match

by Stuart on Dec 16, 2020Reading time: 3 min.

Some candidates and Host Families just deserve the title Host Family or Au Pair of the year! They have been a life saver for each other and changed each other’s lives for the better. We have selected the best stories and are now happy to honour one of the winner's story.

My dear wife and I have been together since 1964 and have had a wonderful life together living and working in many countries around the world and bringing up a family along the way.

Sadly, my wife developed Alzheimer’s in 2014 but with my help managed to maintain a quality lifestyle with lots of happiness. During 2019 the daily needs of my wife began to make our life a little difficult; for instance, if I needed to pop out I could not leave her alone. Getting up and going to bed required help, along with preparing food and general assistance with all aspects of daily life.

Basically, I was at the point of considering being forced to have my darling wife move into a care home after 55yrs of living together. I desperately did not want to be separated from my wife but understood that I could not cope alone.

A friend suggested I have a look at AuPair.com with the possibility of finding an Au Pair who could help me with some of the daily tasks like washing, dressing, preparing food etc., pretty much what an Au Pair would do with a small child. So, I joined AuPair.com who soon found a perfect match for us, Ana Maria.

Ana Maria has now been with us for 11 months and to say she is a great help does not tell the true story. I am my wife’s carer, Ana Maria is here to help me take care of her and make it possible for my wife and I to continue to live and laugh together. Had I not found AuPair.com in 2019 I have no doubt I would have had to consider a care home for my wife and with the subsequent misery care homes have faced with the Corona Virus, who knows what the result may have been!

I could not put a price on the service that AuPair.com and Ana Maria have given my wife and myself; Ana Maria is exactly what we need to help us maintain our independent life.

Thank you
Stuart Berry

Do you have any questions for Stuart or Ana Maria? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below!

Some Thoughts...

Ann

Jul, 07, 2021 - 11:07 pm

Hi Stuart and Ana Maria! What a wonderful story, I'm so glad to hear things are working out for everybody and you and your wife can continue to live together in the same house with Ana Maria providing the support you need. I am a Personal Support Worker in Toronto, Canada and have work experience caring for people with Dementia and Alzheimer's and have thought about doing exactly what Ana Maria is doing but haven't had the time to research into the process of doing so. This question is for Stuart or Ana Maria..........is the process complicated? I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and I'm not sure where you are both located?

, Aupair.com | Jul, 12, 2021 - 10:07 am

Hello Ann,

Many thanks for your comment. In general, the program is "easy" so to say, if you are eligible for a work permit or don't need one for your target country. In the EU, it is in fact very easy to enter another country and just start working there as you don't need a permit. However, for you as a Canadian you need to find out which way is the easiest for you. Of course, you can always find a senior or a Host Family in Canada. But if your target country is for example in Europe it gets a bit more complicated. We can provide a more detailed answer if you send a support ticket which you can find here: https://www.aupair.com/en/p-contact-us.php

Just let our team members know how old you are, what your nationality is and where you would like to work. We will do our best to help you on your way!

Maria

Jan, 15, 2022 - 04:01 pm

Some one help me with the process because I tried, till now everything is failed, I want to have a job in abroad through Au pair

, Aupair.com | Jan, 18, 2022 - 09:01 am

Hello Maria, thank you for your comment. We are sad to hear that you haven't found a family yet. Please make sure to get in touch with our customer support and mention your member ID. We can then check if your account has potential to improve. In any case, make sure to have at least one good photo of yourself and to complete your profile at 100%. This way, families will know that your search is serious!

Carolyne

Oct, 08, 2022 - 09:10 pm

I applied for a job but the match I had found has not yet replied to my request for working for them?

Nastassia, Aupair.com | Oct, 17, 2022 - 11:10 am

Hello Carolyne, thank you for your comment! We are sorry to hear you have not received the answer from a Host Family yet. We hope you will find it eventually, but also want to suggest making your profile as unique as possible so that it stands out from the rest. Please, have a look at our material https://www.aupair.com/en/p-au-pair-host-family-letter.php to find useful advice for writing a perfect letter to your future Host Family.

Sanele

Nov, 10, 2022 - 02:11 pm

Hello i have tried to apply but not even one family viewed my profile please help

Aupair.com | Nov, 14, 2022 - 11:11 am

Hi Sanele! Thank you for your comment. Please, have a look at our material on how to write a perfect letter to your future Host Family: https://www.aupair.com/en/p-au-pair-host-family-letter.php We hope it will help you make your profile unique and will attract a wonderful host Family. Also, do not forget to add nice photos and fill in all necessary information. We wish you best of luck in the search of your potential Host Family.