Jerry Foote has a new family.
Foote, a 24-year-old student at Utah Valley State College, is a personal care aide for Roberta Larsen."She's almost like my own grandma," Foote said of Larsen. "I'm kind of like the adopted grandson."
Foote was hired nine months ago to help Roberta and her husband, Boyd. Roberta, 79, took care of Boyd until she fell and crushed her elbow. That's when her daughter hired Foote to help the couple.
Larsen said that while she got irritated sometimes with all the help her husband required, Foote was always calm and gentle and willing to assist.
When Boyd Larsen died 21/2 months ago, the daughter decided to retain Foote to help her mother.
And so Foote is on duty 18 hours a day, helping Larsen with her daily chores. He also takes night classes at UVSC.
"More than anything I look around to see what needs to be done," Foote said of his daily duties. Although there is no set pattern, Foote said he does "anything you'd normally do in your own family."
Chores include, washing, ironing, cooking and vacuuming. And, said Larsen, Foote is a good cook.
Foote is employed by Errand Girl/Aspen Home Health Agency in Provo. Kristen Gunsay, founder of the company, said she employs approximately 60 aides. Foote lives in Larsen's home, but the agency offers numerous shifts and duties.
Aides will pick up prescriptions for patients for $5; grocery pickup and delivery is $7.50. Domestic services are $6.75 an hour.
Daily costs are also competitive with, if not better than, a nursing home's, Gunsay said. Nursing homes range from $70 to $150 a day, while her agency charges $75.
Gunsay said patients heal better in a friendly, familiar environment than they do in a nursing home.
Most of her aides work one-on-one with their patients, while many nursing homes have one aide to 15 patients, she said.
Foote knows one day Larsen won't need him, but she'll always be a friend, he said.