Olga’s story
Looking at Olga Dyson today, apart from looking years younger than her actual 94 years you would never know that just over 12 months ago her family gathered around her bedside fearing the worst.
She stopped eating, lost weight and got weaker and weaker, culminating in her daughter Jo’s partner finding her collapsed on the floor.
Olga was admitted to hospital and became delirious and whilst the doctors were unable to pinpoint her exact condition, an infection was thought to be the cause.
Olga recovered sufficiently enough to be released from hospital, but she took a turn for the worse and it was at this stage the family gathered, possibly thinking it would be to say their goodbyes.
However, Olga was made of tougher stuff than that.
Jo explains: We were all around her bed and she was totally unresponsive, so we feared the worst but then she woke up the next morning and said she felt a lot better.”
At that time, Olga, who lives in an annexe in Jo’s home, was receiving homecare from another company, but they were unable to provide ‘double up’ care, so Caremark Kirklees took over her care package.
Initially, two of our carers visited her four times a day to help with her personal care needs and to help her move around because at that stage she was unable to walk unaided.
But she has now made such a good recovery that only one carer is required and that is only to assist with a little bit of personal care, with Olga now able to do many things for herself, including being back on her feet.
Olga explains: “They come to give me a little bit of assistance such as making me some breakfast on a morning, helping me to the toilet and getting me to move around.
“The carers are lovely and I have built some nice relationships with them. I look forward to seeing them each day.”
The support we provide has also helped Jo too.
She explains: “If I was caring for mum full-time it would mean being here all the time but with Caremark, I now have peace of mind knowing she is in good hands when I am out, so it’s given me freedom too.”
Born and bred in Leeds, Olga met her husband of more than 60 years in quite different circumstances.
She says: “Norman was a professional musician who played in a symphony orchestra and I sat behind him in the audience.
“I think he picked me out because of the red hair I had when was younger and he used to bow at me.”
Due to his job, Norman used to travel a lot and he had illustrious company during his career including working with The Beatles and appearing on shows on the BBC.
The couple also ran a shop and Norman, who sadly passed away in 2020, went on to become a music teacher.
They have two children four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Olga says: “I always wanted to renovate a cottage, so we bought an old one, did it up and ended up living in for around 40 years before I moved in with Jo.
“Norman was going to come too but he died just before the work to the annexe was finished, however I am still surrounded by lots of happy memories of him and our time together.”