We do anything! So you can stay in your own home

My name is Kaye Leslie and I am a blind senior with a guide dog named Storm. Several years ago I had the good fortune to discover “Helping Buddies” and have enjoyed working with Dave and Marielle since then on a regular basis.

In my opinion, I consider Dave and Marielle to be much more than service providers. They really care about their clients. I firmly believe that they enable seniors to remain in their own homes and live with dignity and safety. It is often a challenge as we age, to find individuals whom we can trust and also feel comfortable requesting help with tasks.

Marielle is a genius around technology. I use assistive devices and special software that reads my email and documents in audible format. At times however there are things that require extra help, such as an electronic signature or the development of a power point presentation and again, Marielle has been able to do these things easily and quickly.

Dave and Marielle have put shelving units together and helped to organize various spaces for me. 

They are very efficient but are also a pleasure to work with and we share many laughs together. I have heard from many others who have worked with them that they have such lovely personalities, remain calm, are never judgmental and have a great sense of humour!

Another bonus for me is that Dave and Marielle love animals. They have often taken my guide dog “Storm” for walks with their dogs which is wonderful for him especially when it is cold and icy outside.

In my case, I cannot drive a car and the help that I receive from Marielle and Dave means that I can live a full and independent life knowing that I will not be stuck if a problem arises.

I have also met other very interesting people through them and this “networking” is very much appreciated. They also have total respect for one’s privacy and they have a high regard for confidentiality which is also important as we can feel vulnerable at times.

Marielle and Dave have assisted me with a variety of projects. They have installed pull out shelves in several kitchen cupboards and helped me to organize items so that they are easier to store and to locate. They have also placed braille labels on my spices which has made my cooking much more enjoyable and accurate!

I also have had several pieces of art hung and again, they have a great ability to see which pieces of art are best positioned on which wall. Dave has also lowered shelves and poles in my closet to assist me with reaching them as I am not that tall!

My fall and spring clean up is now worry free as Dave and Marielle clear my deck for the winter and prepare my garden for the season. It is great to know that the hoses are put back in the garage which has also been cleared of junk and old items were taken to the dump by them.

I would like to thank this wonderful couple for making such a positive difference in my life and I know for many others. I am truly grateful as they have enriched my experience in Muskoka.

I would be happy to provide any further information upon request.

Sincerely,

-Kaye Leslie

Everyone wants to live in their own home but there are daily challenges that sometime make it difficult. These challenges accumulate and keep us awake at night.  Helping Buddy Muskoka is the answer to my prayers!

Marielle and Dave are a ‘one-stop shop’.  There is no need to call five different people to do five different things They do everything and it is very reassuring to have the same people coming into my home regularly. 

They arrived at my house punctually (masked and observing COVID protocol) and laid out the day’s plan so that I knew what to expect.   

They worked as a team doing the things that I could not do and worked along side me when possible.  Conversation was easy and the laughter was so refreshing. It was such a comfortable experience.  At the end of the day, the projects were completed and I had a great sleep that night.

I’m working on another list.  This time, it will be computer related…and maybe even some help to bath my dog (they both love animals).

They are definitely a five-star team! 

-Shelley

 I first met Dave and Marielle, of Helping Buddies, sometime in May/2021, and asked them to paint my kitchen cupboards. A major task, as included inside and out of cupboards, beams on the ceiling, etc. in my country kitchen. 

They were like a breath of fresh air! Not only did they do a great painting job, working methodically and quickly, cleaning up at the end of each day, but they arrived on time, or told me if running late, and worked quietly and with good humour the whole day. 

I have since had them help with other tasks, including with my computer, and have some “to do” lists for each as their time and my schedule permit. 

A senior living alone in my own home, there are lots of projects that have been ignored – now that I’ve found this pair with a multitude of skills, I am so happy to have them help me out, and highly recommend their services. 

-Margaret